There are 44 US states and the District of Columbia with state-run lotteries. In addition to those, the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands have lotteries. The states of Alaska, Hawaii, Mississippi, Nevada, Utah, and Vermont do not have state-run lotteries, but there are nationwide lottery games. Mega Millions and Powerball, the two most popular games in the country, are available almost everywhere. In fact, the Powerball jackpot has been known to hit nearly $1 billion, which makes it the nation’s de facto lottery game.

Maryland Lottery income ranks third in the state’s revenue after income, sales, and corporate taxes. The majority of the lottery’s revenue goes to paying out prizes to winners, with 7.5% going to retailer commissions and 3.5% to operational expenses. Twenty-seven percent of the revenue goes to the General Fund of State Treasury, which is used for public safety, education, and health. Those figures are just a few of the many ways Maryland Lottery helps the State’s residents play their share of the Million Dollar Lottery and win big!

To play the lottery, download a lottery app or visit a lottery website. Most top lottery sites allow you to buy tickets instantly, and most are compatible with both smartphones and tablets. You can also view current jackpots and odds for different lotteries, which makes selecting the right lottery game easier. When choosing a lottery site, you must remember to budget wisely. You should never chase after a losing streak or wager more money than you can afford to lose.