If you love playing the lottery, you may have heard about its history. In ancient China, the first lottery records were found in 205 and 187 BC. These lotteries were used to finance important government projects, including the Great Wall of China. During the Roman Empire, lotteries were popular entertainment at dinner parties and were eventually made into commercial ventures. The first commercial lottery was organized by Emperor Augustus, and its profits were used to repair the City of Rome.

Today, you can even play the lottery on your mobile device with the help of an app. Lottery apps let you play the major lottery games, including New York’s Powerball. While the app works like a regular lottery site, it’s more convenient to play the game on a smartphone. There are also apps available for different countries. And if you win big, these lottery apps can be a great way to make a living.

In the US, most states now have their own lottery websites. The primary utility of these websites is to provide information on where to buy a ticket, what state the lottery is available in, and how to contact the lottery office. However, a small number of online lotteries have diversified their service offerings to include Instant Games, which are casino-style games that allow players to wager real money. Many lottery websites have mobile apps for purchase, and you can play them anywhere.