- Online lotteries are currently only legal in 10 states. These lucky states are New Hampshire, Michigan, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Delaware, New York, Virginia, Maine, and of course Georgia.
- Online lotteries are legal but also not really depending on how you see it.
There is currently no legal online lotto in Indiana, but the minimum age to play regular lotto is 21 years of age, so it is possible online lotto will be the same. In some states, online players are required to register in person in order to verify they meet the age requirements. It remains to be seen in Indiana instates such regulations. Yes online lottery is legal in india, play it. Advocate, New Delhi. 2 Consultations. 4.9 on 5.0 Talk to Advocate Varnika Singh; 1. In exercise of the powers conferred by Section 5 of the Lotteries (Regulation) Act, 1998 (Central Act 17 of 1998), the governor of Tamil Nadu hereby prohibits the sale of tickets within.
Nobody can the deny the fact the online lottery is rather popular all around the world. The majority of people have access to the online lottery, but there are players located in certain territories that cannot play the lottery. These players can’t play the lottery locally, nor they can play it online, because their national authorities have banned it.
Before I give you the ultimate list of countries where online lottery is restricted, I’m going to talk about why governments decide to ban lottery in general, and why the online lottery gets banned in specific. Note, do not worry, the countries where the lottery is banned by default are only a handful. On a side note, I’m also going to provide you with information, what countries do not have access to the most popular US and EU lotteries.
I’m sure you’ve been waiting for something like this for a long time.
No Two Countries Are the Same – Tailor Made Legislation
I’m not sure if you’re familiar with this, but the basis for official guidelines, legislation are usually the needs of the citizens. Lottery in general is perceived as gambling, that’s why many governments like to protect their citizens by imposing restrictions. However, this is wrong on so many levels. There’s something called self control, there are agencies who help people with gambling issues, and most importantly, there will always be players who get away with it. So, in my opinion, it’s better to legalize it and tax the player.
So, we can consider the ban on lottery as a measure to protect people who lack self-control. Now, to get back on the heading, no two nations are the same. Some have a tendency to be responsible, others like to go to the extremes. Don’t get me wrong, but there’s some truth in this. As a rule of thumb, I repeat, in my experience, countries where online lottery and lottery in general are legal, are doing pretty good. Just saying.
Religion, Local Culture and Tradition Play a Major Role
Is Online Lottery Legal In India
Other factors that greatly influence how the legislation is shaped are the population’s religion, the local culture and any customs, traditions that stand out. Almost by default, note “almost”, countries where Islam is the predominant religion, all forms of gambling are restricted. Now, since lottery is considered gambling in these regions, the lottery is straight out banned.
Many individuals from these regions are eager to play the lottery online, compete for the much desired US lottery jackpots, but they cannot. If, say, they’re caught playing the lottery, they’re severely punished, charged being gamblers. You don’t want to be located there, don’t you? No lottery player does.
Lastly, considering the current situation, it seems like the laws will never change. There are no signs, no indicators that point to the other direction. A legalization of the lottery at the very least will mean an influx of millions of new lottery players.
The Political System Keeps Online Players at Bay
This the opposite of what I just mentioned. Instead of the government restricting its players to play the online lottery, or any lottery in general, this time around, the lottery operator is not in a position to pay out any winnings to the lottery winners in these countries. If the operator does so, it will become a subject of criminal charges. A good example is a dictatorship, the likes of North Korea for instance.
As you can see, it’s not always your government’s fault, it can be somebody else’s government’s fault. It’s safe to say, the government is always the bad guy. It’s highly unlikely that you’re located in a country of this kind, mainly due to the fact that even the internet is not easily available.
Nonetheless, countries of this nature deserve to be put in their very own category. I want to be clear on this kind of things.
