lotteryNational Lottery operator Camelot has been criticised for allowing people to buy tickets online while abroad despite them being unable to win any money.
In countries including Spain and the US it is illegal for Britons to play the UK lottery, making their tickets void.
But Camelot’s website does not stop them buying tickets and consumer body Which? said the rules were not clear.
Camelot said it does warn people who buy online, but cannot provide a list of countries where playing is banned.
The National Lottery website can be accessed from anywhere in the world, but in much of Europe, for example, local laws bar people from taking part in foreign lottery draws while on holiday there.
Tickets void
One Briton, Chris Jones, from Tyne and Wear, told the website thisismoney.co.uk that he lost out on more than £5,000 in prize money after buying a National Lottery ticket online while in Majorca.
“What annoys me is that they still accepted my money,” he said.
Stephen McGlade, from Which? said Camelot must do more to prevent such situations occurring. Read more