Can non residents play California Lottery?
Abigail Rogers
Updated on May 20, 2026
Herein, can a non resident win the lottery?
You can buy US lottery tickets, win the Powerball and the Mega Millions lotteries, and collect your jackpot no matter what your US residence status is. Of course, since non-US residents are eligible to buy the tickets, they're also eligible to claim the prize money should they win.
Secondly, can you play the lottery online in California? Currently, you can't purchase California lottery tickets online. However, it is possible to obtain tickets at more than 23,000 registered retailers throughout the state. There are two types of lottery games in California: draw games and scratchers.
Hereof, do you have to be a US citizen to claim lottery prize?
The Powerball website says people who legally purchase tickets can play the game and collect prizes anywhere in the world. Winners do not have to be an American citizen or a resident to play the game. Some state lawmakers have talked about limiting wins to U.S. citizens, but no laws have passed so far.
Can a non US resident play Mega Millions?
Foreigners and non-residents can indeed play Mega Millions but their tickets must be purchased in the United States. And winnings must be claimed in the United States.