Last Point of the Day – If There’s a National Lottery, Be Cautious
Because many of the laws are old, outdated, even the government is not willing to enforce them, unless there’s a party that has an interest in it. For example, if there’s a national lottery, and it has had major success in the past, you should be careful. The national lottery operator is the party who has an interest in this matter, and it can, and it will lobby to have all online lottery players penalized for playing foreign lotteries. Now, this is very rare, because it costs a lot of money to track down a handful of lottery players.
Nonetheless, if you are forced to keep playing the lottery online in this gray area, at least don’t get caught. I cannot provide you with any advice on this matter, because that will make me an accomplice in a criminal activity. I’m deeply sorry.
List of Countries Where Online Lottery Is Illegal
These are the countries where gambling activities are closely monitored, alongside lottery. This list goes across all of the aforementioned types. Here it is:
- Belarus (prosecuted)
- Cyprus (prosecuted)
- Czech Republic (other forms, the lottery is legal)
- Poland
- Switzerland
- Bahamas
- Cuba
- Turkey (other forms, prosecuted, the lottery is legal)
- Brazil
- South Africa
- Saudi Arabia (all forms)
- Qatar (all forms)
- Iran (all forms)
- Iraq (all forms)
- Syria (all forms)
- India (some states)
- Indonesia (all forms)
List of Countries that Require an Operator License
This is a list of countries where the operator must obtain a local license in order to sell lottery tickets to the local population. In my opinion, this list is rather long, but I highly suspect that all online lottery operators have obtained the necessary licenses. For what it’s worth, the online lottery community acts as an isolated system, and so far, I’ve seen only a few examples where lottery winners were unable to claim their winnings due to legislation.
- Albania
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Channel Islands
- Czech Republic
- Georgia
- Germany
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Isle of Man
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Montenegro
- Romania
- San Marino
- Spain
- United Kingdom
- Bermuda
- Canada
- Mexico
- US Virgin Islands
- Australia
- USA
Most Activities in the Online Lottery World are in the Gray Area
When all is considered, most of the official activities are put in the gray area. Due to the complexity of the matter, nobody wants to unfold the file of problems. The USA’s rigid framework seems to do a good job, in spite of the arguments that I have against it.
Europeans on the other hand, with their principle based approach to legislation have left lottery out in the open. This applies to both the lottery and the online lottery. I cannot stress the importance of having a clear framework. Both the lottery players and the lottery players will benefit from it. Winners and players won’t be prosecuted, whereas lottery operators will be able to freely market their services and products. Maybe, I say maybe, this will all be true in the foreseeable future. For the time being, we can enjoy the lottery as it is, stay quiet and claim any prizes in any way possible.
With more and more of our lives being organized, scheduled and orchestrated by technology, it is no surprise that purchasing lottery tickets online is becoming more widespread. But is buying lottery tickets online even legal in the US? And if so, how do you know which sites you can trust to purchase your tickets from. You will find all these answers and more here at legalonlinelottery.com.
Is It Legal To Purchase Lottery Tickets Online In The United States?
In a nutshell, playing or buying online lottery tickets is completely legal in most countries. But for countries such as the United States that have anti-gambling measures in place, it can be extremely confusing for players. In 2011 the DOJ ruled that the Federal Wire Act only applies to online sports betting. One of the primary reasons that the DOJ issued this legal opinion was because individual states wanted to launch online lottery ticket sales. They got the answer they were hoping for. The Federal Wire Act was the only obstacle, and the Department Of Justice removed it for them. Now there are no federal laws that deem it illegal to buy lottery tickets online through licensed state lottery sites.
After the DOJ’s legal opinion was announced, several states began offering online lottery ticket purchases immediately. There are are also offshore legal online lottery sites that are basically a messenger service that goes on your behalf to a lottery retailer to purchase a ticket. Those destinations are perfectly legal, however, we recommend sticking to the official state lottery sites for playing US based lottery games. We have provided links to those sites in this guide. You will find options for purchasing tickets, playing instant win games signing up for lottery ticket subscription services.
