Dreaming of a lifestyle upgrade? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. After a recent Empower survey found that Americans spend an average of 4 hours a day thinking about their finances, it’s no great leap to suggest that many people are looking at creative ways to strike it rich. From side hustles to social media influencing, and from competitive gaming to bitcoin mining, it seems Gen Z won’t be the first – or last – generation to try whatever it takes to get hold of the big bucks.

Lucky Break: The importance of being in the right place at the right time

While there’s no substitute for hard work and talent, sometimes a little luck can go a long way. The creative industries are full of apocryphal tales of a chance encounter leading to a golden opportunity. From Harrison Ford’s impromptu audition for Star Wars while doing carpentry work at George Lucas’ offices to former FAULT cover star Toni Braxton getting discovered by her long-time songwriter Bill Pettaway, Jr., there’s a lot to be said for being in the right place a the right time.

For lottery players, of course, this is true in a very literal sense. If you’ve ever found yourself daydreaming about winning big, you may have also bought a ticket for a rollover jackpot on a whim. What you might not have known is that most lotteries are operated under strict rules surrounding permanent residence and/or geographical location. So, ordinarily speaking, a UK resident who purchased a ticket while on holiday wouldn’t be eligible to win – even if they scored the jackpot.

Regulated online lottery providers let players play and win from anywhere in the world

The Irish Lottery has similar rules governing who can play, how, and from where. Only those physically based in Ireland are eligible to enter and win prizes in the draw. However, regulated online lottery providers are flipping that script.

Rather than entering the main lottery draw, players can choose numbers and buy tickets for the Irish Lotto (and other games) through Lottoland. The ticket functions as a bet on the outcome of the lottery, with exactly the same results, odds, and prizes as the main lotto draw. The only difference? Lottoland tickets can be purchased from anywhere in the world.

Legitimacy and legality: Trust regulated platforms with guaranteed payouts

It’s tempting to think that these sorts of platforms are too good to be true. Rather than exploiting some sort of loophole, however, the fact is that fully-regulated private bookmakers are 100% legal and above-board. They operate in a similar respect to other bookmakers offering odds on casino games or sports events, and they are legally required to pay out to winners in just the same way as high street bookmakers are.

Fans of the Irish Lotto (or Irish films) thinking back to the plot of Waking Ned (1998) can think again: there’s no scheming required here! Choose your numbers, buy your ticket, then cash out any winnings – it’s that straightforward. Lottoland operates with a transparent guaranteed payout policy, meaning that any winning bet will be paid promptly in the same way as an official lottery operator.

In fact, Lottoland take great pride in showcasing their big winners. Their website highlights stories like that of Mr Logan, who placed a £3 bet on the Irish Lotto from the North East of England and ended up winning a jackpot prize of over £5 million. There’s also the heart warming tale of Christina, the then-36 year old cleaner from Berlin who won £79 million by placing a bet on Eurojackpot in 2018.

Conclusion: Dream big, stay focused and play responsibly

Who said dreams can’t come true? They can – and do, for some of us. And, even if you’re not a lucky winner today, a little dreaming doesn’t hurt. Just remember: stay in control and only bet if you’re aware of all the risks as well as the rewards.