There are lots of similarities between the lottery and playing bingo, both number-based betting games so it’s perhaps not a surprise that many people like to enjoy both.
The connection between lottery games and bingo
With both the lottery and bingo, players pick their numbers and cross their fingers that the balls drawn will match their numbers. However, there is a fundamental difference in that with bingo, you have the satisfaction of knowing that someone will always win, as the balls will keep coming until there’s a match. That’s not the case with the lottery; only a small number of balls will be drawn and there’s the possibility that there will be no match. Some bingo games can be played as part of a network set up, attracting tens of thousands of players from different places. With this volume of cards in play, the result is that it is very much like a lottery, with only a slim chance of winning. Lottery betting is now offered as an additional extra by a number of bingo sites but it’s important to appreciate that this does not mean a lottery ticket has been purchased; the two things are separate and distinct.
What’s the difference between direct play and lottery betting?
Lottery betting does not entitle you to a share of the lottery jackpot as no ticket is actually purchased. Rather, the game is based on a bet that certain numbers will be drawn and if your prediction is right, the bingo site pays the winnings, not the lottery. It is possible to find bingo sites, which match the winnings, which are offered by the lottery itself. Other bingo sites run it as a fixed odds bet and quote odds based on the chances of that number appearing. For these types of bets, you will receive winnings based on your stake and the odds you were quoted; there’s no relation whatsoever to the lottery payout.
Is it better to play on the lottery directly or bet on it?
Bingo sites providing lottery betting offer a very significant advantage compared to playing on the lotteries directly: the chance to play on lotteries you wouldn’t otherwise be able to. With access to just one lottery or bingo site, you could bet on lotteries from all around the world and could have access to certain features such as stopping anyone else betting on the same numbers as you (typically only for big pay-outs). You could also benefit from special offers and bonuses, all from the convenience of your single online account.
The one drawback
Many tickets in the UK which play the lottery don’t win but it’s not all bad news because around a quarter of the ticket prices goes to charities and good causes (figures correct as at 31st March 2014). When you bet on the lottery rather than play directly, no donation will be made as the site keeps the profit instead. If this is an issue for you, limiting your online lottery betting to those not based in the UK and which you would otherwise be unable to participate in is one possible option. There’s a list of bingo sites, which feature lottery betting in the Bingo and Lotteries category.