In This Guide
The lottery is something that we often take for granted. Most of us get a lottery ticket when we are refueling our car at a local gas station or while we are going about our weekly or monthly shopping. It is a relatively inexpensive thrill that we gladly package with the larger expense of buying petrol or our groceries. However, online lotteries can be an incredibly thrilling and entertaining affair that is worth its own expedition. We believe that every punter, casual or high stakes, should experience the lottery at least once. Join us on this comprehensive dive into the world of online lotteries and partake in it today.
The story of the lottery starts like that of quite a few casino games in China. The earliest recorded form of a lottery game appeared in Han Dynasty China, around the year 200 BC. It was created as a way to help finance public projects, including the Great Wall.
However, the Chinese were not the only ones to come up with the idea of a lottery. The Romans were hot on their heels, with a lottery-like game that resembled a modern raffle. Punters would draw lots from a container and receive their associated prizes.
The Middle Ages saw a mixture of Chinese and Roman traditions, with the goal of medieval lotteries being the financing of fortifications, churches, and other institutions. There are even historical records mentioning a lottery organized in the city of L’Aquila, Italy, in 1444.
The American colonies adopted this system and used it to raise money for public projects, such as roads, bridges, and even schools. You will be surprised to learn that lotteries even financed Harvard and Yale.
Things became a bit sour in the 19th century when lotteries were associated with corruption and fraud. Governments started banning or regulating them, as exploitation was rampant. However, these limitations would not last long, as the 20th century saw a revival and rebirth of lotteries. These became state-run, and their profits were used to finance education and other public services.
Modern lotteries vary significantly from country to country, with some governments still imposing a monopoly on lottery gaming. However, online lotteries are all the rage, with punters from all over the world being able to purchase tickets at the click of a button. We will explore how you can become a part of the history of the lottery in just a minute.
A slightly odd question that you should be asking yourself before you open an account at a lottery site is, why this game? The answer might seem simple: winnings, but there are plenty of pros and cons that you have to consider. We invite you to check out the following objective breakdown of the ins and outs of modern online lotteries so that you can see if they are the play for you. Their pros include:
Pros are naturally balanced out by cons, which in this case amount to:
Everyone wants the winning formula for online lotteries, but few punters want to simply maximize their online lottery fun. Check out the following handy tips to make the most of your online lottery gaming session:
Punters often flock to regional lotteries as they offer larger wins. However, national lotteries are much easier to win because they are considerably smaller. Check out the following comparison to see which variant is aligned with your preferences.
| National Lotteries | Regional Lotteries |
|---|---|
| They offer smaller jackpots | They offer enormous jackpots |
| They are easier to win | They are harder to win |
| They contribute to public services | They contribute to charity organizations |
| They are often state-operated | They are run by international organizations |
| They have lower ticket prices | They have higher ticket prices |
Not all lotteries are created equal, especially when it comes to their entertainment value. You will encounter countless lotteries during your online lottery adventures, with the most popular variants including:
The Lotto A standard national or state lottery game that involves punters selecting a set of numbers and waiting for a drawing. These drawings are televised or streamed, with fun hosts sprucing up the action. Prizes are then divided among participants according to their winning numbers.
Bonus Sessions These are occasional or special drawings that take place parallel to conventional ones. They often feature large jackpots or additional prizes with a minimal additional ticket cost. Punters love them because of how much they boost potential winnings from a single ticket.
Multipliers Lotteries occasionally offer a multiplier option that increases potential winnings at the cost of an additional fee. If a ticket multiplier is successful, the prize is multiplied by a specific amount, such as 2-times or 3-times.
Scratch Cards Sometimes referred to as "scratch-offs" or "instant-win tickets", they are a form of lottery game that has players scratching a concealed area to reveal a potential prize. Online scratch cards feature exciting animations and riveting sound backdrops.
Daily Lotto Draws These are lotteries that are held and completed on a daily basis, with punters having frequent opportunities to play and win. They feature smaller wins than conventional lotteries.
