The history of the lottery can be traced back to the Ancient Chinese civilization, where the first recorded games took place between 205 and 187 BC. These games helped fund important government projects, including the Great Wall of China. The Roman Empire followed, and the first lotteries were conducted as entertainment during dinner parties. Emperor Augustus later organized a commercial lottery, with the proceeds from the games going towards the repair of the City of Rome. Today, there are legal online lotteries, but they are not widely available.

Today, there are several different types of lottery games. Five-digit games, also known as Pick 5, require a player to choose five numbers. Prize payouts are generally fixed, regardless of the number of tickets sold. Daily numbers games are also typically fixed. Another variant is the sweepstakes, which do not require a purchase. This method is gaining popularity because it is relatively easy to enter and can provide great prizes. However, players should be aware that the sweepstakes may not be legal in their jurisdiction.

Aside from offering great odds, lottery apps can also provide information about draw jackpots, maps of retailers and the opportunity to scan lottery tickets. Some even allow players to play Second Chance games with losing tickets and pick their numbers beforehand. Lotteries will often build the games right into the apps. The apps are developed using cross-platform technology, so players can use the same account for both web-based and mobile versions. In addition, players can also access their account information from other devices.