Connecticut Lottery Online: The Best Online Lotto Sites for July
By Jessica Whitehouse,Editor at online-gambling.com
Jessica Whitehouse
Editor at online-gambling.com | Lottery | Online Status |
|---|---|
| Keno | Legal Online |
| Lotto! | Legal Online |
| Mega Millions | Legal Online |
| Cash5 | Legal Online |
Connecticut has run its own lottery since 1972. Since July 2024, players can buy tickets and play draw games online through the official CT iLottery — making Connecticut the 11th US state to offer legal online lottery sales. The lottery contributed $387 million to Connecticut’s General Fund in fiscal year 2024.
- Trusted local news sources such as the Connecticut Post and the Hartford Courant are what we use to discover breaking news and developments in the gambling industry.
- Our expertise covers the whole of the gambling industry. That includes topics such as casino games like video poker and how to play online roulette.
- We stay up to date with the actions of local authorities on gambling and the lottery, like the Connecticut Lottery Corporation and the Bureau of Gambling Control.
Connecticut Now Has an Online Lottery
Connecticut launched the CT iLottery in July 2024, becoming the 11th US state to offer legal online lottery sales. You can buy draw game tickets and play Keno at ctilottery.org or through the CT Lottery app on iOS and Android.
Scratch cards and Fast Play games remain retail-only — every draw game is now playable from home.
Games on the CT iLottery
Available games include KENO, Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto!, Cash5, Play3, and Play4. Players must be at least 18 years old and physically located within Connecticut to participate. The site uses geolocation to verify you are inside state lines before each session.
How to Get Started
- Visit the CT iLottery or download the CT Lottery app on iOS or Android.
- Register and verify your identity — you must be 18 or older and located in Connecticut.
- Fund your account by debit card, credit card, or bank transfer. The minimum deposit is $10.
- Prizes of $599 or less are automatically credited to your iLottery account. Prizes of $600 or more must be claimed in person at CT Lottery headquarters in Wallingford.
Lottery Games You Can Play in Connecticut
Connecticut offers a strong lineup of local draw games, multi-state jackpots, and daily draws — all now available through the CT iLottery. Here are the most popular games.
Keno – Like Bingo, But Better
CT Lottery introduced Keno on April 25th, 2016. There are over 300 drawings every day, with a new draw every 4 minutes. To play, pick 1 to 10 spots on a playslip and wager between $1 and $20. You can also choose how many consecutive games to play and add a bonus multiplier for extra winning potential. Keno is now playable online through the CT iLottery, with prizes ranging from $1 up to $1 million. Mark Roy is Connecticut’s biggest Keno winner — he pocketed $300,000 across two separate wins using the same numbers both times.
Lotto! – Connecticut’s Game of Choice
Lotto! began life in 1983 as Connecticut Lotto and has been a cornerstone of the state lottery ever since. The jackpot starts at $1 million and rolls over until someone wins. Pick 6 different numbers from 1 to 44. Tickets cost just $1 and draws take place at 10:38 PM every Tuesday and Friday.
Mega Millions – Big Jackpots at Low Prices
Mega Millions is the multi-state draw with life-changing jackpots that Connecticut players have long enjoyed. Tickets start at $2. Pick 5 numbers for the white balls and 1 number for the gold MegaBall, then add a Megaplier for $1 more to multiply any non-jackpot prizes. Powerball is the other blockbuster multi-state draw worth exploring alongside it.
Cash5 – A Chance to Win Every Night
Cash5 has been running since 1992, originally under the name Cash Lotto. Drawings take place every night at 10:29 PM ET — ideal for frequent players. Pick 5 numbers from 1 to 35. Tickets cost $1 and adding the Kicker option for 50 cents gives you extra prize tiers to aim for. The top Cash5 prize can reach up to $100,000.
Lottery Regulator in Connecticut
The lottery is regulated by the Connecticut Lottery Corporation, a dedicated public state agency. The Department of Consumer Protection Gaming Division oversees its operations to make sure the lottery runs fairly and legally. In fiscal year 2024 the lottery generated $1.68 billion in total sales and returned $387 million to Connecticut’s General Fund for vital public services.
Other Lotto Draws You Could Pick
Beyond draw games, the Connecticut Lottery offers a broad range of Scratch tickets available at retail locations statewide. New games are added regularly, with prices ranging from $1 to $30. Prizes include cash, experiences, and more. The game list changes regularly — check the current catalogue at ctlottery.org/Scratchers for the latest options.
