You don’t have to go out and purchase a lottery ticket to put yourself in the running for potentially a big jackpot win. Thanks to lottery betting sites like Lottoland and Lottomart, you can play entirely online. What’s more, you can try your luck on some of the biggest international lotteries currently running, from the US Powerball to El Gordo. Read on to find out more about how it all works, the different lotto draws available, and how you’ll get your winnings if your lucky numbers come up.
Online Lottery Betting Explained
There are two ways you can play the lottery: by buying tickets —either directly from operators or through third party sellers— or by betting on the lotto. Lottery betting differs from the traditional way of playing, as you don’t actually purchase a physical or online ticket. Instead, and as the name implies, you’re betting on the result of a lottery draw.
Now, you’re probably wondering what happens if you win the jackpot. If you buy a lottery ticket, the operator pays out winnings. Lottery betting sites, on the other hand, work on an insurance model. This means that lotto betting sites partner with insurance companies and insure each bet that’s made. So if you pick the lucky numbers, the insurance company will pay out and you’ll receive the same amount as if you bought a regular ticket.
What Makes a Top Lotto Betting Site?
Before we recommend any online lottery site, we assess it according to certain criteria to ensure it provides the best possible experience. Among the important elements we look for are:
- A gambling licence from a respected industry authority such as the UK Gambling Commission and Malta Gaming Authority
- An interface that’s simple to navigate, whether you’re using the site on your desktop or mobile device
- A diverse range of international lotteries to choose from
- The presence of additional games, such as scratchcards and casino slots
- Generous promo offers, such as free lotto bets for new customers
- Active customer support channels so queries and issues can be quickly dealt with
- Player-friendly terms and conditions
The Best Lottery Betting Sites
There are quite a few sites that give people in the UK the chance to discover lotto draws from countries across the globe. Here are some of our top picks.
Jackpot.com
Jackpot.com lives up to its name by letting you play for lottery jackpots the world over. From the Irish Lotto to Lotto China to the OZ Powerball, you have numerous ways to deploy those lucky numbers. The site also hosts scratchcards, slots, casino table games, and even live dealer games like roulette and blackjack, so there’s plenty to keep you busy as you await the outcome of the draw. There’s a great range of customer support options, including live chat, so you can easily get help should you need it.
Lottomart
Lottomart is a leading lottery betting site with a few different promo deals waiting for new customers, including a gift of a free lotto bet when you participate in a lottery game for the first time. You can play the likes of Cash4Life, US Powerball and the Irish Lotto here. Plus, there’s the interesting Great British Jackpot, which lets you bet on Switzerland’s Loto Express using the same format and prize structure as the UK Lotto. A menu of scratchcards, slots and casino games rounds off Lottomart’s offering nicely.
Multilotto
Multi by name, multi by nature, this lottery betting site covers more lotto draws than many will have even heard of. The options here include Viking Lotto, Bitcoin Jackpot and Colombian Baloto, which sit alongside better-known biggies like El Gordo. This site puts its emphasis squarely on lotteries, so you won’t find any casino game sections. That said, there’s a wide array of scratchcards, including several budget games which can be played for as little as 25p.
GiantLottos
From Mega Millions to the SuperEnalotto, there’s plenty of jackpots to play for at GiantLottos. You can boost your chances by buying shares in online syndicates, including one for ‘Mega Power’ – a clever combo package that encompasses both the US Powerball and Mega Millions. A distinguishing aspect of GiantLottos is that, rather than being a lottery betting site based on an insurance model, it’s a lottery agent, meaning its staff actually purchase the relevant lottery tickets on your behalf.
WinTrillions
Like GiantLottos, WinTrillions is a lottery agent, so its people will literally go to retailers in the countries running the various lotteries and buy tickets for you. You can join syndicates – which the site refers to as ‘lottery teams’ – for a number of epic draws, including the US Powerball and SuperEnalotto, It also offers lottery bundles, a prime example being the Euro Combo, which covers both the EuroMillions and EuroJackpot draws.
What International Lotteries Can I Play?
Physical lottery tickets are only available to residents of countries where that draw takes place. Powerball tickets, for example, can only be purchased in the US. Lottery messenger services overcome this somewhat, but nothing comes near to the range of options you have when you bet on the lottery. Lotto betting sites offer a huge variety of draws to bet on worldwide, meaning there’s no shortage of options to have a punt on.
Some sites allow you to bet on over 50 lotteries, including draws in Australia, Hong Kong and Brazil. Chances are you’ll know about EuroMillions and other draws connected with the UK National Lottery. But let’s take a look at some other prominent lotteries you’ll come across online.
