While in the past, buying UK lottery tickets online from abroad used to be a simple enough task and people were able to log into the website without any issues, things were not that simple when it came to actually playing it. You see, purchasing a lottery ticket from outside the United Kingdom was possible, but if you won a prize, things got complicated. It is important to keep in mind that playing the UK lottery from abroad is against the terms and conditions, which is why even if you won, you were not entitled to claim the prize. In 2009, one player had to learn this the hard way. Chris Jones bought his UK lottery tickets online while he was in Spain on holidays and shortly afterwards, he received an email letting him know that he had won over £5,000.
He was asked to call to discuss the prize, but once he mentioned that he was calling from Spain, he was informed by Camelot, the operator of the UK Lottery, that he wouldn’t be able to receive the money. Since then, Camelot was pressured to place restrictions in the website to prevent people from buying tickets from abroad. This makes sense, considering that they refuse to pay out winnings to buyers from outside the UK, so they shouldn’t accept payments either. However, many people still looking for ways to play the National Lottery, even if they are not in the United Kingdom. If you are considering this, keep in mind that while you can buy a ticket from outside the UK, it is very important to consider the terms and conditions.
Camelot, the company running the UK Lottery clearly states in its Terms and Conditions that it won’t pay out winnings to players abroad. This means that even if you managed to access the website and buy tickets from a different country, if Camelot finds out that you bypassed their restrictions and that you purchased the ticket from outside the UK, you would not receive your winnings. It is up to you to decide if you want to go ahead and take the risk, but if you do, remember that even if you win, you could end up with nothing if they find out that you acted against their terms.
How to bypass the restrictions
The National Lottery website can identify your location based on your internet connection, which gets an IP address assigned. Using this, the website can get a good idea of your location and while it won’t be 100% accurate, it allows it to know if you are in the UK or not. Based on the information it gets from your IP address, the website can establish if you can or if you can’t access the website to log into your online account. In order to bypass this geographical restriction, you can use a VPN (which stands for Virtual Private Network), a service that allows you to get around blocks and that also enhances the security of your online connection.
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, meaning that third parties can’t see what websites you visit or what you do online. In addition, a VPN masks your location, making you appear as if you were somewhere else. For instance, to be able to access the National Lottery website, you need to connect to a VPN server in the UK so that your IP address shows that you are connecting from that country. This will allow you to bypass the restrictions implemented on the website so that you can log into your account and buy a lottery ticket.
Before choosing a VPN to bypass the restrictions on the National Lottery website, it is important to note that there are some VPN providers that Camelot knows about. This is why you need to opt for solutions that are capable of defeating the restrictions without raising suspicion. We’ll go through the list of the best VPN providers to play UK Lottery abroad, but first it is worth mentioning a few key aspects about these services. Let’s start with the price, which usually ranges between £3 to £7 per month. You can save money in the long run when you opt for a yearly subscription, but if you only want to use a VPN for a short period of time, most providers allow you to set up a subscription for only one month.
Once you choose the VPN service you want to use, you can download and install the software on your device. Then connect to a server in the United Kingdom so that you can access the National Lottery website. When the website checks your IP address, it will see that it is located in the United Kingdom and you will be able to log into your account to buy a lottery ticket. Just remember that as previously mentioned, if you win, you may not be able to get the prize if Camelot finds out that you are not in the UK. That being said, using a VPN is legal and it allows you to protect your privacy. Even if you are in the UK, you may be using the service to keep your traffic secure and in that case, Camelot wouldn’t be able to prove that you were outside the UK.
Best VPN services to play UK Lottery abroad
The below VPNs currently offer servers that allow you to access the National Lottery website and play UK lottery from another country. However, it is important to keep in mind that since Camelot has implemented technology that aims to stop users from accessing their account from abroad, the situation is not stable and a server that works at one point, may stop working afterwards. By now, you can try the UK servers supported by the below providers.
ExpressVPN
ExpressVPN has set a high standard in the VPN industry thanks to its fantastic combination of security, speed and advanced technology. ExpressVPN has servers in Kent, London, Maidenhead, Berkshire and more. Thanks to the solid customer support and the fantastic network that ExpressVPN offers, you will be able to defeat blocks implemented on streaming sites and in the National Lottery website.
Surfshark
Once you connect to one of Surfshark’s servers in the UK, your IP address will be changed and since you will appear as if you were in that location, you won’t have issues overcoming restrictions and accessing UK lottery’s website. After connecting to a VPN server in the UK, your real IP address will be hidden and when Camelot sees your UK IP address, it will allow you to buy a lottery ticket. Sufshark uses effective unblocking technology and it also has a Camouflage mode that prevents others from seeing that you are using a VPN. Surfshark also offers security and privacy through its high encryption and no logs policy.
NordVPN
NordVPN has over 660 servers in the United Kingdom and you will find options that support a variety of technologies such as obfuscation, P2P and double VPN. NordVPN uses high security to protect your information, but if your main concern is speed, you won’t need to worry as NordVPN can also overcome restrictions seamlessly. The reliability and ease of use of NordVPN’s software ensures that you can bypass Camelot’s geographical’s restrictions. NordVPN is a zero logs provider, meaning that your activities won’t be recorded at all. NordVPN is also known for offering excellent customer support.
LiquidVPN
LiquidVPN is a versatile solution that provides strong security and many convenient features such as IP modulation, which ensures that your IP address is changed regularly. They offers the chance to connect to up to 8 simultaneous connections at the same time, when you choose their most advanced plan. LiquidVPN has advanced servers in Manchester that allow you to bypass restrictions and access content in the UK.
