Who can play the US lottery? Almost any adult physically inside a lottery state: you must be 18 in most states (19 in Nebraska; 21 in Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, and Mississippi), you don't need to be a resident or a citizen — but lottery employees and their households are barred, and a minor can't claim a ticket no matter who bought it. Here are the actual eligibility rules, including the ones people get wrong.
How old do you have to be to play the lottery in each state?
The minimum age to buy a ticket — and to claim a prize — is set by each state:
- 21 years old: Arizona, Iowa, Louisiana, Mississippi
- 19 years old: Nebraska
- 18 years old: every other lottery jurisdiction, including Washington DC and Puerto Rico
The official lotteries say so on their own sites: the Iowa Lottery states that you must be at least 21 years old to purchase its tickets, the Louisiana Lottery prints "Must Be At Least 21 To Purchase," and the Mississippi Lottery says you must be 21 or older to play. The same minimum covers every product a lottery sells — scratch-offs, daily draw games, and the multi-state Powerball and Mega Millions tickets alike. There is no lower age for "just a scratcher."
The age applies where the ticket is sold, not where you live: a 19-year-old Texan can't buy in Louisiana, and an 18-year-old crossing into Iowa is out of luck until 21. Each state page on our site lists its legal age alongside tax and claim rules — see Arizona or Nebraska for examples. Five states have no lottery at all (Alabama, Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah), so eligibility there is moot — residents simply buy across the border.
Can a minor win with a gifted ticket?
Buying is age-restricted everywhere; receiving a ticket as a gift is treated differently by state. Some states allow an adult to gift a ticket to a minor and let a parent or guardian claim on the child's behalf (often with the prize held in trust until majority); others void the prize entirely. If you're putting scratch-offs in a teenager's birthday card, know your state's rule first — and either way, the claim runs through an adult. Lotteries themselves discourage the practice: the NASPL-backed "Gift Responsibly" campaign exists to educate communities on the dangers of buying lottery tickets for children.
Can lottery employees play the lottery?
Employees of a state lottery — and in most states their spouses, household members, and sometimes close relatives — cannot play or win that state's games. The ban usually extends to the vendors and contractors who build or audit the drawing systems. It exists for exactly the reason you'd guess: the worst fraud in lottery history was committed by an insider, the Multi-State Lottery Association's own security director — the Eddie Tipton case. Employees of one state's lottery can generally still play in a different state where they have no access.
Can felons, non-citizens and tourists play the lottery?
- Felons can play and win. No state bars people with criminal records from buying tickets or claiming prizes. The catch: registered debts ride along — restitution, fines, and arrears can be deducted from winnings at the claim window.
- Non-citizens can play and win. Green-card holders, visa holders, even undocumented buyers — the ticket doesn't check immigration status, though claiming and taxes work differently for non-residents. Details in can a non-citizen win the US lottery and the 30% non-resident withholding rules.
- Tourists can play and win. Physical presence in the selling state at purchase time is what matters — and foreign visitors' prizes face the non-resident tax treatment above. Playing from abroad has its own rules, covered in playing the US lottery from another country.
- Government officials: no general ban — only lottery insiders and their circles are excluded.
How do online lottery apps check your age?
Retail counters check ID at the register (and claim centers check again — every winner proves age and identity before payment). Official iLottery apps and courier services verify age, identity, and physical location electronically before every purchase — the reason "borrowing" a parent's account fails and voids prizes. Selling to an underage buyer exposes a retailer to penalties under state law, which is why clerks card young-looking customers even for a $1 scratcher. Industry-wide, US lotteries can also earn independent certification under the NASPL-NCPG Responsible Gambling Framework, which covers player-protection practices including underage play.
The short version
Old enough for your state, physically inside it, and not a lottery insider — that's the whole eligibility test. Everything after that is claiming logistics: see how to claim a prize and how long you have, then check tonight's numbers on the Powerball and Mega Millions pages.
Facts and figures verified September 2026. Age limits come from each state lottery and change only by legislation — check your state's official site before you buy. Play responsibly — 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).