Lotto x5
Launched by Lottoland, a prominent lottery betting site based in Gibraltar, Lotto x5 gives you five chances to land a cool £1 million from a £1 stake. You select six numbers between 1 and 59, which will then be entered into five draws – each with a million-pound jackpot. The first of these draws is multi-tier, meaning you can win smaller cash prizes, while the remaining four are jackpot-only. Draws take place every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
US Mega Millions
Mega Millions is offered across dozens of states throughout the US, and thanks to lottery betting sites, you can look forward to the outcome of the draw too. You simply pick five numbers between 1 and 70, along with a bonus ball that’s between 1 and 25 which is known as the Mega Ball. If all come good, you might win a seriously immense jackpot – a lucky player won $1.537 billion in 2018. There are plenty of lower payout tiers to play for, too. Draws take place in the early hours of Wednesday and Saturday, UK time.
US Powerball
US Powerball is the other monster lottery draw from across the pond, paying out a record $1.586 billion to a syndicate in 2016. The number of balls here is six, with five numbers chosen from between 1 and 69, and an additional ‘Powerball’ which is a number between 1 and 26. Get all six balls and you take the giant jackpot (or share it with other lucky winners), but there are several lower-tier combinations that also payout. Draws take place in the early hours of Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, UK time.
Irish Lotto
You don’t have to be based in Ireland to enjoy the Irish Lotto. Operated by the Irish National Lottery, it simply involves picking six numbers from 1 to 47. If all six match, you win the jackpot. Bear in mind a bonus ball is also drawn, which can potentially help you win one of the lower-tier prizes. You can also pay a little extra to enter the same numbers into the additional Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 draws, along with the Lotto Plus Raffle.
Claiming a Lotto Betting Bonus
When you buy tickets from official lottery operators, more often than not, there won’t be any handy perks or deals on offer. This is where lottery betting sites blow traditional operators out the water. You can enjoy a whole range of great bonuses when you sign up and play at lottery betting sites, including matched first deposit offers and free bets. This is the perfect way to make the most of your bankroll and enjoy some free lotto betting.
It’s not just new players who benefit from lotto betting bonuses, either. Many of the top lottery bookmakers also offer promotions and VIP rewards for existing players, meaning there’s no shortage of handy bonuses up for grabs.
The bonuses on offer at lotto betting sites can include:
- Free lottery tickets with no deposit needed
- Buy X get X free lottery tickets
- Matched deposit bonuses
- Free spins on slot games
- Buy X get X free scratchcards
Don’t forget to check the terms and conditions – lotto betting bonuses usually come with a wagering requirement as well as time limits and win restrictions.
Enjoy More Betting Options
Some UK lotto betting sites offer a range of wagering options. For example, rather than simply selecting the numbers that you think will be drawn, some sites let you bet on markets such as first or second ball to be drawn, ball colours, odds/evens and the highest or lowest ball drawn. This can be a great alternative if you don’t fancy your chances of predicting every number. However, not all sites offer this feature, so make sure you check the available betting options before signing up.
Increase your Chances by Joining a Syndicate
Some of the top lottery betting sites let players join syndicates for a better chance of winning. A syndicate is a group of players who buy tickets collectively, and if any of the members’ numbers come up, the prize will be split evenly. You may not win as much as if you’re placing individual bets, but joining a syndicate can mean you’re more likely to bag some returns. Considering the unlikely odds of landing a lottery win, this is a big plus for many players.
More than Just Lottery Betting
It’s not just lottery draws on offer at the top lotto betting sites. You’ll often find a range of scratch cards and instant win games on offer, perfect for a quick game in between lottery draws. A number of the best sites also offer casino games. These are usually online slots, but you can also find table games like roulette and blackjack at some sites. A few lottery bookmakers even offer live casino games, meaning you can do all your lotto betting and casino gambling from a single account.
How to Collect your Lotto Betting Winnings
How you collect your lotto betting winnings depends on how much you win, as well as the policy of the site you’re playing at. While some sites state that all winnings are credited to your lotto betting account, at other sites only relatively small wins will be. For example, a lotto betting site may state that wins up to £500 are automatically credited to your account, and that any larger wins a may be sent via cheque or bank transfer.
Another thing to keep in mind is that large wins or jackpot prizes may not be available immediately. As lotto bookmakers operate on an insurance model, the terms and conditions of some sites state that it may take up to 90 days for insurance brokers to clear the payment.
Make Sure You Understand Tax Laws
Lotto betting winnings aren’t taxed in the way that some lotteries are. While UK lotto winnings are tax free, US lotteries are taxed, with the exact amount varying from state to state. When you bet on the lotto the prize you receive isn’t coming from the lottery operator itself, so it’s not taxed.
