Under federal law, most forms of gambling are prohibited, but Congress has carved out a specific exemption allowing state-run lotteries to operate within their borders (1).
In all U.S. jurisdictions that offer a lottery, you must be at least 18 years old to purchase tickets. State statutes uniformly treat lottery participation as an activity reserved for adults, aligning ticket sales with the age of legal majority (2).
"The age of legal majority in most states is 18. At 18 years of age, a person can vote, serve in the armed forces and buy lottery tickets. In many states, 18 also marks the point in time at which a person can go to adult jail or prison."
While state lotteries may now offer online ticket sales, federal law still requires all purchases to occur within the boundaries of the issuing state. Cross-border or foreign lottery ticket purchases remain unlawful under U.S. statute (1).
Source:
https://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/olc/opinions/2008/10/31/state-conducted-lotteries101608.pdf
https://www.ncsl.org/civil-and-criminal-justice/the-legislative-primer-series-on-front-end-justice-young-adults-in-the-justice-system
Last updated: 20-05-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
