Massachusetts Lottery Online: The Best Online Lotto Sites for December

The Bay State offers many lotto options, including in-house draws and popular multi-jurisdictional games like Powerball and Mega Millions. From 2023, you can even buy lottery tickets online in Massachusetts via third-party platforms. So, while the official state lottery doesn’t sell tickets on its site, you can still get one by asking someone else to visit a retailer and make a purchase on your behalf.

Why You Can Trust online-gambling.com?

• We check trusted sources such as:  the Boston Globe and the Boston Herald to get the latest information on Massachusetts’s gaming industry and laws.
• We are experts in online lottery, but we’ve explored various casino games such as  blackjack  and have created a  video poker guide, among other insightful content. 
• We stay on top of any changes to the law by closely following the  movements of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission  and the  General Court of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Legal Online Lotteries Available in the USA

While you still can’t directly play the lottery online in Massachusetts, you can order tickets via third-party platforms like Jackpocket. If you’ve ever ordered Uber Eats or DoorDash, you know how it works. You order a ticket for games like Lucky for Life or Cash 5, and someone employed by the courier service is tasked with getting it on your behalf and bringing it to you.

US Powerball

Powerball was created back in 1992 and is currently available in 21 states. It’s also one of the most popular draw games in MA, with millions of players competing for a minimum jackpot of $40 million. The drawings are held every Saturday and Wednesday evening. Looking back at its history, its largest jackpot to date was $1.586 billion, and it was won in 2016 by three lucky people.

Mega Millions

Available in the US Virgin Islands and across the District of Columbia, Mega Millions can be played in 44 states, including Massachusetts. It has been around since 1996 and used to be known as the Big Game. Draws are held on Tuesday and Friday evenings, with a minimum winning amount of $40 million. Meanwhile, the largest jackpot in Mega Millions history, worth $1.6 billion, was won in 2023.

Lucky for Life Lotto

This unique draw game is available in 25 states plus Washington. It was founded in Connecticut in 2009, and instead of offering one big jackpot, it advertises a prize of $1000 per day for a lifetime. Of course, you also get the option to cash out at once. That’s what one Lucky for Life winner did in 2015 and claimed a $5,750,000 prize.

Lottery Regulator in Massachusetts

The MA state lottery is headquartered in Dorchester. It’s regulated and run by the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission and has existed since 1972. Since its creation, the lotto has generated $110.4 billion in sales, with $76.6 billion in winnings and a return of nearly $25 billion for the state.

History of Massachusetts Lottery

On one hand, the Bay State’s history is tied to anti-gambling legislation, rooted in its modest, religious, Pilgrim origin. Yet, legislators have become more progressive in recent years, and the local land-based gambling industry has been thriving. As mentioned, while there is no online lottery in Massachusetts, third-party platforms where you can request someone to buy a ticket for you are available and driving state revenue.

Famous Winners – Maria Grasso – Mega Millions

In 1999, Maria Grasso made history^[2] by winning the biggest Massachusetts lottery jackpot ever and the second-biggest nationally. The 54-year-old Chilean immigrant and mother of two worked for a wealthy family at the time and was humbled to discover her sudden multi-millionaire status. Grasso was an occasional lotto player, living in Boston, and won $197 million through “The Big Game”, now known as Mega Millions.

Lottery Legal Age in Massachusetts

You can play at land-based lottery venues and purchase tickets through websites like Jackpot.com if you’re at least 18. Players who use the services of these third-party retailers are required to provide proof of identification to prevent underage gambling. The legal age for all other forms of online gambling in Massachusetts, such as sports and DFS betting, is 21.

• Lottery Age
  You have to be at least 18 to purchase lottery tickets and 21 to bet on sports online.
• Alcohol Age
  The legal drinking age is 21 in Massachusetts.
• Weed Age
  You have to be 21 or older to purchase cannabis in Massachusetts.

Is Online Lotto Legal When You Are Out of the State?

For the time being, the only way for local players to buy lottery tickets online in Massachusetts is by using third-party courier service platforms. Through them, you can also enter the Minnesota online lottery and other state lotteries. Just be careful because there might be some restrictions when it comes to collecting prizes from other states.

The Best Lottery Mobile App

Just like the Kentucky online lottery, the MA state lottery has a website optimized for mobile, as well as Android and iOS apps. The only difference is that you can’t use them to purchase tickets. These native apps can only be used to check winning numbers and current jackpots, view past results, and so on.

Online Lottery Promotions to Take Advantage Of

On the Massachusetts online lottery website, you can explore the currently available promotions. Unfortunately, you can’t claim any of them using the platform, but when you or someone else purchases a ticket for you at a land-based venue, they still apply. Some examples include seasonal bonuses like Holiday Wonder Wheel Spins and a Black Friday Keno 2X Bonus Promotion.

How to Choose the Best Lottery Promotion in Massachusetts

• 1.Check the legal status: Make sure playing the lottery is legal in the state.
• 2.Are there any age restrictions: Check if you are old enough to play the lottery in Massachusetts.
• 3.Choose a lottery: Explore the available draws and their jackpots.

Taxes on Lotto Winnings in Massachusetts

Massachusetts’s lottery winnings exceeding $600 are subject to a 5% state tax^[1]. In addition, prizes over $1 million trigger the additional 4% “fair share” tax. However, this only applies to state residents. Nonresident gambling winnings are not included in Massachusetts gross income unless connected with a business carried on in the Commonwealth.

Upcoming Regulation Changes for Online Lottery

Unfortunately, there are no upcoming bills regarding the legalization of Massachusetts’s online lottery. However, legislators are likely to become more interested as other states offer enticing online lotto options and see the revenue benefits. Since the 2011 decision on the Federal Wire Act, the path has been opened to legalize this form of gambling nationwide, and interest is only increasing with the introduction of third-party courier platforms.

Lottery Guides for Nearby States

• Rhode Island
• Maine
• Connecticut
• New York

References

1. TIR 79-6: Income Taxation Of Gambling Winnings, Mass.gov, Retrieved Deccember 13, 2023
2. Babbysitter wins lottery jackpot, Massmoments.org, Retrieved December 13, 2023