When choosing a lottery game, it is important to choose a reputable provider. Legitimate providers will never ask you for money before releasing your prize. While checks are still a common method of transaction, you should avoid any lottery game that asks you to wire your winnings back to the scammer. This practice is common among lottery scammers.
Legality of online lotteries in the United States
Legal online lotteries have had a rocky start in the United States. In 2009, Illinois and New York requested the Department of Justice’s opinion on digital lottery ticket sales. That opinion was rescinded, but left the door open for states to regulate online gambling. Since then, more states have started selling lottery tickets online.
While some states still oppose online lotteries, they are beginning to see real benefits. The Connecticut Lottery recently received authorization to sell tickets online. It also renegotiated its gaming compact with the Mohegan and Mashantucket Pequot tribes. If this proves to be a successful venture, the state could consider offering online lottery games and sharing revenues with the casino operators. Meanwhile, other states, like Georgia, have begun selling tickets on the Internet and have launched major lottery drawings.
Several states in the Northeast are looking to legalize online lottery games. New Hampshire, for example, legalized online lottery sales last summer and offers e-Instant games to lottery players via desktops and tablets. Other states, including Rhode Island and Massachusetts, are considering legislation to legalize online lotteries.
Types of games offered
Online lottery operators have many options when it comes to games. The state lotteries need to be careful not to make the games too “casino-like” or they could face legal issues from casino operators. However, some state lotteries have come up with innovative games that have a casino-like feel and offer huge jackpots up to a quarter of a million dollars.
