Short review of thelotter.com

Someone posted this question:

Please checkout the site below,that was recently E-Mailed to me & tell me if it is a Scam?.... http://XXXXXX.com
--------

The link you provided (concealed) appears to be just an affiliate's website that leads to thelotter.com. btw, we didn't see that email, so we assumed everything is normal (i.e. not a 419 lottery scam or phishing email).

So the question is whether thelotter.com is a scam. We cannot tell you if it is a scam or not, unless there is evidence. But you can read this. Or you may read our opinion about online lotteries here. All we can say is that everything is pure business until someone really wins big-time and issues a press release. As for me, I would prefer to hold the physical tickets in my hand.

We had previously taken a look at the website prior to receiving the above request. There were others who were asking about the same questions, including myself. The questions we were asking are not whether "it is a scam", but the handling of the physical tickets and the reliability of the agent to deliver the winnings. We went back there again and it took us some time to find this deep in the FAQ:

---FAQ Extracts---

What guarantee do I have that you will pay me when I win?

A
Regarding assurances, on top of all measures presented through the site we do believe and hope that our unquestioned reputation of many years of first class service provided to our huge and loyal clientele, first over the phone and currently over the web, speaks for itself.

------
thelotter.com should provide more transparency to such matters. It isn't about the number of lottery, or the prize money. Its about gaining the trust of customers to let thelotter.com handle the physical tickets, and providing assurance that the winnings will be paid out honestly. These should be highlighted somewhere big on the website, with links to evidence or endorsement by the authorities. What we mean is that any information that would help to gain the trust of potential customers should be placed somewhere easier to find, perhaps a direct link on the top menu.

This is especially important for "online lottery", which does not seem "legal" (will skip this factor). We did not like the idea of digging deep into the FAQ to find the answers, e.g. how the tickets are managed. Allay the fears and address the key concerns upfront - this is what we would prefer. Nevertheless, we know some punters don't really care and just take the plunge. 

 

While reading through the FAQ, we also found this answer about the jackpot assurance:

---FAQ Extracts---
Why does theLotter.com use Jackpot insurance?

A. Being the world leader in global lottery services, and in order to give our customers the best possible winning protection, we implemented a unique Jackpot insurance to insure payment of jackpot prizes in cases that the original lottery ticket was lost or not purchased for any reason. With this insurance in place, supplied by broker of Lloyd's of London-Tyser Special Risks Management, our customers can be sure that when they'll finally meet their fortune, they will not have to rely on luck for getting their money.
------

Due to some technical errors, we are unable to include the link to the second question. It is actually on the same page as the first FAQ extract.

We did a check some time back regarding this and received confirmation from Lloyd's that there is a first class insurance in place. We do not have further details other than this written confirmation.
-----

  From Lloyd's:

> I refer to your email (copy attached) and can confirm that I have made
> enquiries of both the Lloyd's Broker Tyser & Co Ltd and certain
> underwriters at Lloyd's in connection with your enquiry into
> thelotter.com and as a result would now respond as follows:-
>
> After consultation with the Lloyd's broker, Tyser & Co Limited, we can
> confirm that insurance has been placed for thelotter.com to protect
> their legal liability to pay winners of jackpot prizes in their lottery.
> We can further confirm that the security is first class. However,
> actual details regarding the extent of coverage and the identity of the
> insurers is a private matter between thelotter.com and its insurers /
> insurance brokers.
>
> I trust that this response provides you with the clarification you were
> seeking.
>
> Regards

We are not going to post the exact sender's information in this blog. Also note that we are NOT posting this mail to convince or invite you play the lottery. We are not affiliated to thelotter.com in anyway, and I still prefer to buy physical lottery ticket.

Again, we think that thelotter.com should place these answers on prominent pages:

1) How are the tickets managed? (This is the most important because the authority pays only to the ticket holder.)
2) How do they assure customers that they will get their winnings?

The need to dig deep to find these answers that are hidden among the lesser issues gave the impression that there is a lack of confidence.

A first class insurance probably isn't cheap, so why should this fact be hidden deep inside the website. If I am the owner, I would put a big sign right on the front page to say that the winnings are insured (with reference to established agency). But why wasn't this done?

We have our thoughts about a "third question", but we are not prepared to share them further due to the lack of "authorised" information (e.g. the legal question). But we decided to write only our opinions based on the facts.

We hope that you are satisfied that we have shared what we know about this issue.





Comments (100)

nick
Said this on 1-9-2012 At 10:33 am

thelotter's ip address is from canada ?

nick
Said this on 1-8-2012 At 11:38 am

thelotter.com ip address is from canada ?

Said this on 12-30-2011 At 08:20 am

sounds scary. im out of here

Mark & Liz
Said this on 12-27-2011 At 11:59 am

Thelotter.com no longer has an Insurane Policy to protect
their legal liability to pay winners of jackpot prizes in their lottery.

The lottery authority will only pay out to the actual ticket holder, so if you have a big win - do you feel confident that Thelotter.com will actually hand over the ticket?

Mikael
Said this on 12-29-2011 At 02:20 pm

No insurance? If so they are lying to their customers (not a good policy) The following quotation is from an answer to my sceptical questions to thelotter-people:

"While theLotter representatives are bound by a strict legal contract to perform certain duties among them the collection of customers' winnings—regardless of the amount—additionally all representatives' activities are supervised by Lloyd's of London.

