Owned by the Tatts Group, the Oz Lotto is Australia’s national lottery and is played in all states save for Western Australia. As one of the most popular lotteries in the world, it naturally is a significant lure for Indian players who play at international lottery betting sites. What do you need to know about the lottery game, though? We should take a closer look at the Oz Lotto.
Key Facts about The Oz Lotto
- Ticket Price ₹165
- Minimum Jackpot ₹10 Crores
- Record Jackpot ₹111 Crores
- Probability of Winning 1:16
- Draw Tuesdays at 16:10 (IST)
- Best Place to Play Playhugelottos
- Lotto Home Country Australia
The Oz Lotto in India
The Oz Lotto is one of many global lotteries that Indians are invited to play online. It regularly appears at most major international ticket buying domains.
The game was first played in 1994 and became Australia’s very first national lottery. Since then, it is played in all states save for Western Australia and guarantees a regular Division One Prize Pool of AU$2 million. If there is one Australian lottery you might want to consider playing from India, the Oz Lotto would be it. However, a word of warning – the Oz Lotto can be notoriously complicated, on account of the many ways you can play, and its prize divisions.
How to Play the Oz Lotto
The Oz Lotto requires Indians to select a total of seven numbers, ranging from 1 to 45. You can do this yourself with a Marked Entry, or via a Quick Pick ticket, which involves having your numbers selected at random. At the same time, you can opt for a System Entry, which allows you to pick between 8 and 20 numbers and provides access to prizes of several divisions. Lastly, a Pick Entry permits players to select 1 or 2 numbers and gives them access to several prize divisions, too.
There are seven prize divisions. They are as follows:
- Division 1: 7 winnings numbers
- Division 2: 6 winning numbers and 1 supplementary (bonus) ball
- Division 3: 6 winning numbers
- Division 4: 5 winning numbers and 1 or 2 supplementary balls
- Division 5: 5 winning numbers
- Division 6: 4 winning numbers
- Division 7: 3 winning numbers and 1 or 2 supplementary balls
In the draw, a total of 9 numbers are drawn at random from the pot of 45 balls. The first seven balls drawn represent the winning numbers, with the final two become the supplementary balls or numbers.
The Key Facts
Before playing the Oz Lotto, here are a few things you may wish to consider:
- Chances of Success: Your odds of winning the top jackpot with the Oz Lotto are 1 in 45,379,620.
- Draws: The Oz Lotto draws take place once a week, every Tuesday night. The draw takes place shortly after 7:30 pm AEST, or 8:30 pm AEDT.
- Jackpots: There is a guaranteed Division 1 jackpot prize of AU$2 million. If it is not won, then it is rolled over to the following draw.
- Ticket prices: Ticket prices vary. Ordinarily, a single game will cost Australians AU$1.30. However, as Indian players are going to be buying lottery tickets online via a lottery agent, you can expect to pay a little more bit.
Oz Lotto Winners
The Oz Lotto holds the record for being the best paying Australian lottery game. In the past, the Division 1 jackpot prize has been worth as much as $100 million.
Final Thoughts
The Oz Lotto is a little confusing with its various ticket options and division-based prizes. However, the lottery is easily one of the most popular in Asia and makes for an interesting option if you want to try a lottery which is played differently from the rest.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you still have a few questions about the Oz Lotto, there is every chance this brief FAQ can answer them.
Do I pay tax if I win on the Oz Lotto abroad?
Yes, in theory. The Australian lottery itself does not charge tax on its winnings. However, India has a 30% gambling tax on lottery winnings. This is usually reserved for Indian lotteries, and since you are playing offshore, you could probably try and argue that you do not have to. However, it is not clear how successful you would be.
Do I have to be an Australian citizen or resident to play the Oz Lotto?
No. Like most major worldwide lotteries, the Oz Lotto does not specify that you must be resident in Australia to participate in this lottery game. If you are above the Indian gambling age, then everything is legal and above board.
Can I purchase side-bets in this lottery game?
No. The Oz Lotto does not come with a host of side-bets like the Mega Millions or US Powerball. However, the Oz Lotto does have plenty of different ticket options. These are worth exploring before you decide to buy tickets to this lottery game, as some are a little confusing.
Are my winnings paid out in a lump sum, or with annuity payments?
The Oz Lotto is quite specific how it pays out its winnings. This Australian lottery always pays out its winnings in one lump sum. Moreover, this is a tax-free lump sum. However, it is ultimately up to your lottery agent and lottery site how they choose to pay you. Some will do this via a lump sum and others will opt to make your jackpot win arrive in instalments. This will vary from site to site, so always read up on this before you decide to purchase tickets on the Oz Lotto at such sites.
Is the Oz Lotto licensed and legal?
Yes. The Oz Lotto is one of the few gambling games which is licensed and legal in Australia. Most other forms of gambling games are not considered legal, such as online casinos and poker. It is even legal to purchase lottery tickets online in Australia. Provided your lottery betting website is licensed and regulated; then it should be entirely possible for players in India to engage in playing this lottery via their betting sites, too.
