Lotto FAQs

Can I play the lottery online?

Yes, you can take part in a wide variety of lottery games by using online services such as Jackpot.com, LotteryWorld, theLotter or WinTrillions. These sites offer either a concierge service or a betting service for lottery fans who may not be based in the same country and would therefore not be able to take part.

While you can play online from most countries in the world, some services do restrict users from certain nations for licensing reasons.

Play links on Lotto.net will direct you to the correct service based on your current location.

How do I play the lottery online?

To play online, first you must register an account with an online concierge or betting service.

You will be required to select your numbers before confirming and paying for your order. Once the draw has taken place, you will be contacted via email with details of the draw and how your numbers have performed. Any winnings are transferred directly into your online account.

Can I play a lottery from a different country?

Yes. Playing online grants you access to some of the biggest and best lottery games in the world. Whether you want to take part in Powerball, EuroMillions or SuperEnalotto, playing online allows you to win huge prizes from anywhere in the world.

Are online lotto services safe?

Playing online through a trusted operator such as Jackpot.com, theLotter or WinTrillions offers you a safe and secure environment in which to participate in lottery games from around the globe.

Will some of my winnings be deducted?

Betting sites like Jackpot.com do not charge handling fees or withhold winnings, with only the cost of confirmed wagers being deducted from your account. Online concierge services add a handling fee on to the price of a ticket.

Will I win the same prizes as I would if I bought a ticket?

Players using these services receive the same awards as winning official ticket holders in the country in which the lottery is based.

Do lottery tickets expire?

Yes, all lottery tickets expire. Deadlines vary from game to game with claim periods usually ranging from 30 days to three years. Players are advised to check individual lotteries for claim deadline details.

Playing online eliminates the risk of missing out on a prize as any winnings are paid directly into your account.

I have lost my ticket. What should I do?

Most lotteries are not responsible for lost or stolen lotto tickets. It is strongly advised to sign the back of your lotto ticket after you purchase it to protect yourself from loss or theft. In some jurisdictions, a lottery ticket is a bearer instrument, meaning that if you lost it without signing it and another person found it, they would be entitled to claim any winnings produced by the ticket.

To avoid losing your ticket, you can play online. As your ticket or number selection is securely stored online, there is no danger of you losing your playslip.

There’s a problem with my ticket. Can I get a refund?

If there is a problem with your ticket (e.g. wrong numbers, printing error, etc.) you must inform the cashier straight away. If you notice an issue after you have left the store, contact the official lottery provider for advice.

Why were there more numbers drawn than are on my ticket?

Some games feature a bonus number which can help increase the value of some non-jackpot prizes. These additional numbers aren’t printed on tickets because they come from the same pool as the main numbers. They help non-jackpot winners increase the value of one or more prizes.

For example, a UK Lotto ticket displays six numbers even though seven numbers are drawn in total. Anyone who has matched five of the main numbers can win a bigger prize if the sixth number on their ticket is the same as the Bonus Ball drawn after the main winning line.

Is it possible to guarantee you’ll buy a winning ticket?

Lotteries are games of chance, therefore it is impossible to guarantee that you will buy the winning ticket. You could purchase every single number combination, however, this method usually costs more than the value of the jackpot.

There are certain methods which you can use to boost your odds though, visit our How to Improve Your Odds of Winning the Lottery page for more information.

How soon after the draw will results be available?

The speed at which results appear on the site varies between the games. However, the numbers for most games are available shortly after a draw has taken place. Visit the results page of a specific game to stay up to date with the latest numbers.

How do I know if I have won?

Lotto.net provides prize breakdowns for a wide range of lottery games; these detail the minimum amount of numbers required to claim a reward. To discover whether you are a winner, check your numbers by visiting the Results page and selecting your chosen lottery.

Why have the results changed?

Lotto.net makes every effort to provide the very latest lottery results as quickly and as accurately as possible. However, there are occasions when human error or technical difficulties prevent this from happening.

Why hasn’t prize information been announced yet?

When lottery draws takes place it takes some time for the jackpot amounts to be calculated and verified because often the exact amount depends on how many winners there have been. This can sometimes lead to delays in the numbers being released.

Why isn’t the jackpot amount announced at the same time as the results?

The jackpot total can only be fully determined once the number of winners in a draw are known. The jackpot total prior to most draws is an estimated amount and can fluctuate in the lead up to a draw.

