Lottery Online is a service offered by private companies to let people play state-run lotteries from their smartphones. Users pick their numbers ahead of time, and the companies purchase the tickets for them at a discount. They then scan the tickets and send them to customers, who are notified if they win. The private companies make their money by charging a small fee for the ticket purchases and taking a percentage of any winnings. They argue that younger people are less likely to buy a traditional lottery ticket, and that their services will boost sales.
Some states are pushing back against the idea, arguing that moving the lottery to the internet will hurt retail stores and drive up costs. The Massachusetts Package Stores Association has launched a lobbying effort against the change, and members have testified against it at legislative hearings. MassPack executive director Rob Mellion ticked off several government advocated hits on retailers: the flavored tobacco ban, the legalization of recreational cannabis, and now the lottery shift.
There are also a number of lottery betting sites that act as bookmakers and take bets on the results of various lotteries around the world. These sites don’t actually purchase tickets for you, but they can offer much higher jackpots and are fully licensed and regulated. However, before you sign up for one of these sites, be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully. You’ll want to know exactly how they will handle any winnings and what your deposit and withdrawal options are.