Updated: 2024Recommended operators for the lottery in the UK
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Lottery Online – How to Play?
Playing the lottery online could not be easier. If you have an account with the National Lottery, then you will be able to see all of the upcoming games on the homepage of the website, as well as some nice articles on lottery winners.
If you don’t have an account yet, then scroll down to read our section on “Opening a lottery account online”.
Choosing a Lottery Draw
If you have an account with the National Lottery, then all you have to do is buy tickets for the draw of your choice to play. You can do this by clicking on the one that you would like to play on the homepage. Pretty simple right?
You will then be taken to a page where you will have a choice between clicking “LUCKY DIP” and inputting your own numbers. Each line of numbers is classed as an additional ticket and incurs an additional charge, and the price for each ticket will vary depending on the draw that you choose.
Underneath your lines of numbers, there will be an option for you to choose which of the National Lottery draws you would like to purchase tickets for.
For example: with the Lotto, you will be able to select Wednesday or Saturday, or you may wish to select both if you wish to purchase the same number of tickets for both draws. There is also the option to select to do this across 1 – 4 weeks, or continuously by direct debit.
Some of most popular lottery options:
- US lottery (Power Ball)
- Thunderball
- National Lottery
- Euro Millions
Most popular to get your lottery tickets:
- Jackpot.com
Play Scratchcards Online
A number of UK operators also offer the possibility of playing scratchcards:
Using Caution When Playing the Lottery Online
Unfortunately, there are a lot of lottery-related scams out there on the internet, and you do need to do what you can to make sure that you don’t fall victim to any of them. These scams are often received by potential victims as either emails or letters.
If you receive any communication that states that you have won the lottery (or any cash prize), then you should always read it carefully. Check to see whether or not the details line up with those of the National Lottery, and check your online account carefully. Don’t ever send money to anyone claiming that you have to in order to receive your prize, and don’t ever share your bank details.
If you believe that you have received something fraudulent, then you should report it to Action Fraud as quickly as possible and refrain from responding to any communication that you receive. If you respond, then the scammers are going to be more likely to target you in the future.
All the online lotteries we recommend on smartphonegambler.com are 100% safe and hold a gaming license.
Opening a Lottery Account Online
Opening an account with the National Lottery is an easy task that can be completed in just a few minutes. You simply have to click on the sidebar and click on the blue button that says “OPEN ACCOUNT”. You will then be directed to a page where you will be asked to input some of your details.
Once you have provided your full name, date of birth, contact details and address, you will be asked to create a password. We would highly recommend that you make sure that the password is secure because of the type of website that you are on.
You will also be able to select your own marketing preferences and set a deposit limit. We would always recommend that you start out with a deposit limit that suits your budget. If you would like to change your deposit limit, then you can do that in your settings after you have finished the sign-up process.
After you have signed into your account, you will be asked whether or not you would like to add funds. This can be done using Visa Debit, Visa Electron, MasterCard and Maestro. You can deposit a minimum of £10. Unfortunately, you can also only deposit a maximum of £350 over any week long period.
What Happens if You Win the Lottery Online?
If you win the lottery whilst playing online, you will receive an email after the draw to let you know that you have won a prize.
You then have more than 180 days to claim your winnings. It’s really important that you use your official details when signing up for a National Lottery account, as you will be asked to provide proof of your identity at this point.
The ways in which National Lottery winnings are paid differ. They include:
- If you have won less than £500 in a National Lottery draw, then you don’t have to do anything. Your prize winnings will automatically appear in your online account.
- If you have won between £500 and £30,000, then you will have several months to claim your winnings. When you do, the money will be paid to the debit card that is linked to your National Lottery account.
- If you have won between £30,000 and £50,000, then you will have several months to claim your winnings. When you do, the money will be paid to you by cheque.
- If you have won more than £50,000, then you will have several months to claim your winnings. Claims of this amount are processed in person.
Please note, if you have won a non-cash related prize or a prize that pays out on a regular basis, then the ways in which you receive your prizes will differ on a game-by-game basis.
Paying Tax
When you win money with the National Lottery, you won’t have to pay either UK Capital Gains Tax or UK Income Tax as an individual. It is worth noting that syndicates may be required to pay Inheritance Tax, unless all of the members of the syndicate have a written agreement.
Naturally, this is a good thing because it means that you won’t have to give away a large amount of your prize winnings if you do win the jackpot, leaving you with more money to spend on yourself.
Has Anyone Ever Won the Lottery Online?
Yes! A large portion of National Lottery winners are online players, and some are players who have rolling National Lottery subscriptions. People also win regularly while playing the National Lottery’s Instant Win games.
If you take a look at your National Lottery homepage, you will be able to see a selection of charming articles about past winners. If you read them, they should tell you whether they bought a physical ticket or played the National Lottery online.