Online vs Offline Lottery Tickets

Gambling.com Editor

November 16th, 2015

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In the days before internet usage became widespread, buying lottery tickets 'offline' was a much more time-consuming process: players would need to visit a participating retailer, fill out lines on a ticket slip and pay, and then watch the televised draw to find out whether their lucky numbers had come up. Playing online is in some ways much easier (in terms of convenience) but in other ways more complicated, as the range of features and games on offer has increased considerably. Listed below are the key differences between online and 'offline'.

Point of Sale

As discussed above, one of the key differences between offline and online play is the location where you buy your tickets: in-store versus on a dedicated website, for example National-Lottery.co.uk. When you buy offline, there's very little in the way of setup (although some UK retailers may ask for ID to verify that customers meet the 16-years age limit). By contrast, when playing online, users have to register for an account and provide personal details such as name, address, date of birth, gender and email address – as well as debit card details in order to process payments.

Security and Notification

Another significant difference is the level of security and assurance available online. For example, if you buy a ticket in a shop and subsequently lose it, it's very difficult to prove the win and claim the prize. Likewise, if a player forgets to check the results of a draw, they may also fail to claim their prize in the event of a win. On the other hand, with an online lottery ticket, there is a permanent digital record of all transactions and numbers, and players will typically receive email alerts within 24 hours if they've won a prize, with the funds often being transferred straight to their account. The exception to this is in cases where players scoop a jackpot or other large prize – this will usually require the winner to either collect the prize in-person or to accept delivery by cheque.

Convenient Features

Buying lottery tickets online comes with the benefit of several convenient features, such as

• The ability to store and replay tickets, via Direct Debit. For example, the UK's National Lottery allows players to save play slips, select their favourite draws, and then replay those numbers either for a fixed number of weeks, or continuously through a Direct Debit. This saves players the hassle of remembering to enter each week, or having to recall their favoured number combinations.
• The ability to select randomised numbers at the click of a button. Although some in-store lottery machines can offer this function, it is far easier to randomly select numbers online. For example, when playing the UK's National Lottery, all entrants have to do is click 'Lucky Dip' on the number selection screen for their chosen draw to instantly be assigned a random number combination.
• The ability to play at all hours, and on the go. Naturally, as there's no need to visit a store to purchase tickets, online players have the convenience of playing whenever they choose – and thanks to the advent of mobile apps, like 'Buy and Scan' apps, for smartphones and tablets, that can include while on the daily commute. In the case of the UK's National Lottery, there are apps available for Apple and Android devices, which allow players to buy tickets, check results and manage their accounts on the move.

Types of Games

In the UK, online players have access to the country's four major draws via the National Lottery website – Lotto, EuroMillions, Thunder Ball and Lotto Hotpicks. One key difference from the offline experience, however, is the selection of scratch card options on offer: online players will find a very wide selection of 'instant win' games to choose from (more than you would expect to find in-store) – and, unlike a shop, there's no risk of your favourite scratch card being out of stock.

Global Opportunities

Another key advantage of playing online is the opportunity to participate in lotteries from around the world, some of which (like the Mega Millions, Italy's SuperEnalotto or Spain's La Primitiva draw) routinely rack up enormous jackpots. Lottery concierge websites like TheLotter and GiantLottos work by either sending out local staff members to purchase tickets in the relevant country on behalf of overseas online players, or by acting as a betting service, whereby players pick their numbers and effectively bet on the outcome of the draw (without actually purchasing a ticket).

These websites also offer the chance to join online syndicates for major overseas draws (in which players buy 'shares' in exchange for a proportion of any winnings) which can boost individuals' chances of winning, thanks to collective purchasing power – without the effort and admin involved in organising an offline syndicate.