Best Lottery Betting Sites UK

Online Lottery Betting in the UK

Playing the lottery has been popular in the UK for a long time. However, people are increasingly trying their luck with online lottery betting, which sounds similar but is actually quite different.

Online lotto betting is now being offered by many of the UK's most famous online betting sites. They offer the chance to place wagers on a wide range of lottery draws from around the world.

While many people may be unfamiliar with online lottery betting, the good news is there are no special rules or regulations against betting on the outcome of a lottery draw from the UK. This means that online lottery betting in the UK is completely legal according to the current laws.

But for people who have never had a bet on the outcome of a lottery draw, there are likely to be questions that need to be answered before they are willing to give online lotto betting a first go.

Among them will be what they need to do to bet on online lotteries and the differences between the various online lotteries that are available to bet on. People will also be keen to learn more about the best UK sites for online lotto betting and what makes them stand out from the crowd.

Introduction to Online Lottery Betting in the UK

First up, it is important to explain what online lottery betting is - and how it all actually works.

Most people will be familiar with lotteries. You buy a ticket and if your numbers come up when the draw is made, then you are quids in. The National Lottery and Euromillions are among the most popular draws around and they regularly make headlines due to their millionaire winners.

But betting on the lottery is not the same. At online lotto betting sites such as Betfred - which is also one of the UK's best sports betting websites - there is the chance to place a wager on the outcome of various lotteries that are drawn from around the world. They are not offering people the chance to buy a ticket for a draw, but the opportunity to gamble on what happens in them.

This means that the headline prize from the lottery draw in question is not what is up for grabs. Instead, people will be paid out depending on how many numbers they bet on coming up that land when the draws are made. A lot of lottery draws are broadcast, so can be watched live.

Online lotto betting sites are also quick to publish the results of a draw so that their customers are able to see whether or not their wagers have won. And while people who win a prize in a lottery draw by buying a ticket have to claim their money, this is not the case for lotto betting.

Instead, any money that is won from a bet on the online lottery is paid out into the account. This means bets work in just the same way as if someone had placed a bet on a big sports match.

Is Online Lottery Betting Legal?

Placing bets on the outcome of lottery draws that take place in the UK is prohibited. This means that UK players will not be able to place a bet on the outcome of a National Lottery draw legally.

However, there are no special rules and regulations surrounding betting on overseas lotteries. What this means in practice is that it is completely legal to bet on any overseas lottery draws.

The same caveats stand for online lottery betting as they do for other forms of gambling on the internet, such as sports betting and playing online casino games like slots, poker or even bingo. Users should make sure that the online lottery betting site they use is licensed and regulated.

It is also worth pointing out that the UK is currently assessing its online gambling laws for the first time in a generation. However, online lottery betting is not expected to be affected at all.

How We Review the Best Online Lotto Sites

When we review all of the best online lotto sites for UK players, here's what we are looking at:

If the site offers instant wins or number draws: The type of lottery betting available is right at the top of our list when we review the best online lotto sites in the UK. Number draws and instant win games are often available at the same site, giving players a lot more options.

Jackpot sizes: Naturally, when it comes to lotteries, the key point for a lot of people is the size of the jackpot that is up for grabs. Keep in mind that when betting on a lottery, it is not the same as buying a ticket into the draw. The same jackpots might not be available when lottery betting.

Prices of lottery tickets: The cost of betting on lotto draws from the UK must also be taken into account. Lottery tickets often have a set price, no matter which site is being used to buy them.

Odds of winning and prize tiers: When betting on the lottery, one of the most important things for UK players to be aware of is their actual odds of winning. While winning an actual lottery by buying a ticket usually comes with fairly remote chances, the odds of winning when betting on the lottery can be a lot better. There are normally a range of prize tiers, depending on the bet.

Range of lotteries available: Broadly speaking, the more lotteries that an online lotto site has for its customers to pick from, the better. There are all kinds of lotteries taking place all over the world, so the more draws that people can bet on, the more they can increase their chances of being a winner. Different lotteries work in slightly different ways, so take that into account. Many online lotto sites in the UK now have more than a dozen different lotteries for players to browse.

Lottery betting markets: When betting on the outcome of a lottery draw, there are normally quite a few different options. Some top online lotto sites in the UK have a big range of different online lottery betting markets to pick from. As an example, when players place a bet on the Irish lottery through their account at the Betfred sports betting site, they have the chance to place a variety of special wagers such as whether the bonus ball that is drawn will be odds or evens.

Availability of website and app: Many people prefer to use a mobile device for online betting these days and this is also the case when it comes to placing bets on various global lotto draws. Lotto sites that are available to UK players will need to make sure that they are fully accessible when using mobile devices such as a smartphone or a tablet. Some online lotto sites even have their own mobile app, which can be downloaded directly via either the App Store or Google Play.

Welcome bonuses, offers and promotions: When joining an online lotto betting site for the first time, players will be hoping to be given the chance to get welcome bonuses. Like with online casinos and sports betting sites, there is a lot of competition among online lottery sites. This means that welcome bonuses can be very generous. However, it is important to take a look at the small print of the terms and conditions. This can dictate whether an offer is good value. As well as the online lotto site's welcome bonus, we also take a look at their other deals and offers. It is important existing customers are not forgotten when it comes to their special promotions. For example, there might be a form of rewards scheme in place, while reload bonuses might be up for grabs as a way to tempt online lottery players into returning to a site to place more bets.

