People outside the US often ask whether they can enter the big US draws from Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco or anywhere else. The prize is open to anyone holding a winning ticket. Getting a real ticket is the hard part.
Do you have to be in the US to buy a ticket?
For almost everyone, yes. Each US lottery sells tickets within its own borders, through licensed retailers and, in some states, online accounts that verify your location. The Powerball FAQ says you don't have to be a US citizen or resident to play, but you must meet the legal age where you buy, and "the sale of Powerball tickets over the Internet or by mail across jurisdictional borders is restricted."
The UK is now the exception for Powerball. According to the same FAQ, the UK National Lottery began selling Powerball on July 21, 2026, at £4 a play. UK tickets enter the same jackpot, but lower-tier prizes are different from US prizes, and UK jackpot winners don't get a one-time cash option. Mega Millions is still sold only by US lotteries.
Outside the US and UK there's no official website or app that sells real Powerball or Mega Millions entries. That's the answer behind searches like "USA lottery Pakistan" or "USA lottery Morocco": the games are American and tied to the place of sale, even though anyone can own a winning ticket.
Can a foreigner win the lottery in the USA?
Yes. You don't need US citizenship or residency to win or to claim a prize. If you lawfully hold a winning ticket, the prize is yours, though you'll need to claim it in the state where it was sold and provide identification and tax information. The citizenship and immigration questions are covered in can a non-citizen or immigrant win the US lottery.
Is there any legitimate way to play from abroad?
The realistic options are limited.
You can ask someone you trust who lives in the US to buy a ticket for you. It's legal for them to buy it in person, but there's nothing official linking that ticket to you. If a large prize is involved, the person holding the ticket is the one who claims it. Put the arrangement in writing before the draw, and understand that you're relying on their honesty.
Lottery courier services buy an official ticket in a US state on your instruction and keep it for you. They don't help from overseas: couriers check your location and only sell to customers who are physically in a state where they operate, so the app won't work from Pakistan or Egypt. Several states don't permit couriers at all, and couriers charge their own fees. They're an option if you're visiting or living in the US. Our courier app comparison and iLottery guide show where they and official online sales are allowed.
Sites that offer to sell you a "Powerball ticket" from abroad without either of those arrangements are something else. Some run their own private bets on the US results, which isn't an entry in the official draw; others are simply scams.
What are the odds and the cost?
The games are the same wherever the player comes from. Powerball costs $2 a play in the US, draws on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. Eastern, and has jackpot odds of 1 in 292,201,338. Mega Millions costs $5 a play with a multiplier included, draws on Tuesday and Friday at 11 p.m. Eastern, and has jackpot odds of 1 in 290,472,336, according to the official Mega Millions rules. Powerball vs Mega Millions compares the two.
How much tax will a non-resident pay?
US lottery prizes are taxed before you receive them. For US residents, 24% federal tax is withheld from large prizes, and the final bill can reach the top 37% rate. For a nonresident alien, IRS Publication 515 says gambling winnings won in the US are generally subject to 30% withholding on the gross amount unless a tax treaty exempts them. Some states withhold their own income tax as well.
A tax treaty between the US and your country may reduce or remove the federal tax, but many countries have no treaty with the US, and not every treaty covers gambling winnings. Don't count on getting the 30% back. The details are in lottery tax for non-residents and immigrants, and it's worth paying for a cross-border tax adviser before claiming a large prize.
How do you spot a US lottery scam?
US lotteries don't contact people to say they've won. You win only if you bought a ticket and it matches the numbers drawn, and then you're the one who comes forward. Warning signs include:
- a message saying you won a lottery you never entered;
- a request for a "fee", "tax", "release charge" or "insurance" before the prize is paid (real lottery tax is withheld from the prize, never paid up front);
- someone claiming to represent Powerball, Mega Millions or a US agency, often asking you to send money or bank details to "process" a payout.
The Federal Trade Commission's advice on prize scams puts it simply: "If you have to pay to get your prize, it's a scam." These schemes target people abroad because the US games are famous and hard to check from a distance, and AI tools now make the messages more convincing. See AI lottery scams in 2026 before you reply to any "winner" message.
Playing the US lottery from abroad: FAQ
Can you play the US lottery from another country?
Not directly, except in the UK, where the National Lottery has sold Powerball since July 21, 2026. Elsewhere, a real ticket must be bought inside a US state or territory that sells the game.
Can a foreigner win the US lottery?
Yes. You don't need to be a US citizen or resident to win or claim a prize, as long as you lawfully hold the winning ticket and meet the age rule where it was bought.
Do lottery courier apps work outside the US?
No. Courier services only sell to customers who are physically inside a US state where they operate, and they check your location.
How much tax do non-residents pay on US lottery winnings?
Federal tax is generally withheld at 30% for nonresident aliens unless a tax treaty provides otherwise, and some states add their own withholding.
Is a message saying you won the US lottery real?
Almost certainly not. US lotteries don't notify winners, and any request to pay a fee before receiving a prize is a scam.
Sources: Powerball FAQs (powerball.com); Mega Millions how to play (megamillions.com); IRS Publication 515; FTC consumer advice on prize scams.
