Independent lottery ratings
Every US lottery, reviewed against the official numbers.
71 state lotteries, national games, courier apps, scratch-offs and sweepstakes scored on one published rubric, with odds, taxes and claim rules taken from the operators' own documents.
How we rate. Scored on a published six-criterion rubric. Every figure links to an official source and shows the date it was checked. We sell nothing. Methodology
Best-of lists
View all- Best lottery apps and courier services
The lottery courier apps ranked by our overall score: fees, states covered, licensing, protection and record.
- Best state lotteries
State lotteries ranked by our overall score across odds, transparency, player protection, ease of play, claims and reputation.
- Best odds and value
Which lotteries, games and sweepstakes score highest on odds and value per dollar, using the operators’ published odds.
- Safest ways to play the lottery
The lotteries, apps and sweepstakes with the strongest player protection: age checks, spending limits, self-exclusion and real regulation.
- Most transparent lotteries and sweepstakes
Ranked on transparency alone: published odds for every game, open draw procedures, audits and clear rules.
- Best sweepstakes and prize draws
US sweepstakes and prize draws ranked by our overall score, with the free-entry method noted for each.
Latest reviews
View allNorth Carolina Education Lottery
North Carolina's state lottery: official online sales, 18+, with national games and in-state Cash 5, Pick 3 and Pick 4.
Best for: North Carolina adults (18+) who want to buy Powerball, Mega Millions or in-state draw games online.
Hoosier Lottery
Indiana's state lottery: retail-only tickets, Hoosier Lotto and CA$H 5, with 180 days to claim draw prizes.
Best for: Indiana residents who buy tickets at a store for Hoosier Lotto, CA$H 5 and the national games.
Michigan Lottery Online
Michigan's iLottery: 290+ online instant games plus draw games; first lottery with NCPG iCAP certification (2015).
Best for: Michigan players who want a big online game selection from a certified state lottery.
PA iLottery
Pennsylvania Lottery's online platform since 2018: instant games, Powerball and Mega Millions, with strong player tools.
Best for: Pennsylvania residents who want online instants and draws with built-in spending limits.
Virginia Lottery Online
Virginia's online lottery and app: instants, draw games, an online wallet and legal anonymity since July 2026.
Best for: Virginia players who want anonymity rights and a full online catalogue from a state lottery.
CT Lottery
Connecticut state lottery with iLottery, Lotto! and Cash5.
Best for: Connecticut players who like online draw games and Keno.
Lottery rules by state
View allClaim deadlines, winner anonymity, state tax on prizes, online sales and which courier apps operate.
- Alabamano lottery
- Alaskano lottery
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaiino lottery
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevadano lottery
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Puerto Rico
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- Utahno lottery
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Guides
View all- BasicsThe best US sweepstakes and prize draws in 2026
Twelve US sweepstakes, raffles and prize draws ranked by our overall score, with price, free-entry method and top prize for each, from Coca-Cola to PrizeWave.
- ClaimingCan Lottery Winners Stay Anonymous?
Whether you can keep your name private after a big win depends on the state where you bought the ticket. Here is how several states handle it.
- OddsHow Lottery Odds Work
Overall odds, jackpot odds and why the two numbers tell very different stories. Real figures for Powerball, Mega Millions and three smaller games.
- ClaimingHow to Claim a Lottery Prize
Sign the ticket, know your deadline, and go to the right office. A plain guide to claiming small and large lottery prizes, with real state deadlines.
How a review is made
The same process for a $2 Powerball ticket and a $150 house-raffle entry.
- 1.Collect the primary documentsOfficial rules, odds tables, claim pages, annual reports, tax guidance and regulator filings. Nothing second-hand.
- 2.Build the fact sheetEvery figure is entered with the URL it came from and the date we checked it. Unknown stays unknown; we never estimate.
- 3.Score six criteriaOdds and value, transparency, player protection, ease of play, payouts and claims, reputation. Fixed weights, one sentence of justification each.
- 4.Re-verify on a scheduleMajor brands are re-checked quarterly, every page at least yearly, and immediately when a reader reports a change.