Range of payment methods: Online lotto sites normally give players a good choice of options in their cashier. While credit cards cannot be used for any form of online gambling in the UK any more, debit cards from the likes of Visa and MasterCard are normally a solid option for adding funds. Some e-wallets like Skrill, Neteller and PayPal can often be used too. Players should remember that depositing with an e-wallet might prevent them from claiming a welcome bonus. Other ways to add funds at online lotto betting sites can include bank transfers, Paysafecard and either Apple Pay or Google Pay, both of which are very handy when using mobile devices.

Payout speeds: The other thing to consider about the cashier at online lotto betting sites is the speed of payouts when withdrawing winnings. It goes without saying that payout speeds will typically vary depending on the payment method that has been selected. As an example, it is normally quite a bit faster to withdraw winnings via an e-wallet like PayPal than via a bank transfer. Payout speeds when withdrawing winnings to a debit card can often be a few days.

Customer support options: The chances are that users of online lotto betting sites in the UK will probably need to get in touch with customer support at some stage. A range of customer support options can be a good thing. Many sites have a live chat facility these days and this is often the best way to contact customer support, especially if it is available 24/7. Telephone and email customer support might also be available, as well as sites providing help via social media. Most online lotto betting sites also have a frequently asked questions area for their users too.

Licences, regulation and security: Last but not least, it is important that the UK's top online lottery betting sites are properly licensed and regulated. In order to legally operate in the UK, gambling sites need to have secured the relevant licence from the Gambling Commission. Security is also an important area for UK players to consider when betting on lottery draws. Sites should have protection such as SSL encryption technology in place to ensure that the financial and personal data of their customers is never in danger of falling into the wrong hands.

How To Play Online Lotteries in the UK

Now we know what online lotto betting is, how it works and that it is legal, what exactly do players need to do to get up and running with playing online lotteries? Let's take a look:

Step 1: Choose an online lotto betting site

Players have a growing number of different UK online lottery betting sites to pick from. We have selected a few good options on this page, but players can try a few to decide which they like best. Those with accounts at Betfred for sports betting can use their login to bet on lotteries.

Step 2: Sign up for an account

Registering for an account with an online lotto betting site works in much the same way as the process for joining an online sports bookmaker. Users will be asked to give their email address and other personal details like their full name and date of birth. There might be a verification step to get through before players will be able to start placing bets on various lottery draws.

Step 3: Use the welcome bonus

As with online casinos and sports betting sites, many lottery betting providers have some sort of welcome bonus to entice users to sign up for an account. This could be in the form of some free bets or bonus cash that can be used to place wagers on lottery draws from around the world. The welcome bonus sometimes applies automatically, but there might be promo codes to enter such as Betfred's lotto promo code.

Step 4: Choose which lottery to bet on

Most online lotto betting sites in the UK have a lot of different lotteries to bet on. Irish, Polish, Spanish, Australian and American lotteries are just a few of those that are available. Pick which one you want to bet on, making sure to check out the odds available for those lottery draws.

Step 5: Place a bet

After picking a lottery to bet on, the next step is to actually place the wager. This is not quite the same as buying a lottery ticket, when players have to select the numbers they want to pick. Instead, users are betting on which numbers will come up in the draw - the difference is subtle. Unlike buying lottery tickets where the price is fixed, users can stake what they want on a bet. The more numbers that a player decides to bet on, the higher the potential payout up for grabs.

Step 6: Check the results

While any winnings from a lottery bet will be paid out automatically into the account used to place the wager, some players still prefer to check the results themselves. Each of the lottery draws from around the world will publish their results rapidly on their official websites. It is also sometimes possible to watch the lottery being drawn live. Finally, most online lotto betting sites in the UK will also have a section where they publish the results from various draws quickly too.

Differences in How You Can Bet on Lottery Games in the UK

As we have touched on already in this full guide to online lottery betting, there are a few key differences to be aware of in how you can bet on lottery games in the UK. Let’s look a bit closer:

Lottery betting: As we explained above, betting on the outcome of lotto draws is not the same as buying tickets to the lotteries themselves. Lottoland, jackpot.Com UK and Betfred lotto are some of the best examples of online sites that are offering lottery betting to players from the UK. To win with lottery betting, players must hope the Numbers they bet on come up in the draw. It is sometimes even possible to place wagers on certain colour balls being drawn in a lottery too.

Buying tickets to the lotteries: Some online sites also allow people to buy tickets to the actual lotteries themselves. This means that the jackpot prize of that lottery is potentially up for grabs. It is possible to bet on UK national lottery games at lottery betting sites. However, they can offer the chance to buy tickets to the lotteries themselves. This can save people a trip to the shops, where they might usually pick up a ticket or two for a draw in the national lottery, for example.

Syndicate lottery betting: Many people Will already be familiar with syndicates. This is a way for a group of people to join forces to increase their chances of winning a lottery. Naturally, the prize is then shared out, so the potential payouts in syndicate lottery betting are not quite as big. However, the increased chance of a win is what is most appealing about syndicate lotto betting.

Lottery slot games: Many of the leading contenders to be named the best online lotto betting site in the UK also offer some lottery slot games for their players to try as well. This is similar to how online bingo sites also provide some slot games for their players. It is simply another form of online gambling for players to enjoy testing their luck with the hope that they can win big.

The Biggest Online Lottery Jackpots You Can Play Online in the UK

Here are some of the top online lottery jackpots that are up for grabs around the world:

• El Gordo - £2 billion prize pool
• Powerball - $2.04 billion record jackpot
• Mega Millions - $1.537 billion record jackpot
• SuperEnalotto - €209.1 million record jackpot
• EuroMillions - €200 million jackpot cap
• EuroJackpot - €120 million jackpot cap