Mini Lottos A miniature version of the lottery that has considerably cheaper ticket prices. However, these more affordable ticket prices come with smaller prize pools that land more frequently.
Multi-Countries Lotteries Sometimes referred to as international lotteries, these incredible games welcome punters from various countries. The most prominent examples are EuroMillions and the PowerBall.
Syndicates While this is not a lottery variant per se, it is a common way to partake in the lottery. It involves a group of players pooling their money and purchasing multiple lottery tickets, thus increasing their chances of winning. Accumulated prizes and split among the participants.
Quick Pick A game mechanic that allows punters to automatically and randomly choose their ticket's numbers. This is not only convenient but also very clever as it avoids number repetition.
Advance Play A mechanic that allows punters to buy tickets for multiple future drawings. It ensures that you do not miss an upcoming draw by being busy or preoccupied.
It is only natural that you are drawn to the biggest and most popular online lotteries, as these often promise the biggest wins and are the easiest to access. However, you should know a bit about the lotteries that you are signing up for, which is why we have prepared this handy breakdown:
US Powerball – USA It is one of the largest and most well-known lotteries that has you choose between five main numbers and one Powerball number. The actual jackpot swells to incredible sizes, often reaching billions of dollars, with the current record win amounting to $2.04 billion. Note that you can partake for as little as $2.
MegaMillions – USA Another major American lottery has you select five main numbers and one Mega Ball number. It offers substantial jackpots, with the current largest one swelling to $1.58 billion. Note that the Match 5 prizes offer up to $5 million.
The National Lottery – UK The most popular lottery in the UK, with an entry-level of a cool £1.5. The gameplay is similar to other lotteries, with the quirk that it is usually drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Euromillions One of Europe’s largest transnational lotteries with a presence in practically every EU country. Punters have to select five main numbers and two lucky star ones. The jackpots are enormous, often reaching tens of millions of Euros.
Australia Powerball A popular Australian lottery game that has punters choosing seven numbers, including one Powerball number. It boasts significant prizes and a hefty jackpot, whose largest win amounted to $160 million.
EuroJackpot Another transnational European lottery that can be enjoyed throughout the Old Continent. You simply select five main numbers and two Euro ones. You partake in the drawing for tens of millions of Euros by risking as little as €2.
Oz Lotto The oldest and most popular Australian lottery, its tickets are incredibly cheap, with the usual price amounting to a pleasant AUS$ 2.55. You have to choose seven numbers in order to compete for jackpots.
Other Lotteries The world is packed with other exciting lotteries. It is impossible to cover all of them, but if you are familiar with the basic concept, they should not cause you any headaches. Some of the most welcoming international lotteries include the Powerball - Australia, SuperEnaLotto, BonoLoto, El Gordo, La Primitiva, Loteria Nacional, Australian Saturday Lotto, Australian Monday Lotto, and the Australian Wednesday Lotto.
Yes, you probably can. As long as gambling is legal in your country of residence, you can probably open an account and partake in an online foreign lottery without a worry in the world. If you are unsure if this process is legal, simply consult your local authorities.
Yes, you definitely can! Many international lottery sites feature national lotteries that may be local to your country or your region. Check out our recommended online lottery sites to learn more.
Not necessarily. Different countries have different lottery laws. While some impose a complete monopoly, others allow for private enterprises to run lotteries.
That is a constantly changing fact that depends entirely on wins and rollovers. However, the biggest lottery tends to be the Powerball or Mega Millions, with EuroMillions following closely behind.
Smaller lotteries tend to be easier to win since they require fewer numbers, and their number range is smaller. However, most lotteries opt for the typical 7-number slip, as the number 7 is synonymous with luck.
These are groups of people that pool their money to purchase lottery tickets. When a syndicate lands a win, the prize is distributed among members based on their contributions.
Yes, you definitely can! You can enjoy the lottery from various mobile devices, as there are plenty of lottery websites and mobile apps. Note that there are even some that facilitate the purchasing of foreign tickets, so you are not limited to your local lotteries.
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