The UK National Lottery and Online Lottery Tickets

The UK National Lottery is the largest in the United Kingdom and is run by the Camelot Group who was awarded the franchise in 1993. In 2010 Camelot Group was purchased by the Ontario Teacher's Pension Plan from Canada announced they were purchasing Camelot for £389 million pounds. ($562,622,030 USD) One of the most attractive features of the UK National Lottery is that all jackpots are paid in a lump sum and unlike US lottery jackpots are totally tax free. The UK National Lottery uses twelve machines that can be used for any lottery draw. For security reasons the machine and set of lottery balls to be used are not announced until the drawing actually takes place. The lottery draw machines have names straight out of Arthurian legends and are named Merlin, Arthur, Galahad, Vyvyan, Lancelot, Garnet, Topaz, Opal, Amethyst, Moonstone, Pearl and Sapphire.

The UK National Lottery offers several games and the largest is the famous Lotto game. Players select six numbers from 1 to 19 and a bonus ball. In England the 'quick pick' option is known as the 'Lucky Dip.' Tickets for the UK National Lottery cost £1 (about $1.44 USD). Draws take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays and results are posted on the National Lottery's website immediately. The UK National Lottery offers players several other games similar to the familiar 'pick 3' and 'pick 4' games which are so popular in the US.

One of the best aspects of the UK National Lottery is the sale of online lottery tickets. The UK National Lottery also sells lottery tickets for the popular EuroMillions lottery. All National Lottery games can be played online after the player registers. There are two ways to play the UK National Lottery online. The first is by subscription. Players have the option of signing up through direct debit and their numbers will be entered automatically. Winners are notified by email by noon of the following day. The second method offered to UK online lottery players is the 'Loaded Account 'option. Players load finds into their lottery account and can play anytime they wish. Again, winners are notified by email.

UK lottery players love the online option. Most players cite convenience as the chief factor for their choice to purchase online lottery tickets. One of the best advantages of online lottery tickets is that they are impossible to misplace or lose. Players who purchase lottery tickets online are sent an email linking the player to the numbers chosen. As has been mentioned all winners are notified by email. Online lottery tickets for the UK National Lottery can be purchased from the official lottery website and transactions are safe and secure. Hopefully in the near future the US will adopt and apply 21st century technology to US lotteries.