Few people in this world haven't participated in a lottery at some point in their lives. The thrill and a chance to win something attracts us every time, especially if the prize is worth a lot of money. That's what makes you buy your 3 dollars worth lottery ticket, a chance to turn it into a 30,000 dollars worth prize.

The popularity of lotteries also means that more and more of them are starting to turn their attention to internet users. Online lotteries have become quite popular in recent years, so if you want to participate in one, you should read more about them before you do so.

There's one problem, though. Not every US state allows buying and selling lottery tickets online. There are a few dangers that connect to purchasing them online as well. That's why it's essential to learn a bit more about it before deciding to participate. So let's find out if buying lottery tickets online is legit, shall we?

What does the U.S. law say?


Now, there are two types of lottery laws in the U.S.- federal and state. In federal law, the answer is that you can't buy or sell lottery tickets by mail. It's forbidden and, therefore, illegal to do that.

But what about online selling and buying? For many years, federal law stated that betting and lottery activities that use wire communication are illegal. That was implemented to the internet as well.

It all changed in 2011 when the Department of Justice introduced an opinion that the law mentioned above should only apply to sports events or contests. That opened a door for state law who now have a chance to consider whether they want to allow online lottery tickets transactions.

Okay, so now you know that you can purchase lottery tickets online, but you still don't know which state allows you to do that. The majority of states still haven't allowed online selling of lottery tickets. So where can you buy them?

Currently, only six states allow online lottery selling and buying: Georgia, Kentucky, Illinois, Michigan, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania.

What's more, not every online lottery is legal. For example, Powerball is only legal in Illinois and Georgia. Furthermore, many of these states have very tight restrictions when it comes to online lottery tickets purchasing. They often allow them only to state residents.

But why are so many states still reluctant to allow online lottery tickets? It's time to answer the second question.

 

What are the dangers of buying lottery tickets online?


The risk of potential fraud is high when it comes to online lotteries. And because millions of Americans buy billions of dollars worth of lottery tickets every year, the law must make it as safe as possible.

Lottery tickets retailers must have special licenses, as well as a lack of criminal past. Only then, the law can determine whether it can allow lottery ticket sales. They have to post a hefty bond that ensures that the awards will be granted fairly.

These laws are simple to obey for physical retailers, but the development of the internet has allowed many scammers to prey on people who want to purchase their tickets online. The risk that those people can rob you is too high, and they're often hard to track.

That's why federal law is so strict when it comes to online lottery ticket sales. When a state wants to allow its citizens to participate in lotteries online, it should implement select jurisdictions to eliminate scammers.

Many states are too afraid to give a chance to thieves who may take advantage of online lottery ticket buyers. So if you want to participate in an online lottery, you should be extra cautious.

First of all, watch out for sites that seem fake and unsafe. Remember that most of the states don't allow online ticket purchasing, so don't let yourself fall into a trap.

Secondly, even if the site is legitimate and you're in the state where buying online lottery tickets is legal, you should use VPN or other privacy protection. Hackers can attack sites like that easily, so you have to be careful and try to eliminate any potential risk.

Also, do your research well. Choose only sites that are legitimate and official. Please don't fall for any fake apps that tell you to play in their lotteries. Don't make the scammers' lives easier and think before you click.

Summary


Even though online lotteries may be the future, there's a still road ahead of us to make them safe. The internet is full of thieves who will do everything to steal your money, so you have to be careful.

Remember that the majority of states don't allow their citizens to purchase online lottery tickets. Before you decide to play in the online lottery, make sure that you live in a country that makes that possible. The list of those states is given in the article.

To answer the question given in the title. Yes, buying lottery tickets is legit, but only in the narrow minority of states. And remember that even in those states, it may not be entirely safe. Think, and don't let scammers take your hard-earned money. Be smart and be safe.

Author: Albert Konik