At the moment, there are no legal online lotteries available in Alaska. Alaska is one of just a handful of states in the U.S. that have strict laws prohibiting lotteries of any kind. However, Alaskans are asking for the chance to participate in lottos like US Powerball and Megamillions, and some lawmakers have tried to introduce legislation on the topic.

Legal Online Lotteries Available in the USA

At the time of writing, there are no legal online lotteries available in Alaska, as the state has restricted nearly all gambling aside from participation in charitable games. If Alaskan legislators are successful in legalizing lottery play in the state, residents could potentially take part in some of the USA’s most popular and exciting lotteries, including US Powerball and Mega Millions. These lottos sell millions of tickets every week and have offered billions of dollars in payouts since their creation, making them two of the USA’s favorite ways to play. They have also collectively generated a massive amount of tax revenue for participating states, making them an enticing prospect for citizens and lawmakers alike. We will update this page as Alaska makes any changes to its lottery laws, so you’ll be the first to know what games are available!

US Powerball – Make Your $40 Million (or more!)

Founded in 1992, Powerball is one of the earlier lotto games played by a large jurisdiction of 21 states nationwide. Players vie for a minimum $40 million payout, and drawings are held every Wednesday and Saturday evening. The largest ever lottery jackpot was created in 2016, when three winners split a $1.586 billion Powerball ticket.

Mega Millions – Or should we say Mega Billions?

Starting as “The Big Game” in 1996, Mega Millions has grown into one of the most widely offered lotteries. It is now available in 44 states, plus the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Its drawings occur on Tuesday and Friday evenings, and also boasts a minimum jackpot of $40 million. As recently as 2018, a winning jackpot of $1.537 billion went to one lucky Mega Millions player.

Lucky for Life – “The Game of a Lifetime”

Lucky for Life started in Connecticut in 2009 and first expanded to New England, but its unique format has now become popular in 25 states and Washington D.C. Though winners can select a cash option, the game advertises a payout of $1,000 per day for the lifetime of the winner, with a 20-year minimum guarantee. A winner in 2015 was the first to choose the cash option, which is valued at $5,750,000.

Lottery Regulator in Alaska

Though lotteries are not currently legal in Alaska, discussions and research into their potential revenue generation falls under the jurisdiction of the state’s Department of Revenue’s gaming section. According to the DOR, Alaska’s nonprofits and municipalities made $32 million through legal charitable gambling in 2016, while $6 million is generated by gambling on cruise ship casinos off the coast. They have also estimated that Alaska could generate between $8 and $20 million in state revenue from lotteries.

Alaska Lotto History

Since its introduction to the union in 1959, Alaska has not had a thriving gambling scene, though it does offer some gaming options for residents. In particular, charitably gambling is legal and enjoyed by many Alaskans. Gambling aboard cruise ships off the coast is also allowed. Moves to legalize lotto participation in Alaska have been blocked so far, but there is certainly interest from residents of the state. As mentioned above, the state’s Department of Revenue has also looked into estimated tax revenue from lotteries, a major incentive to introduce the lottery to the 49th state.

Online Lotto Legal Age in Alaska

Alaska offers no legal lotto gambling, so we can only speculate what the legal age will be when it is legalized. There are currently two different legal ages for other types of gaming the state — you must be 21 for casino gambling and sports betting, or 19 for bingo at charitable gaming events or online. If lotteries are legalized, the age would most likely be 19 or 21, based on the current regulations.

• Lottery Age
  There is no legal online lotto participation age in Alaska as all lotteries are illegal.
• Alcohol Age
  The legal drinking age is 21 in Alaska.
• Weed Age
  If you are 21 years of age, you can legally smoke marijuana in Alaska, in designated areas.

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

Lottery play is enjoyed, in person and online, across much of the United States. Though Alaskans cannot play lotto within their home state, they can, in theory, legally buy lotto tickets within US territories where it is legal, or even online lotto in the neighboring country of Canada. The lottery in Washington, where tickets are legally sold, is an option. Alaskans should be aware of laws regarding collecting winnings, since some winnings cannot be collected by mail; these rules differ from lottery to lottery.

The Best Lottery Mobile App

Where online lottery is legal, mobile apps are a fun and convenient option to take part. Various apps like Jackpocket and LottoKings are available for iOs and Android users. Individual state lottos like California, Louisiana and Connecticut also offer their own mobile options for residents. These are not currently available in Alaska, but we will update you as soon as any changes in lotto laws occur.

Online Lottery Promotions to Take Advantage Of

In states where online lottery is legal, there are often many promotions available to players. These bonuses include daily spins, giveaways, welcome offers, instant games and more, and can improve your odds when playing lotto games online. To learn more about online lottery promotions available in states where lotto is legal, visit our main USA lottery page. To explore gambling options within the state, visit our gambling in Alaska page.

Taxes on Lotto Winnings in Alaska

Since lottery play has not yet been legalized in Alaska, we cannot say for certain how lotto winnings will be taxed in the state. Most likely, taxation will follow trends in the rest of the country: the IRS considers lotto earnings taxable income and will collect accordingly. Further local taxes vary from state to state and can be as low as 3% (as it is in New Jersey). The taxation will likely be overseen by Alaska’s Department of Revenue, which has already compiled some helpful information about other state’s lotto revenue and estimates about what this revenue might look like in Alaska.

Upcoming Regulation Changes for Online Lottery

At the time of writing, there are no laws on the table regarding legalizing lottery games in Alaska. However, several signs point to a promising future in Alaska’s lotto participation. For one, unlike most of the other states where lotto is illegal, Alaska does not have any strong religious or moral stances against gambling. They may just be a bit slow to the game as the 49th state to join the union, and also for geographical reasons. Alaska’s Department of Revenue has looked into what lottos could earn the state, and residents certainly have interest in playing, so we may see a positive change in Alaska’s gambling laws sooner rather than later.

Lottery Guides for Nearby States

• Washington
• Oregon
• Montana
• Idaho