Online Lottery is a system using software and hardware to accept, record, and transmit lottery bets and prize draw results. It is typically operated by a separate company from the physical lottery provider. It is a popular way to participate in the lottery from anywhere that has internet access.
The process of playing an online lottery is similar to playing a standard lottery game. To begin, players must sign up for an account on the lottery website. Once they have done this, they can choose the lottery game they would like to play and select their numbers. They can also choose whether they want to play a straight pick or box selection. If they win, the winnings will be automatically deposited into their account. If they want to claim their prize in person, the site may require them to provide proof of identity.
Despite criticism from opponents, online lottery products have not been shown to cannibalize traditional retail game sales. In fact, Pennsylvania’s online lottery product, iLottery, has seen annual growth in traditional game sales each year since its launch in 2018.