As with just about everything else these days, lotteries have undergone some massive technological advances and are now able to be played online. Not only can players choose to stay at home and play from the comfort of an armchair, but games can also be played on all types of mobile devices. So long as they have a strong internet connection, players can access the lotteries online, even when they’re on the move. This is the new way forward, in contrast to the state-run lottery systems of old.
To break it down, the word ‘lottery’ means the money accumulated from the sale of tickets, which are numbered, random numbers are drawn awarding a prize to the lucky people that chose the same numbers. Lotto, short for lottery, is one of the oldest and most popular games in Britain, which has seen people receive life-changing wins for several decades. Although technically lotto is not a casino game, it can now be played in online casinos. Online lottery games are in plentiful supply and can be played without having to go to the lottery office where you have to stand in line to purchase your ticket. Now, all you have to do is click on the lottery you want to play and hey presto, you’re in business, and in the running to win a jackpot, all without having to leave your front door.
Everyone that plays lotto, does so because they want to win loads of cash, and playing online is just a more convenient way of doing so. In this article, CasinoTop aim to provide you with all the information you need to be able to play the best lotto games online, they’ll also tell you how they operate along with the rules of the games. In addition, we’ll tell you some history about the origins of the lottery.
Lotto has a very long history, in fact, it dates way back to classic times, however, in the 16th century, they saw a resurgence when lotteries were held to raise money to fund projects and wars. In 1566 Queen Elizabeth I ordered the first recorded lottery in order to raise money for public good works like strengthening the Navy and ports during the war between Britain and Spain. The lottery was more of a rich man’s game as a ticket cost 10 shillings, which was big money in those days. The winner was to receive 5,000 shillings which was astronomical by today’s standards, but the first-ever winner received 3,000 shillings and the balance in luxurious linen and tapestries, which were highly desirable prizes in those days.
Due to the success of that first lottery, private brokers bought the rights from the British government to sell tickets, and so an institution was started. The Camelot Group Ltd has successfully run the National Lottery since 1994, with tickets costing £2 each, an affordable price for everyone.
One of the best things about online lotteries is the fact that you can take part wherever you happen to be in the world. You don’t have to go to the local lotto office or even be in your own city, state or country. Thanks to the online method of playing lotto, you can now keep track of everything because the details of your games are all stored online. If you happen to be having a holiday in Italy for example, and the lottery prize has grown considerably, you can buy tickets and watch the developments online. Everything about the online lottery is the same as purchasing a physical ticket. You have exactly the same chances of winning, the only difference is that you’re playing from the convenience of your computer or mobile device’s website.
A question often asked is whether scratch cards can be played online, and the answer is yes! Loads of gambling websites offer this type of lottery game, but it’s important to check out who the provider of the scratch ticket is. Not all tickets are above board so you need to make sure that you recognise the provider as one you have heard about or used before. All the games found at the lottery office or corner shop can be played online. You just have to choose an online casino that offers them.
If you’re a regular lotto player and have routinely walked down the road to buy your weekly ticket, you’re probably wondering “why change now?” Well, the main reason is that it’s super convenient, but that’s not all. Take a look at some other good reasons why playing online might be a better option.
Amongst all the lotteries in the UK, you’ll want a rundown on which ones are the best, as well as some useful information on them. The biggest and most popular games are always the most reputable and also payout the largest jackpot prize pools. It stands to reason that the more people that are playing, means the more money is being contributed and therefore gives the biggest wins.
Here we have listed the pick of the crop in Britain. By the time you’ve read this guide, you’ll know almost everything you need to know about lotteries in the UK.
Starting back in 2002, Lotto is today by far the most widely played lottery in Britain. Originally, in 1994 it was known as the National Lottery and the way the game works is, a person buys one or more tickets either with an actual ticket from a registered ticket seller or a digital ticket online. On each ticket, the player chooses 6 different numbers between 1 and 59 and depending on how many of your numbers are drawn, will determine the value of your cash prize. Obviously, the more correct numbers you have, the more you’ll win. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, the winning numbers are broadcast by a game official, and sometimes there are no big jackpot winners. That is, no one has actually chosen the same 5 numbers that are drawn, which results in the jackpot being rolled over to the following week. The jackpot is capped at £22 million, however, in July of 2011, £161 million was won, which was the highest ever prize ever won in Britain at that time.
