Pennsylvania iLottery Games to Begin in May

The residents of Pennsylvania have been able to participate in lottery drawings since March of 1972. Beginning in May they will also have the opportunity to play iLottery games which are offered online. The Pennsylvania legislature acted in 2017 to allow multiple forms of online gambling to state residents. The measure was enacted to help the state deal with an ongoing budget crisis.

The Pennsylvania Lottery will oversee the iLottery games which will be offered on multiple platforms including desktop and laptop computers, smartphones, and tablets. The state is also going to begin accepting applications in April from gaming operators who wish to offer online slot machines, poker, and table games.

Since its debut in 1972, the Pennsylvania Lottery has been a steady source of revenue for the state. The commission has paid out almost $48 billion in winnings to lucky residents, and it has added some $28 billion to the state's coffers. Legislators hope that the introduction of online lottery games will increase those numbers.

To participate in the iLottery, individuals must be 18 years of age or older and reside in Pennsylvania. Drawings will be conducted in a manner like that used by the standard lottery. Players will be able to purchase tickets and select their number choices online. There are also plans to create Keno games and virtual sports games in the immediate future. 

Residents will be required to create an iLottery account and submit to age verification systems. Once approved, players will be able to play the lottery games from any Internet-enabled device located in the state. Many casinos have also lined up to submit applications for online gaming licenses. Multiple forms of online gambling should be available by the end of 2018.