Phone, tablet, laptop, or desktop: Connecticut players can buy tickets anywhere
By Kate Northrop
The Connecticut Lottery has a revamped website and additionally offers a new way to buy lottery tickets online.
Connecticut lottery players can purchase tickets online for several draw games, both multi-state and games local to Connecticut.
Last week, the Connecticut Lottery updated its website to not only include a new layout, but a way for players to create an online account and play from the comfort of their phones, tablets, laptops, or desktop computers.
Connecticut players can purchase tickets for all draw games offered by the Connecticut Lottery: Keno, Play 3, Play 4, Cash 5, Lotto, Millionaire for Life, Mega Millions, and Powerball.
In order to participate, players must be at least 18 years old, be located in the state of Connecticut at the time of purchase, and have funds deposited into their accounts. The Lottery requires online players to pass age and identification verification checks.
The minimum deposit amount into an account is $10. Prizes of $599 and less are automatically deposited into accounts. Prizes of $600 and more can be claimed in person at a Lottery office, but prizes of $5,001 and above must be claimed at Lottery headquarters in Wallingford.
Players will receive an email notification alerting to any wins between $600 and $5,000. All prizes are available to claim the next business day, although winners of Play 3, Play 4, and Keno within this prize range can call the Lottery for inquiries on same-day claims.
The Lottery also offers limits on wagering activity that players can choose, including how much can be wagered for a certain period of time, deposit limits, and time limits on how long a player can access the website or mobile app for.
Players can also request to opt-in to self-exclusion from the iLottery portal or mobile app. Those who participate should note that they will be barred from collecting any winnings or prizes if they participate in gaming for which they have excluded themselves, the Lottery advised.
One by one like Dominoes being lined up, states are slowly giving customers what they want---convenience
and ability to play on line. Too bad the taxable amount for Feds didn't move up from the current $600 and above.
Best of my knowledge, and correct me if I'm wrong, but there are no lobbyists for the lottery. This past January, thanks in part to two Congressfolks, one in IL and other NV they were partially able to win over the IRS. Pre-pandemic they wanted winnings over $5K, up from the then $1200 and above to be taxed. Somehow it got watered down to winnings $2K and under would be Federally exempt. Small steps better than none!
What's taking New York so long to get on board??
Under the "related articles" I see they started online two years ago but another article shows that the process to going online actually started in 2016 with initial discussions. The CT model seems like it would help with budgeting being able to set your limits.
I'd love this in FL. Getting that email saying you've won and having winnings automatically deposited.
Unfortunately, I looked up FL and too many complex legislative hurdles. And I also found out that the lottery keeps making record profits from in person sales so they have no real incentive to move online.
However, I did find out that by 2028 FL will start allowing players to redeem winning tickets through the updated app. The max amount wasn't stated but I'd guess it would be the same as retailers, currently $599. I'm sure players will welcome this convenience.