The Pennsylvania Lottery struck a deal with a new financial technology service provider that is promising to make it easier to get money on and off the new online lottery website.
The state authorized online lottery sales and online gambling as a part of a comprehensive gambling expansion law passed in October 2017. The online gambling side of things is still mired in the regulatory and licensing process. The state’s first online casinos and poker sites will likely launch in late 2018 or early 2019.
In the meantime, the Pennsylvania Lottery began online lottery sales on its new PAilottery.com website and Pennsylvania Lottery mobile app on May 29.
Legal and regulated online gambling in PA
The online lottery launched with 11 instant win games. These digital scratch-off equivalents are akin to online slots with bonus rounds and other user customization features.
The games start at $0.01 per round. The games represent the first ever legal and regulated online gambling products available in Pennsylvania.
In order to play for real money, customers must register for a PA iLottery account and fund that account.
During a soft launch period, the site only accepted Visa and MasterCard Debit Card deposits. The PA Lottery promised to make other deposit methods available and expanded to include ACH e-Check and PayNearMe cash deposits with the PA iLottery’s official launch June 4. Credit cards are still not accepted.
However, it may get even easier to make deposits and withdrawals. Particularly now that US financial technology service provider Global Payments has been brought on to power payment processing for the PA online lottery.
A press release announcing the new partnership says the lottery aims to provide players with a frictionless way to deposit, play and withdraw winnings.
Automated clearinghouse services
To that end, the PA online lottery will now employ Global Payments’ Gaming Solutions subsidiary’s automated clearinghouse services. This will allow customers to pay into their PA iLottery accounts and receive cash prizes using a checking account.
Pennsylvania Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko said it’s all an effort to make playing the online lottery easier:
“Online and mobile gaming is a natural evolution for the Pennsylvania Lottery and Global Payments is helping us make the consumer experience frictionless as we modernize our business and generate new funds to benefit older Pennsylvanians.”
The Pennsylvania Lottery is the only state lottery in the country that directs all proceeds towards programs that benefit older residents.
The company is happy to partner with such an innovative program, according to Global Payments Gaming Solutions President Christopher Justice:
“Global Payments Gaming Solutions has almost two decades of experience working with gaming organizations to provide a simple, secure and convenient player experience. We’re thrilled that Pennsylvania Lottery selected Global Payments to help them increase engagement and accessibility as they offer new innovative experiences.”
Playing the PA online lottery
Players must be 18 years or older to play the PA online lottery.
The instant win games available online now include:
- Foxin’ Wins Reveal
- Super CashBuster
- Big Money Slingo
- Big Foot Reveal
- Crossword Cash
- Cash in the Lamp
- Super Gems
- Robin Hood Reveal
- Volcano Reveal
- Monster Wins Reveal
- CashBuster Towers
Free-to-play demos of all the games are also online.
