An Idaho Indian reservation has launched the first national online lottery, taking advantage of a loophole in US federal law that bans Internet gambling. Some experts say the move could usher in an era of legal cyber-wagering. The online endeavor, called US Lottery, will be run by the Coeur d'Alene tribe, which has a legal on-site casino in Worley, Idaho; and UniStar Entertainment, a Milford, Conneticut company with overseas gambling operations.

Whether US citizens can legally participate in the new lottery depends on the laws in their state. Tickets for the pick-six game will be $1 each, and the jackpot will start at $1 million per week. The US Lottery is seizing on a provision in the Federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 that allows tribes to use computers and telecommunications devices to operate non-casino games such as bingo.