Playing from Overseas

You do not need to be a citizen of the United Kingdom, or indeed a permanent resident of the country, in order to participate in the UK National Lottery - but, you must be in the UK to buy a physical ticket*. So, if you are visiting the UK for a holiday or business trip then you can participate simply by purchasing a lottery ticket from an approved retailer just like anyone else.

If you are overseas (not in the UK) and you would like to play the National Lottery then you need to use a Lottery Concierge service. This will get you an entry into the draw using the numbers that you choose, and then they will provide you with a scan of the ticket they have bought on your behalf as proof that it has been bought. However, expect to pay slightly more for the ticket as they need to pay the person who will physically buy the ticket on your behalf.

Perhaps a better way of playing the lottery from overseas is to have a friend or family member buy tickets in the UK on your behalf and post them onto you securely. Lottery tickets can be bought for up to eight weeks if you pay in advance, and if your numbers hit a big prize the inconvenience of having to visit the country to collect your winnings will only be a minor one.

An alternative would be to buy your tickets online, if you have a UK bank account or could set one up, and then, if you win the jackpot, you would surely be able to afford the airfare to come and collect your prize!