 

All jackpot prizes are insured in their entirety.

  

In the unlikely case that you may have a claim against theLotter.com all disputes will be resolved exclusively by arbitration in London, England by the International Chamber of Commerce as the relationship between you and theLotter.com is governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

 

Any decisions made will be adhered to and held valid in any court of law in the world."


george
Said this on 12-24-2011 At 07:04 am

today december 24 and the website is still down!!!!!!!!!!!

Said this on 12-23-2011 At 04:23 pm

Today, on december 23, the website of Thelotter.com all of a sudden where closed down when I tried to log in, despite numorus efforts - no contact!

Anyone else hit by the same unfomfortable phenomena?! All other sites on the internet works just perfect.

After having read the comments as to the actual business in the UK, with accounts in Cyprus I´m raising my doubts abouts.

James
Said this on 12-25-2011 At 01:31 am

Hi,

I actually tried theLotter.com site, and seem to be working fine now. I received a msg. from them, saying that due to an unforeseen technical difficulty which occurred during a version update, theLotter.com experienced an external domain error.

I've been using the site for a couple of years, and never had a problem.

hope that helps.

James

Paul
Said this on 12-24-2011 At 01:11 pm

I have receiveed an email from the Lotter:

Dear Paul,

Due to an unforeseen technical difficulty which occurred during a version update, theLotter.com experienced an external domain error.

As a result, the site has been unavailable since the early afternoon hours of Friday, December 23rd.

We do apologize for any inconvenience you have experienced.

We are doing our utmost to ensure a quick resolution and restore full service as soon as possible.

We wish to reassure you that private accounts on the site continue to be secured, and you will be able to pick up where you left off once service is resumed.

We remain committed to providing our customers with top service and wish to make ourselves available via email at support@thelotter.com or by phone at +44 20 7023 7556 until 22 GMT in order to accommodate any questions you may have regarding this matter.

Once the technical difficulty has been resolved, you will receive immediate notification from our support team.  

 

Paul
Said this on 12-24-2011 At 01:07 pm

I have tried to use the site as well and it is no longer working,  Not sure what has happened.

Tim
Said this on 12-24-2011 At 12:39 pm

Peter, if you didn't get this email, I did:

Dear Timothy,

 

Due to an unforeseen technical difficulty which occurred during a version update, theLotter.com experienced an external domain error.

As a result, the site has been unavailable since the early afternoon hours of Friday, December 23rd.

We do apologize for any inconvenience you have experienced.

We are doing our utmost to ensure a quick resolution and restore full service as soon as possible.

Tim
Said this on 12-24-2011 At 11:21 am

Peter, I'm seeing the same and it's scary knowing they have taken my money in the past.  Any news about this?

Mikael
Said this on 12-24-2011 At 05:27 am

Thelotter-app stopped working also on the 23rd of december. Maybe a customer did win a jackpot and thelotter-people decided to keep the loot?

Said this on 9-8-2011 At 02:39 pm

And they just released an iPhone app as well, theLotter iPhone app:

http://itunes.apple.com/app/thelotter/id441243940

GodKnows I
Said this on 7-20-2011 At 11:07 pm

I think Thelotter.com is not a scam.. if you visit Euromillions official site.. they suggest you to bet at Thelotter.com if you play form outside of UK.

 

Liyana
Said this on 1-10-2012 At 10:15 pm

Actually the euro-millions endorsement IS true.  They do not NAME The Lotter, but if you click their  Play Euro-Millions link then they have Play Euro-Millions outside the UK... and refer to Use our world famous lottery concierge.  The link to their world famous lopttery concierge puts you straight into the lotter website.  So euro-millions links right to the lotter.   That is good enough for me.  That IS an endoresement from them.

 

Additionally being a UK business with accounts in Cyprus is really not an issue.  CYprus is a part of the British Commonwealth and they have close ties.  The Lotter could as easily put their accounts in Malta, or Barbados, or any number of cheaper than UK proper offshore commonwealth nations for ease of doing business.   They happened to like Cyprus for it.  Works for me.  :)

Sara
Said this on 10-1-2011 At 09:39 am

That is NOT TRUE. SHOW US THE LINK - you haven't because you have lied.

It would have been slightly more crediable if you had linked to the euro-site & the saction you claim falsely is there - rather than link TWICE to the lotter site!!!

Posted by the lotter?

Another example of blatant lies. Too much weidness around the lotter for it to be in anyway ligit.

Annie
Said this on 9-29-2011 At 01:15 am

I have played thelotter.com now for a year off and on.  I wonder why noone has ever won anything big on it and I have also wondered if they would indeed disappear if one of the players won 100million?  That has always been my concern.  I have never won anything more than a 17.00.

 

I did have a win on EUROMILLIONS and they NEVER PAID ME.  They always had excuses why the money never arrived.  It was not a large amount so probably if they do not pay out small amounts lets say times hundreds of people...it adds up for them.  Euro millions is a scam. 

Paul
Said this on 12-24-2011 At 01:26 pm

I have played and won some money twice (very small amounts), I am worried that if you do win a large amount it will dissapear.  Maybe the insure us valid, I don't know.

 

Post a Comment
* Your Name:
* Your Email:
(not publicly displayed)
Reply Notification:
Approval Notification:
Website:
* Security Image:
Security Image Generate new
Copy the numbers and letters from the security image:
* Message: