The Growing Online Lottery Market
Until 2011 the legality of online lottery games in the US was up in the air. The Wire Act, intended to curtail the spread of organized crime, was interpreted by many states as prohibiting the sale of lottery tickets over the internet. In response to the legal challenge, the Justice Department gave a legal opinion saying that the law did not apply to the sale of online lottery tickets. However, a small group of states did legalize the online sale of lottery tickets. In all, six states have legalized online lottery games.
The online lottery market is expected to perform well over the next few years. With the continued expansion of high-speed Internet and the proliferation of mobile technology, the global online lottery market is expected to register solid growth. As a result, the market is likely to exceed $1 billion by 2021. A growing number of states are also considering expanding their online reach.
The Internet is also being used as an effective promotional tool to drive consumer interest in online lottery games. Lottery websites are offering free welcome offers for new customers to encourage them to play. Online lottery subscriptions vary in price depending on the number of drawings. They also do not charge a premium for convenience. In some cases, official lottery courier services can be used to order official tickets.
Another great thing about playing lottery online is that you can play the game from the comfort of your own home. Not only does this offer convenience, it also reduces your risks. Online lottery tickets are also more secure than paper lottery tickets, which require physical care until the draw. In addition, the prize payouts for online lottery games are often significantly higher. A good example of this is the Powerball game. In fact, the winning jackpot prize in the online game is double the jackpot prize in the offline game.
The online lottery market is not as popular as online sports betting, but it is growing. As online lotteries continue to improve their security and speed, the market is expected to grow at a rapid pace. In fact, many states have authorized official lottery courier services to facilitate the sale of official lottery tickets online.
The most important thing to understand about the online lottery game is that it is not as easy to scam as its paper incarnation. In addition to this, the process is more secure because it does not require physical contact with the seller. The Internet has also opened up the lottery market to countries outside the US. The United Kingdom and Australia, for example, allow the purchase of lottery tickets online. However, the legality of offshore lottery providers remains a question mark.
As with any other novelty, the online lottery industry has been prone to controversies. However, the industry has also managed to overcome its many drawbacks. One of the most notable examples of the industry’s resilience is the Pennsylvania iLottery. In just one year, the online lottery site sold more than $4 billion worth of game tickets. This is a significant achievement, especially considering the competition.