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California · Online Lottery Guide

Online lottery-style options in California

No, you cannot buy California lottery tickets online right now. California has no state-run iLottery site and no licensed courier operating in-state, which means in-person retail is currently the only path to a real California lottery ticket. What does exist online are legal alternatives — scratch-style games and sweepstakes-style sites that play similarly to the lottery but are not real California lottery tickets. Below, we explain what each option actually is so you can decide what fits.

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Jacob DymondWritten byJacob DymondFounderOur methodology

Our pick for California

Best online option in California right now

Scratchee

Scratchee

Scratch-style online play

★★★★☆ 4.5Lottery Valley rating

If you still want to play online in California, Scratchee makes more sense than a courier or retail detour. It works best as a scratch-style alternative, not as a replacement for a real lottery ticket.

  • Instant scratch-style play online
  • Not a real lottery ticket
  • 18+ and state eligibility required
  • Read the promo terms before signup
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How they compare

The four ways to play online in California — and which are real lottery

Two of these aren’t real ticket-buying paths. Here’s what each one actually is.

Official sales

Real ticket?
Yes
Available here?
No
Best for
Buying from the state lottery directly

Courier ordering

Real ticket?
Yes
Available here?
No
Best for
Buying a real ticket without going to a retailer

Scratch alternatives

Our pick
Real ticket?
No
Available here?
Yes
Best for
Instant scratch-style play, not real tickets
Visit Scratchee guide →

Sweepstakes-style

Real ticket?
No
Available here?
No
Best for
Sweepstakes-style play, not real tickets

Online availability

What lottery games can you play online in California?

No lottery games are currently sold online in California. Tickets are retail-only at licensed retailers.

No online games to list for California. Check the California results hub for retail games and drawings.

Why this recommendation

Why there's no "buy online" answer in California

California doesn't sell lottery tickets online, and there's no licensed courier we'd point you to here. What you'll find instead are scratch-style and sweepstakes sites — entertainment products that look like lottery on the surface but aren't the same thing. Worth knowing before you sign up.

Sources we checked

How we verified what's online in California

Last verified

Backfilled online-play source metadata from Lottery Valley's normalized official lottery source record for California Lottery.

Sources are reviewed by Lottery Valley editorial. External links open in a new window and do not pass ranking signals.

Scratchee
Online Scratch Cards

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18+ U.S. residents only. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary. Official rules apply.

FAQs

California Online Play FAQ

Answers about official online sales, courier ordering, legality, and lottery-style alternatives in California.

Can you buy California lottery tickets online?

No, you cannot buy California lottery tickets online. California does not operate an official online lottery and no licensed courier service currently delivers real California lottery tickets to residents. To buy an official California lottery ticket today, you still need to visit an authorized retailer in person.

Is online lottery legal in California?

Real online lottery ticket sales are not currently available in California, though the state lottery itself is legal at retail. There's no state-run iLottery site and no licensed courier operating in-state. Sweepstakes and scratch-card-style sites are legal online alternatives, but they are not real lottery tickets.

What are the online alternatives to the California Lottery?

The main legal online alternatives in California are sweepstakes-style gaming sites and online scratch-card platforms. These offer lottery-like gameplay and can award cash prizes under their own promotional and sweepstakes rules, but they are not official California Lottery tickets. They are regulated under promotional sweepstakes law, not state lottery law, so the rules and prize structures differ.

Is Scratchee the same as the California Lottery?

No, Scratchee is not the same as the California Lottery. Scratchee is an online scratch-card platform that uses virtual currencies and promotional gameplay, which legally differs from state-authorized lottery tickets. You can win real prizes, but you aren't entering an official California lottery drawing and prizes aren't paid by the state.

Can you play Powerball or Mega Millions online in California?

No, you cannot play Powerball or Mega Millions online in California. Both games are sold only through authorized retailers in-state because there's no iLottery platform and no licensed courier operating locally. If you want a real Powerball or Mega Millions ticket, you need to buy it in person at a California retailer.

Why doesn't California sell lottery tickets online?

California has not authorized online lottery sales at the state level, and no courier service is currently licensed to operate in-state. Online lottery laws vary state-by-state, and California has kept ticket sales at retail only. This can change if state legislation or licensing updates in the future.

Can online alternatives pay cash prizes?

Yes, legal online alternatives available in California — including sweepstakes-style gaming sites — can award cash prizes under their own promotional and sweepstakes rules. Prizes are funded by the platform itself, not the California Lottery, and claim rules follow sweepstakes law. These prizes are separate from anything connected to the official California Lottery.

How can someone from California play the lottery online?

California residents who want to play a real state lottery online must be physically located in a state that allows online lottery sales — like Pennsylvania, Michigan, or New Jersey — at the time of purchase. Inside California, the only online options are legal alternatives like sweepstakes sites, which aren't official lottery tickets.

Keep reading

Related California and lottery guides

  • Bonus hub

    See what is live right now

    Use the bonus hub to check the broader editorial context before you click into a specific partner or bonus.

  • Category guide

    Best online play options

    Use the broad category page when you need the bigger picture before choosing a route.

  • Reality check

    Play Online hub

    Use the broader hub if you need the full state-by-state picture before treating online alternatives as a substitute for retail purchase.

Responsible play and partner transparency

Play responsibly and understand our partner disclosures

Lottery Valley publishes lottery results, tools, guides, and educational content for U.S. users. Because some pages include online-play offers and partner referrals, responsible-play guidance and affiliate disclosure stay visible throughout the product.

Responsible play

Responsible play and help

Lottery content should inform users, not push reckless behavior. Help resources should stay visible and easy to reach.

Chance still decides outcomes

Predictions, generators, and strategy content do not guarantee winnings. Lottery outcomes remain chance-based.

Age, eligibility, and state rules vary

Eligibility, age limits, and online-play access vary by state and operator. Verify those rules before you act.

Help is available

Free and confidential support is available 24/7 through the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

Responsible Play

Affiliate disclosure

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Lottery Valley may earn compensation when users click certain partner links, use a promo code, create an account, or complete a qualifying action with a partner.

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Online scratch-card partner

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Partners are separate companies with their own terms, fees, eligibility rules, and legal status. Review each partner's official terms before acting.

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