Where can I find old lottery results?

Lotto.net provides a complete set of results for a wide number of lottery games from around the world. Visit the archive pages of your chosen game to access past results.

Why have the odds of winning changed?

Occasionally, some lottery organisers change game rules by adding or deducting numbers from ball pools. Such changes can affect the odds of winning prizes. Lotteries rarely change without warning, so keep an eye out on the News pages for game updates.

I have won a prize. How do I claim it?

Claiming a prize depends on how and where you purchased your ticket.

If you played by purchasing a physical ticket, you can claim certain prizes from authorised retailers. Rewards above a certain amount must be redeemed from lottery claims offices.

If you played online, your winnings will be transferred directly into your account. For larger prizes, including jackpot amounts, the site’s customer services team will contact you to arrange payment.

I have been paid the wrong prize amount. What do I do?

If you think that you have been paid the wrong prize amount, contact the website you played through or the lottery company which organises your game.

What happens to unclaimed prizes?

Unfortunately, some lottery players do fail to claim their prize before the deadline. Should this happen, prizes are usually retained by the lottery organiser and used to increase prize funds, boost marketing or help charitable organisations and good causes.

How old do you have to be to play the lottery?

Lottery players must be over the age of 18, including those participating online. Some US states require players to be 21 or older. If you are underage and win a lottery prize, it will be declared void. For information on age restrictions, consult the individual rules of the lottery you would like to play.

How do I know that draws are really random?

Each lotto draw has machines or number generators tested by independent companies and adjudicators who supervise each draw to ensure that it is random, fair and honest. Each lotto draw is random and each number has the same chance of being dispensed from the machine or generator.

Can I claim a prize from a different country?

No. As each country has its own lottery organiser, prizes must be claimed from the nation in which the ticket was originally purchased. A similar approach is taken in the US, where prizes must be claimed from the state in which the original ticket was bought.

If you play online through a concierge or betting site, you can claim your winnings from anywhere in the world. Should you be lucky enough to win a jackpot prize, you may be required to travel to the lottery’s headquarters to claim your reward.

Will I have to pay tax on my winnings?

The rules on tax differ from country to country. For example, if you are playing the lotto in the UK or Australia, the winnings are tax-free, but if you’re playing a US game you will be subject to federal tax and sometimes a state tax depending on the state in which the ticket was purchased. For more details about tax rules in your nation, visit the Tax page.

If I win, can I remain anonymous?

In Europe, you can choose whether you stay anonymous or go public after winning a lottery jackpot. For players using concierge services, it may be possible to remain anonymous in certain circumstances even if it is not usually permitted.

In the US, players in most states will have to provide their name when claiming a prize, but there are some exceptions; these are listed below:

• Arizona
• Delaware
• Georgia
• Kansas
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• New Jersey
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Puerto Rico
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Virginia
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

What is a Jackpot?

The jackpot is the top prize available in any given lottery draw.

What is a Rollover?

A rollover is the process by which a game’s top prize increases in value if no players are able to match the numbers required to win the jackpot.

What is a Quick Pick/Lucky Dip?

Selecting a Quick Pick or Lucky Dip when playing the lottery means that you receive a ticket with numbers which are randomly generated by a computer or terminal.

You can create your own Lucky Dip by using our online Random Number Generator.

What is a Syndicate/Lottery Pool?

A syndicate is a group of players that have an agreement between them to play the lotto and share the prizes they win.

What is a Concierge Service?

A service which purchases lottery tickets on behalf of an online player.

Simply register an account at a concierge service, pick your numbers and pay for your entry. Once you have confirmed your order, a representative in the country of your preferred game will purchase a ticket on your behalf and save a scanned copy into your player account.

What is a Lottery Betting Service?

A website where players wager on the outcome of a lottery.

Lotto betting is a similar process to that of a concierge, but instead of a ticket being purchased on your behalf, you are placing a wager on the outcome of the draw. You will receive exactly the same amount of money as those playing with a physical ticket and the odds of winning remain exactly the same.

What does Pari-mutuel mean?

A prize total which is divided equally between winners.

EuroMillions is an example of a game with a pari-mutuel prize fund. A percentage of the total prize pool is each draw is allocated to each prize tier, this amount is then split equally between all winners in that tier. This means that the prize you receive will be influenced by the total number of players and the number of players who matched the same amount of numbers as you.