Here at WhichBookie, we take a look at the various options there are to place your lotto bets online to determine the best UK lotto sites.
You’ll find our lottery site reviews below which focus on dedicated lottery services but there is also the option to place your lotto bets with bookmakers of which some offer fixed odds betting on various lotteries taking place around the world.
Some of the best bookies for betting on the lotto include Betfred, Paddy Power and Bet365.
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Several online bookmakers now take bets on various lotteries taking place around the world. Betting on a lottery with a bookmaker works differently to purchasing an actual ticket as you are not technically entering the draw. Instead, you are placing a fixed-odds bet on what numbers will be drawn.
When buying a standard lottery ticket, you are entering the draw with millions of other people and if you win a big prize, the size of this prize is often based on how many other people win. However, when betting on the lottery with a bookie, you know exactly how much you will win should the numbers you select be drawn.
Betting sites such as Betfred, Paddy Power and Boylesports all offer betting on various lotteries. You usually pick anywhere from 1 to 5 numbers and are given fixed odds on those numbers being drawn. Bookmakers generally don’t accept bets on more than 5 numbers being drawn, which would usually result in a jackpot win, as the payouts would be too high for them. This means that although you can’t win jackpots, you can win smaller amounts by being able to bet on just 1 number being drawn.
Below are some examples of the different lotteries which you can bet on at online bookmakers. Note that the odds can vary between bookmakers depending on the lottery and the number of selections you’re betting on.
Lottery | Draw Frequency | Number Of Balls | Odds For 1 Selection | Odds For 5 Selections |
---|---|---|---|---|
Irish Lotto | 3 Draws Twice Weekly | 47 | 6/1 | 150,000/1 |
49's | Twice Daily | 49 | 6/1 | 150,000/1 |
Daily Million | Every 5 Hours | 39 | 5/1 | 50,000/1 |
Euro Lottery | Twice Weekly | 50 | 8/1 | 200,000/1 |
New York Lotto | Twice Weekly | 59 | 7/1 | 150,000/1 |
German Lotto | Twice Weekly | 49 | 6/1 | 150,000/1 |
Spanish Lotto | Twice Weekly | 49 | 6/1 | 150,000/1 |
Canadian Lotto | Twice Weekly | 49 | 6/1 | 150,000/1 |
French Lotto | 3 Times Each Week | 49 | 7/1 | 99,999/1 |
Hong Kong Lotto | 3 Times Each Week | 49 | 6/1 | 150,000/1 |
Singapore Lotto | Twice weekly | 49 | 6/1 | 150,000/1 |
As well as being able to bet on just 1 number being drawn, there are also a number of other betting options when betting on the lotto with bookies. For example, you’re able to place doubles, trebles or four folds which allow you to select more than 5 numbers and have winning combinations of your selections.
Another advantage of betting on the lotto with bookies is that there are often a number of lotto betting offers available. Bookies such as Paddy Power and Betfred run lotto promotions regularly which can mean that you can get free bets on specific draws and other bonuses.
Lottery syndicates are a popular play for people to play the lottery. In fact, 1 in 5 lottery jackpots are won by syndicates! Many people pool together with friends and family and buy a number of tickets between them and if any of the tickets win, they split the winnings.
The main benefit of lottery syndicates is that you can greatly increase your chances of winning as you have a share in more tickets. As a result, if you do win, you only receive a share of the winnings but it is the preferred option for many people who bet on the lottery.
These days, there are many online lottery syndicate sites. The benefit of these sites is that you are connected to thousands of other people who wish to participate in a syndicate. There is no need to collect money on a daily or weekly basis from other indicate members as it’s all done for you. You simply need to log into your account and purchase syndicate tickets for a lottery and draw of your choice and if one of those tickets win, you receive a share of the winnings directly into your account. You never meet or speak to the other people in your syndicate and it is all done automatically.
With some lottery syndicate sites, you’re able to purchase lines with up to 50 other people. That means that you’re getting 50 chances to win for a fraction of the cost of purchasing 50 tickets yourself.
LottoSocial is one example of an online lottery syndicate which has thousands of members and organises syndicates for various lotteries such as the EuroMillions, Mega Millions, Thunderball, Powerball, EuroJackpot and many more.
Who doesn’t love something for free?
There are now a number of free online lotteries where you can win real cash prizes without entry costing you a penny! Free lotteries pay a lot less than lotteries for which you need to buy a ticket for but as they don’t cost you anything to enter, they’re a risk-free way of possibly making some money.
These sites are usually able to raise money for prizes through advertising. Some sites may require you to watch a video advertisement or similar in order to gain entry into the draw as they get paid from the advertiser based on the number of views. Other sites don’t require this and generate revenue through on-site advertisements.
Some of the most popular free lottery sites include:
Sign up and enter daily by watching two video advertisements. If the prize is not claimed, it will roll over to the following day.
Sign up and enter your postcode to enter. There are a number of draws on a daily basis with the main draw having a minimum prize of £300. If the prize isn’t claimed, it will roll over to the next day. The Free Postcode Lottery is not to be confused with ‘The People’s Postcode Lottery’ which is pay-to-enter.
The DOB Lottery is a daily lottery with the winnings Date of Birth matching that which is drawn. For each draw there is a £50 jackpot.
Whether or not you pay tax on lottery winnings will depend on where you are playing from. In the UK, lottery winnings are 100% tax-free. This applies whether you purchase a physical lottery ticket or are betting on the lottery at fixed odds with a bookmaker.