The Lotto Millionaire Raffle is a variation of the Lotto game mentioned above. It isn’t as lucrative as the original Lotto, however, it does produce a winner every time there is a draw. The 1st prize is £1 million and although that may not seem like much in comparison to some top tier prizes, it is guaranteed to go off every time. This particular lotto game dates back to 2015 and has a large following, particularly online. The appeal of this game is that someone is sure to win £1 million every time it is drawn.
This lottery can boast being the largest in the entire world, mainly due to the fact that it is played in 9 European countries, hence its name ‘EuroMillions’. The lottery is drawn twice a week, on a Tuesday and Friday, and the jackpot payout is always a minimum of €17 million with a maximum of €190 million. Once again, 5 of the numbers between 1 and 50 chosen by the player must match those drawn. An additional 2 lucky star numbers between 1 and 12 are also chosen and although this lottery has much higher odds, it’s all about the luck of the draw!
Recently a ticket-holder in the UK won the £170m jackpot, scooping the country's biggest ever lottery win on Tuesday night's EuroMillions draw. The lucky winner matched all five balls in the main draw, which were 7, 10, 15, 44 and 49, as well as both of the lucky stars - 3 and 12, very high odds indeed!
Three times a week, on a Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, you can play the exciting Thunderball game. Regardless of the number of winners, the top prize always pays £500,000
As with most lottery games, 5 numbers must be chosen, this time between 1 and 39 and another number between 1 and 14, called the Thunderball number. The lucky winner/s that happen to pick all 6 numbers will win the top jackpot of £500k. The great thing about this lottery is that it is reasonably priced, at only £1 per ticket! Everyone can afford to be in with a chance.
Now you’ve got the different lotteries available, all you have to do is know how to go about playing online… and luckily that’s the easy part. It couldn’t be more simple or straight-forward, we’ve already given you the basic rules above, once you find the actual websites, then you’re good to go.
Finding casino sites in the UK is not at all difficult, there are several hundred of them to choose from where you can buy your lottery tickets. Of course, there is the Lotto UK website, but if you choose another destination, then the most important thing to do is make sure the website is reputable and secure. Finding a regulated and licensed online casino will ensure your personal data and funds are well protected. It is a requirement that you sign up and make an account for yourself and you’ll need to divulge some personal details to do this. After that, you just have to choose your lottery game and you’re ready to begin.
There are different payment methods you can select from, like credit cards or e-wallets, so paying for your ticket should be a quick transaction. Now the great thing is you can use a laptop, desktop or mobile phone, any of them will automatically choose random numbers for you. These will be kept on file in your account along with your virtual ticket, so there’s no chance of misplacing it. When you’re ready to check your ticket numbers to see whether you have won the jackpot, it’s as easy as can be to access your virtual ticket again.
SSL technology is used by most reputable online sites, which guarantees the player’s information is safe and secure. SSL technology is actually used by banks as well, so players can put their minds at rest in the knowledge that their data is in good hands.
In addition to top-notch security, there is an independent and international company called Lotto Agent which is a lottery ticket delivering services. They have a support team that is very efficient, friendly and professional. They can offer help via telephone, live chat or email, so if you have any queries you’d like clarified, you’ll always be able to reach someone that can put you on the right track.
The bigger lottery organisations ensure that all draws are fair, random and honest. There are rigorous procedures in place, and every draw is monitored by an independent adjudicator who confirms that the draw is carried out correctly. Members of the National Lottery’s compliance team attend at least three draws each quarter to check that procedures are carried out to the strictest measures.
If you have always loved taking part in lotteries, then you’ll really enjoy the convenience of playing online. You can access the online casinos anytime, anyplace from a computer or mobile device of your choice and purchase your tickets in the same way you would from your local corner store or lottery agent. No need to leave the comfort of your home, office or whatever place you happen to be, just log in to the casino website you’ve chosen to play from and get cracking!
We have put together a list of frequently asked questions about all the different aspects of online casino gambling. It’s always a good idea to take a look through them as I’m sure many of your uncertainties will be clarified here.
If you need more information, go to the Frequently Asked Questions.
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