Are Online Lottery Transactions Legal?
If you’re looking for an online lottery, you’ve probably heard about offshore lottery providers. These companies claim to sell tickets online, but in reality, they send you out to buy them from official retailers. The legality of these companies is questionable, and they are often not regulated in the United States. As a result, it’s best to stick with the official lottery in your state, which is now available in many places. Some even accept Bitcoin transactions.
Legal online lotteries in the US began after the Department of Justice revised its opinion on the Wire Act
In December, the Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel issued an opinion that clarified that online lotteries are not prohibited by the Wire Act. The opinion focused on the legislative history of the Wire Act and the statutory language. It found that the Wire Act only applies to wagers on contests and sporting events. This opinion was not unanimous, but it did provide clarity for operators in this area.
Some lotteries accept Bitcoin transactions
There are a few different online lotteries that accept Bitcoin transactions. While many may not be familiar with this type of online currency, Bitcoin is a peer-to-peer payment system that is decentralized and free from the banking system. While the United States has been relatively accepting of this new electronic currency, other countries are more skeptical, and there are some restrictions on the currency’s use. This doesn’t mean that you can’t play lotteries using bitcoin, but it is a good idea to know what you’re getting into before you spend any money.
Ticket prices are higher than traditional lotteries
You can easily buy lottery tickets online without leaving your house, but the price may be higher than you think. Many 3rd-party lottery sites offer discounts when you purchase multiple tickets or subscribe to their newsletters. However, the prices of online lottery tickets do not include the handling and entry fees charged by brick-and-mortar retailers.
Geolocation technology is used to ensure customers are located within state lines
Geolocation technology uses data from individual devices to determine a user’s physical location. It collects data through active user/device-based methods and passive server-based lookups, which are cross-referenced to arrive at the most accurate result. Geolocation data is divided into three categories: physical, geographical, and time.