In the US, you can now buy lotto tickets online if you subscribe to the Illinois Lottery. US online lottery games include Powerball, Mega Millions, Pick-3, and Pick-4. The Pick-3 and Pick-4 are smaller versions of the bigger lottery draws and only require players to choose three or four numbers. If you win a prize of $600 or less, taxes will need to be paid on the winning amount. But there are a few warning signs to avoid.
Legit online lotteries
A legit online lottery website will have no annoying ads or take a percentage of your winnings as commission. In addition, it should have a secure website and support multiple jurisdictions. These are the key signs of a legitimate lottery website. So, how do you tell which is legit? Read on to discover the tips for choosing a legitimate online lotteries site. In addition to the tips above, be sure to check the site’s credibility.
Free entry
There is a difference between a free entry and a paid entry to an online lottery. Free entry methods are not always as prominent or easy to find as paid entry routes. In one ad, a free entry route was hidden in a long list of terms and conditions. In another, the free entry route was not prominently displayed and the ASA upheld the complaints. The ASA found that the free entry route is not a clear, prominent way to enter an online lottery.
Tax payments on prizes of $600 or less
There are several important requirements for organizations holding raffles and winning cash prizes. First, they must comply with IRS rules regarding tax payments on prizes. The IRS has reviewed these rules on November 23, 2004. Organizations that award prizes worth $600 or more must file Form W-2G with the IRS after each drawing. Prize winners must provide two forms of identification to verify their name, address, and Social Security number. Depending on the amount of prize money, organizers may get some of the tax back, but in some cases, they will have to pay more.
Scams
Scammers impersonate legitimate organizations such as the Mega Millions, Powerball, and Megabucks, and try to bleed people dry with fake offers. Some of these scams even use the real names of employees of these organizations to conceal their identities. Older Americans are especially at risk. According to the BBB, more than 80 percent of money lost by Americans and Canadians to lottery scams is from people over 65.
Availability in the U.S.
Availability of online lottery in the U.S. is a relatively recent development. Most states have gone through a formal legislative process to allow the sale of online lottery games. In most cases, the state adds formal language like “including sales made over the Internet” to prevent a future administration from challenging the legality of online games. However, Washington D.C. and Rhode Island have skipped the process altogether, deciding that existing laws gave them enough leeway to add online products. Currently, there are seven states where online lottery games are legal.