When it comes to playing the lottery, options are limited in India. Only 13 of the 28 states have some form of lotteries available. However, not a single state is actually offering the option of playing the lottery online. This has resulted in many Indians seeking alternative ways to try their luck, international online lotteries being a popular option.
Plenty of lotteries with the potential to pay hundreds or even thousands of crores are readily available online via lottery sites hosted by international companies. American lotteries such as the US Powerball, Mega Millions and Cash4Life can be played along with European ones such as EuroMillions and EuroJackpot among others.
But is it really safe to play these lotteries online? That’s what we’re about to find out in this article that covers legality, the guarantee of receiving winnings and more.
What Is the Current Legal Landscape?
The central government of India does not regulate any form of lotteries in the country; not physical paper tickets and not online lotteries. Instead, it is up to each individual state to formulate its own lottery laws. Currently, some states have approved Indian lotteries to be played and sold as paper tickets, but have not authorized the sale of the same lottery tickets online.
Interestingly enough, no state, except for West Bengal, has formulated any law when it comes to playing international lotteries online. Lotteries such as the US Powerball.
Companies that are located outside of India, which aren’t governed by Indian laws, are free to sell online lottery tickets to Indian residents. And since there is no law formulated that a person isn’t allowed to play these lotteries online, it is completely legal to do so.
The only exception is West Bengal. The authorities in this state have specifically outlawed all types of online lotteries, making them illegal to participate in. However, as a resident of any other state, you can not get in trouble for playing the lottery online.
For more information, refer to this comprehensive guide to the legality of lotteries in India.
Is There Any Guarantee of Receiving Winnings?
Yes and no. There is no definitive answer to this as it totally depends on the lottery site you are playing with. The Indian government is not overseeing any of the sites so local security is absolutely non-existent.
However, there are entities that oversee international lottery sites, such as the Malta Gaming Authority and Curacao eGaming. These are organizations that issue casino, sports betting and lottery licenses to companies.
Not all lottery sites are licensed though. If you play the lottery online at an unlicensed site, receiving your winnings would all come down to trust. There is no one to protect you from possible scams.
On the other hand, if you choose an online lottery site that is licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA), you would be fully protected. This is a highly reputed licensing organization whose job is to make sure that their licensed lottery sites are legit and that players on them are protected.
Should an MGA-licensed online lottery site refuse to pay out winnings, the Malta Gaming Authority would assist you in claiming your winnings. If necessary, legal action would be taken.
The same cannot be said about lottery sites that are licensed by Curacao eGaming. Even though being licensed by this entity is better than a site having no license at all, this organization is not that strict. They do not have the same rigorous oversight on the lottery sites licensed under their umbrella as the MGA has. In case of a dispute, they are not as willing to help you as a player.
To summarize, you are only guaranteed to receive winnings from online lottery sites by playing with those that are legitimately licensed by the Malta Gaming Authority. For more information about such trusted lottery sites, refer to onlinelottobaba.com.
Should I Receive Real Tickets or Partake in Lottery Betting?
There are two ways to play international lotteries online from India – via a messenger service and via lottery betting.
A messenger service means that the lottery site has agents physically located in the countries they offer lotteries from. So, when you play a lottery online at one of these sites, a ticket will be physically purchased on your behalf. This ticket will then be scanned and sent to you as proof of purchase. If a win occurs, the official lottery organization is responsible for paying your winnings.
With lottery betting, on the other hand, no physical tickets are ever purchased. Instead, you are betting on the lottery numbers you think will win. If you win, it is the lottery site itself that has the full responsibility of paying out your prize money. No official lottery organization will be involved since no real ticket was purchased.
In terms of security, both options are considered safe as long as the lottery site has a valid license. However, receiving a real, scanned ticket might make you slightly more protected as a player since you will actually have proof of a physical ticket being bought on your behalf.
Disclaimer: This communication is for 18+ only. Gambling involves an element of financial risk and may be addictive. Please play responsibly and at your own risk. This post contains material that may or may not be legal in your country. Subject to applicable law.