History of Connecticut Lottery
Connecticut Lottery is one of the longest-running lotteries in the US. Its track record shows a willingness to move with the times — from TV draws and vending machine ticket sales to a fully operational online service today.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| June 1971 | Governor Thomas Meskill signs Public Act no. 865, bringing the lottery to Connecticut. A team of commissioners is appointed and the Connecticut State Lottery is established. |
| February 15th, 1972 | The first tickets go on sale across 3,000 locations. The only game available is ‘The Lottery’. Tickets cost 50 cents with a top prize of $5,000. |
| September 9th, 1975 | Connecticut Lottery’s first scratch card, ‘Instant Match’, goes on sale offering prizes up to $10,000. Revenue is directed toward education. |
| September 1976 | Connecticut’s first lottery TV show launches. ‘Double Play’ airs weekly with a top prize of $200,000, and more TV lottery shows follow in the years ahead. |
| November 7th, 1983 | Lotto! launches, offering players the chance to win $1 million. In the same financial year, cumulative lottery contributions to Connecticut’s General Fund reach $1 billion. |
| November 1995 | Connecticut Lottery joins the MUSL to offer Powerball. Mega Millions is added 15 years later. |
| June 2009 | Self-service ticket scanners arrive, letting players check results instantly. Vending machines follow in 2010 for quicker, more convenient ticket sales. |
| August 2011 | The CT Lottery website goes mobile-friendly, allowing players to check numbers and results on the go. |
| 2021 | Connecticut legislation authorizing online lottery sales is signed into law, paving the way for the CT iLottery. |
| July 2024 | The CT iLottery launches, making Connecticut the 11th US state to offer online lottery sales. Draw games and Keno are now available to players aged 18 and over. |
Connecticut’s Most Famous Winners
On January 1st, 2002, Mary Stange won $28.5 million in the Classic Lotto jackpot — the biggest single-ticket win in that game’s history at the time. Rather than splashing out, she reportedly planned to redecorate her home and buy new tires for her ’97 Mercury.
In 2011, the Putnam Avenue Family Trust made history by claiming a Powerball jackpot of $254.2 million — the largest lottery prize ever won in Connecticut to date. The prize was shared between Brandon Lacoff, Tim Davidson, and Greg Skidmore, three associates who together run an asset management firm.
Lottery Legal Age in Connecticut
In Connecticut, the lottery is only legal for players aged 18 and over. The same minimum age applies to pari-mutuel wagering and bingo.
Other forms of gambling in the Constitution State carry a higher age limit of 21, including Native American casino gambling. Underage gambling is a criminal offense and can result in fines up to $1,000 and around 12 months of probation.
-
Lottery AgeThe legal lotto age in Connecticut is 18 years old.
-
Alcohol AgeIn Connecticut the legal drinking age is 21 years old.
-
Cannabis AgeRecreational cannabis is legal in Connecticut for adults aged 21 and over (since July 2021).
Online Lottery in Other US States
Connecticut joined a growing group of states offering legal online lottery in 2024. Today, more than a dozen US states have official iLottery sites, including Illinois, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, Georgia, Virginia, and Kentucky.
Online lottery has found a strong audience in every state that has launched it, and the list continues to grow.
Internationally, online lotteries are well established in Europe, Australia, and Canada. Eurojackpot and EuroMillions are the biggest European draws. El Gordo — arguably the world’s most famous lottery event — is played each December in Spain. Australians play Oz Lotto and Canadians play Lotto 6/49.
The CT Lottery App
The CT Lottery app is available on both iOS and Android. Since the iLottery launch in 2024, it has grown into a full ticket-buying tool.
You can now use the app to purchase draw game tickets and play Keno online for real money, check winning numbers, scan tickets at retail, and find the nearest licensed retailer.
Responsible gambling tools are built in — you can set daily, weekly, or monthly limits on spending and time spent on the app. Scratch cards and Fast Play games are not available through the app; those still require a visit to a licensed retailer.
Lottery Promotions in Connecticut
With the CT iLottery now live, there are real promotional benefits for online players. The 2nd Chance Promotion lets you register non-winning scratch tickets through the app for another shot at prizes — a good reason to hold on to tickets rather than throwing them away.
Terms and conditions apply. The site also runs account-specific promotions, so it is worth checking the app regularly for the latest offers. Responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits and spending caps are built in and can help you stay within your limits.
Lottery games are a form of gambling — only spend what you can afford to lose. If gambling becomes a problem, free help is available: call the National Problem Gambling Helpline on 1-800-522-4700 (free, confidential, 24/7) or contact the CT Council on Problem Gambling at 1-888-789-7777.
- Check the age rules: you must be at least 18 to play.
- Pick your game: choose a jackpot with great odds and a prize worth playing for.
- Play online: sign up for a CT iLottery account and buy tickets from your phone or computer.
Taxes on Lotto Winnings in Connecticut
All lottery winnings in the US are subject to tax, and Connecticut is no exception. CT Lottery withholds 24% in federal tax on all winnings over $5,000.
You will also owe 6.99% in Connecticut state income tax. Winners are legally required to declare all winnings. For the most current guidance, visit the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services.
Connecticut Online Lottery: What’s New
Connecticut’s iLottery journey moved quickly once the legislation was in place. A bill authorizing online lottery sales was signed into law in 2021, and the CT iLottery launched in July 2024 — making Connecticut the 11th US state to go fully digital.
Under President and CEO Frank Suarez, the Connecticut Lottery Corporation has expanded digital access and continues to develop the service. Players who want to follow the latest news can visit ctlottery.org. To see how the lottery fits into the broader picture, read our Connecticut gambling guide.
Lottery Guides for Nearby States