Lottery online – also known as lottery games or instant-type lotteries – offer players an opportunity to win cash prizes. The prize structure of these games varies depending on how many of the numbers are matched. For instance, the player who matches all four numbers wins a substantial sum of money, while a person who matches only three numbers can expect a significant return on their investment. In addition to offering a chance for fortune, these lotteries are widely popular around the world and help fund charitable projects and organizations.
The lottery industry has evolved dramatically with the introduction of the Internet, making it easier than ever to play a game of chance. While state and territorial governments remain responsible for the distribution of official lotteries, privately-owned companies are now able to take advantage of online gambling rules and technology to sell games of chance through the Web. Online lottery sales are growing rapidly, with some sites offering a variety of games for an annual subscription fee.
In Canada, prior to 1967 buying a ticket on the Irish Sweepstakes was illegal. However, in that year the federal Liberal government introduced a special law aimed at updating a number of obsolete laws. This special law allowed provincial governments to operate lottery systems.
Since that time, the Canadian government has established four nationwide lotteries: Lotto 6/49, Lotto Max (which replaced Lotto Super 7 in September 2009), Daily Grand, and Millionaire Life. These lotteries are administered by the Interprovincial Lottery Corporation, which is a consortium of five regional lottery commissions owned by their respective provincial and territorial governments: Atlantic Lottery Corporation (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland and Labrador), Loto-Quebec (Quebec), Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (Ontario), Western Canada Lottery Corporation (Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), and British Columbia Lottery Corporation (British Columbia).
While the state-controlled American lotteries have long been the preferred source for charitable funding, private-sector companies now compete with them in some jurisdictions. Licensed re-sellers can sell the official lottery games through their websites, but they must pay a license fee to the government for each sale. The majority of lottery profits are used to support public education systems.
The first lottery to be played online was the German-based Plus Lotto in 1995. This lottery launched the first lottery-related website and processed the first real-money lottery transaction online. The site continues to operate today, supporting a wide range of charities worldwide.
The regulated Australian lotteries are operated by the Tatts Group under a state or territory license. They are backed by the government and have a good reputation for integrity. In contrast, the unlicensed lottery re-sellers in Australia charge premiums on base lottery prices and have been accused of cheating players. Fortunately, the government has responded to these concerns by establishing a legal framework for online lotteries. This has helped to reduce the number of unlicensed sites and improve customer service.