Online Lottery – How it works and how to play

Today buying lottery is easier than ever thanks to the Internet. In general, there are two different options to acquire the numbers of the different draws:

1. Buy Lottery on the official websites (ONCE and SELAE)
2. Acquire Lottery on specialized web pages
3. Buy Lottery in administrations with website

In this section we explain the differences between these three ways of buying lottery, all valid and with their advantages and disadvantages.

1. Buy Lottery on the official websites

The first option is the most traditional way to buy lottery online. You will simply have to go to the official website of the entity that offers the draw in which you want to participate and acquire your numbers there.

For example, if you want to play Cuponazo you will have to go to the ONCE website. However, if you want to play Bonoloto you will have to go to the SELAE website.

Buying the numbers on the official websites is the same as going to a lottery administration in terms of security. For this reason, many people prefer not to complicate their lives and acquire their tenths in this way.

✅ 100% secure, as they are official websites

✅ Good customer service

2. Buy Lottery on specialized web pages

On the other hand, the second option is to buy lottery online through websites specialized in this game. In reality, these portals function simply as intermediaries, since they buy lottery tickets at authorized points of sale.

One of the greatest advantages of these pages is that they allow you to participate in different clubs. That is, they allow you to share lottery numbers with many other users. In this way, participants can play more numbers for the same money. Of course, if successful, the prize will also be distributed among more people.

However, one of the disadvantages is that you will have to pay small commissions. In addition, many of these platforms are not available in Spain, but are rather focused on users from other countries.

✅ They have lottery clubs

✅ They can offer discounts and promotions

✅ They accept other payment methods (eg PayPal)

❌ They take a commission for the sale

❌ Some may not be trusted

❌ They are not available from Spain

In the case of buying lottery online on these types of pages, it is important to make sure that they are safe and reliable portals.

3. Buy lottery on the websites of the administrations

Participating in some raffles, such as the Christmas Lottery raffle , has already become a ritual within Spanish families.

In addition, who has not taken advantage of a tourist trip to buy a tenth in another city? Who has not approached the administration that last year distributed the Gordo to see if this year they will have the same luck again?

There are many users who are loyal to a specific administration and the good news is that they can now buy their favorite numbers online. Directly at your administration, but without having to wait in long lines.

We are going to see some of the administrations that have a website:

• Mrs. Manolita
• The Bruixa d’Or
• The Favorite Lottery

Like everything, this option has its advantages and disadvantages, let’s see them below!

✅ User comfort that avoids queues

✅ Security and good practices

❌ Quite rudimentary websites

❌ Few payment methods are accepted

Types of Lotteries – National vs International

All countries have a national lottery. For example, in Spain, the bodies in charge of managing lottery draws are the Sociedad Estatal Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (SELAE) and the ONCE  ( National Organization of the Spanish Blind ).

Thanks to them, raffles such as the Primitiva, the Cuponazo or the National Lottery of Spain are held. We will talk about all of them a little later!

On the other hand, in Argentina the Grande de la Nacional, La Quiniela, El Loto and La Solidaria are celebrated; all of them managed by the LNSE. Likewise, in Mexico we can highlight the National Lottery for Public Assistance institution, which is in charge of managing lottery draws in the country. 

However, today in addition to state lotteries there are multiple lotteries that span more than one nation or state. This is the case of EuroMillions, MegaMillions or Powerball games; that distribute millions of euros among their players. We are going to talk about all these international giveaways so you know how they work :

• EuroMillions : The EuroMillions is a draw that takes place in Paris every Tuesday and Friday at 9:00 p.m. (CET) and brings together players from all over the European continent. In this lottery, players must choose 5 numbers between 1-50 and two lucky stars between 1-11. The biggest prize that this Lottery started in 2004 has distributed is € 190,000,000.
• MegaMillions:  The MegaMillions is the draw equivalent to the EuroMillions but in its American version. This lottery, started in 2002, is held every Wednesday and Saturday at 05.00 (CET). In it the players have to choose 5 numbers from 1-75 and 1 number from 1-15.
• PowerBall: The  PowerBall draw is another of the lottery games offered by the United States. However, in recent times it has also become very popular with Latin American players. This is a draw started in March 2005 where players must choose 5 numbers out of a total of 69 and 1 number out of a total of 26. The highest prize distributed so far in this draw is nothing more and nothing less than 430,000 .000 €.  

Nowadays, all these draws have become much more accessible thanks to the Internet, which allows us to play the lottery online from anywhere. 

The most important lottery draws in Spain

We have already commented that in Spain, lottery draws are regulated by the state and that these are managed by these two entities: the State Society Lotteries and State Gambling and the National Organization of the Spanish Blind. Let’s see what giveaways each offer:

1. State Society Lotteries and State Gambling (SELAE ): The origins of this public body must be found in 1812, which is when the first National Lottery draw was held in Spain. Currently, in addition to the National Lottery, this institution is in charge of managing the draws for La Primitiva, the Euromillions, the Bonoloto, the Quiniela, the Christmas Draw or the Children’s Draw .
2. National Organization of the Spanish Blind (ONCE): This non-profit organization was founded in 1938 with the aim of helping blind or severely visually impaired people. Some of the raffles currently offered are the Daily Coupon, the Cuponazo, the Sueldazo, the Eurojackpot, the 7/39 or the Super Once.

At present, both SELAE and ONCE have web pages from which numbers can be acquired to play the different lottery draws. They are official and totally secure websites that allow users to avoid queuing hours in physical administrations.

Origins and history of the lottery

The origins of the lottery are to be found in Ancient China of the Han dynasty (200 years before Christ). The first registered keno tickets are from this era.

Keno is still a popular game of chance in casinos. It is a kind of hybrid between what we know today as bingo and lottery. We can consider this game the precursor of what would later be lottery games.

In Keno, players must choose 15 numbers drawn from a card that has a total of 80 numbers. Afterwards, there will be a draw for 20 numbers. The more numbers that match those selected on your ticket, the higher the prize you will receive.

Where does the word “lottery” or “lotto” come from?

It is not entirely clear what the origin of the word lottery or lotto is, however, it seems that there are three plausible theories.

The first one defends that the term comes from the Latin “loterus” which means luck or fortune, the second theory would be related to the Italian language and the word “lotta” which means fight and, finally, the last theory defends that the word lotus comes from the German “lot” which also means luck.

Whatever the origin of the word lottery, we find ourselves in front of one of the oldest games in the world, which has managed to survive in time to this day and not only that but today it is still one of the games of chance More popular. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Playing Online Lottery