Legal US Online Lottery Sites
Below you will find access to several official state lottery programs. These websites are licensed and regulated by the state in which it is located. They offer the option for buying tickets online to their state lottery games, as well as the multi-state games that they participate in, such as Mega Millions and Power Ball.
Please note you must reside in the actual state to be able to signup and play their real money lottery games.
| Site Name | Current Bonus | States | Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50% Max $100 | MI Only | Play Now Review | |
| $5 Free | PA Only | Play Now Review |
Popular Lottery Games Where You Can Buy Your Tickets Online
- MegaMillions
- New York Lotto
- California Super Lotto
Which States Legally Allow Online Lottery Ticket Purchases?
A total of 44 states host lottery games in the US. Of those 44, a handful has already integrated online lottery games into their offerings. So far, you can buy online lottery tickets from these states: Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, North Carolina, North Dakota and Pennsylvania. In addition, the following states offer online lottery subscription services: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York and Virginia. The one caveat here is that you have to be a resident of the state that you are trying to purchase a lottery ticket from. State lottery regulations in these regions have included a stipulation that states that lying about your residency or address is a crime punishable by law.
A few states have opted for a lottery messenger service that deploys an employee to visit a physical retail location and purchase your tickets for you. New Jersey is one such region, and California is another. This is the same concept used at offshore online lottery agents.
How To Play The Lottery Online
The first step is visiting the official website for the state lottery that you intend to play. You will find a table above with several such options. Once you have registered for an account you will be able to make deposits and purchase the tickets you want. Find the game, pick your numbers, and purchase your tickets. The next step is just waiting for the draw.
What is a Lottery Subscription?
A lottery subscription service offered by a state lottery site allows you to play any lottery you want on a scheduled and regular basis. You can designate the number of draws you would like and how frequently you would like the subscription to purchase tickets on your behalf. The number of draws you can subscribe to varies by region. Playing regularly may increase the likelihood of a life changing lottery win, though there are arguments both for and against that theory.
How Do I Collect My Winnings?
Typically, for relatively small amounts of 600 or so, you will be credited that amount into your online lottery account. For larger amounts, you may be asked to complete an online claim form or visit the lottery headquarters in person to claim your winnings. The specific process will depend on the amount that you win and the procedures in place in the state hosting the game that you’ve won.
Online Lottery Legal Countries
How Do I Know I Will Receive The Full Amount Of My Winnings?
The lottery websites you see featured in this guide all adhere to state regulations and licensing requirements. This guarantees they must payout winnings according to established state lottery guidelines. There are some state lotteries that withhold winnings for individuals who have certain debts on file with the state, such as back owed child support or restitution.
Common Lottery Myths
If I just play long enough – I will definitely win! – mathematically speaking, this is not true. Is it worth playing the lottery? If you are looking for some fun and keep your efforts in moderation – then yes, it can be a lot of fun. The lottery should be played as a form of entertainment for fun when you happen to have a few extra bucks to spare. When you look at the number of tickets purchased vs the number of winners, it is easy to see that the lottery should not be considered a sound investment.
The more tickets I buy, the better my chances of winning! – statistically, this has been proven to be false. The odds are not in the players’ favor and buying 100 tickets vs 1 ticket does not improve them for you. The number of tickets you would have to buy to make this statement true would negate the benefits of winning it.
Playing the same numbers every week improves my chances of winning! – there have been more winners who have had their numbers selected through a quick pick feature than by those who manually select their numbers. Does this negate the original statement – we’re not sure, but we do know that the majority of winners didn’t even pick their own numbers.
Which States Allow Online Lottery
I don’t need to worry about my retirement as long as I play the lottery every week, I’m bound to win eventually – the lottery should NEVER be considered a substitute for a retirement plan. It is possible for you to play twice a week for 30 years and never win a dime. We strongly recommend that you do not play the lottery in lieu of planning for your retirement. The lottery is a form of entertainment, not a long-range financial plan.