However, it’s important to know the payout you receive will still be equal to the value of the lottery win after tax is deducted. So, while your prize won’t be taxed itself, you will still receive the same amount as you would if you bought a regular ticket for a taxable lottery.
Non-jackpot winnings are generally already pre-taxed, but jackpot winnings are usually stated pre-tax, so the amount you receive will probably be lower than that advertised.
Another thing to keep in mind is the tax laws of your own country, as you may have to pay an actual tax on your winnings. For example, if you place a winning bet on the Powerball and live in a country (other than the US) where gambling winnings are taxed, then you could end up with less than a US resident who won the same amount.
In the UK, gambling winnings aren’t taxed, so your all lotto betting winnings are yours to keep. However, make sure to always check the tax laws of the country you’re playing from.
Bet on Lotto on the Go
The top lotto betting sites on our list have all optimised their websites for mobile use, which means you can try your luck when out and about. Some of the best lottery sites have also developed native mobile apps, which we think are the best option for those who like to play lotteries on their smartphone.
Mobile lottery betting apps make betting on your favourite draws easier, faster and more convenient, so they’re definitely the way forward. Those aren’t the only benefits, though. By activating push notifications, you’ll be alerted to the hottest bonuses and promotions. Not only that, but you’ll also be instantly notified whenever you bag a win, so you can then go about cashing out your prize.
Choose From a Range of Banking Methods
Most of the best online lotto betting sites offer a wide range of ways to pay into your account and take money out. Deposits tend to be processed instantly, while withdrawal times will vary widely depending on the method and the lottery betting site. A particularly popular choice is PayPal, since it’s highly secure and usually allows for rapid – sometimes even instant – withdrawals. Here are the other commonly supported banking methods you’ll find.
- Debit cards
- Skrill
- Neteller
- MuchBetter
- Paysafecard (usually deposit only)
- Trustly
- Online bank transfer
- Boku or other pay by mobile service (deposit only)
Ready to Try Lotto Betting?
Sure, the odds of winning the grand jackpot of any lottery are slim, but it’s still a lot of fun to see whether your lucky numbers will come up. And, with so many international lotteries available online, you can mix things up and try new lotto draws to your heart’s content. Browse our pick of sites, compare welcome bonuses, and you can soon see if luck is on your side.
Your Lotto Betting Questions Answered
For one thing, playing online is less effort than going into a shop to buy a ticket in person. But more than that, lottery betting sites offer a vast range of lottery draws to choose from, so aren’t limited to the same few games over and over again.
Yes. We only recommend UK Gambling Commission licensed, trusted lotto betting sites. All the licensed UK sites on our list are held to high standards in terms of security, player protection, responsible gambling and fairness, so you can bet on lotto in peace when you play at our recommended sites.
No. Whether you win or not is down to the results announced by reputable lottery operators, so the results can’t be rigged by online lottery sites. That said, we always recommend sticking with licensed sites so you won’t fall foul of fraud.
Check the homepage, the FAQs or the ‘About us’ section – you should see it clearly stated if the site is licensed by a reputable gaming authority. Furthermore, you’ll also know the site is licensed if it’s on our list of recommendations as we never feature a site that isn’t regulated.
Yes. Licensed lotto betting sites are legally obliged to pay out prizes in accordance with lottery prizes, so you can rest assured. The insurance model makes this possible, so you’ll get the right amount even if you win huge jackpot amounts.
Yes. Pretty much all of the best lotto betting sites allow players to set up a subscription to their favourite lottery draws. This means you’ll never have to worry about forgetting to place a bet, and you can set the number of tickets and frequency to match your preferences.
No. Regardless of what you may hear or read online, there’s nothing you can do to improve your chances of winning the lottery, whether you’re buying a ticket or betting on the result. Every lottery draw is completely random and independent, meaning your chances are exactly the same regardless of the numbers you pick.
No, your odds of winning aren’t altered either way when you play through lottery betting sites. That said, you can take advantage of free play bonuses and other promo deals at some of the best lotto sites in the UK.
18. While UK players can buy National Lottery and EuroMillions from the age of 16, you have to be 18 to bet on the lottery. This is because lottery betting falls under the same laws as sports betting and real money casino games.
It’s difficult to crown just one as the most popular, but very widely-played lotteries include Spain’s El Gordo, Italy’s SuperEnalotto, and the US Powerball and Mega Millions draws.
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- edition.cnn.com – ‘Saturday’s Powerball potential payout is $635 million, the 10th largest jackpot in US lottery history’
