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Playing by text |
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What is Play by Text?
Play by Text is the new and exciting way to play Lotto, Dream Number, EuroMillions, Thunderball, Lotto HotPicks and Daily Play using your mobile phone. If you have a mobile phone that is registered with a UK Network Operator and can send and receive a text message, then you can sign up to play by text on this website. Once you are signed up, you can send your selected line(s) of numbers to us by text message, or ask to play Lucky Dip.
For more information about how to play by text, please visit the How to Play section.
Why am I unable to send a message to 61111 to play?
On some occasions you may not be able to send a text message. On such occasions your phone may say 'message not sent'. This may be for a number of reasons:- The text message memory on your phone is full
- Your pre-pay credit has run out/you have no credit on your phone
- Your phone may be out of range
- You may be trying to play from a different phone to the one that you registered with us.
Why have I not received a confirmation message? How do I know if my selection of numbers has been placed in the draw?
Once you have sent a text message entry to 61111 you should receive a confirmation text message from The National Lottery. This message will confirm that your selection has been entered into the draw.
If you do not receive a reply from The National Lottery please check that the text message memory on your phone is not full, and that your phone is within range and able to receive a text message.
However due to the nature of text message technology there is still no guarantee that your text message will reach us. Similarly there is no guarantee that the confirmation message sent by The National Lottery will arrive on your phone.
If you do not receive a confirmation message after 5 minutes then it is your responsibility to check within 'My online tickets' in the 'My Account' section of The National Lottery website to ensure that your ticket is in the draw.
How do I send a text message?
It depends upon the handset that you are using. Please refer to your handset user's handbook, or visit www.text.it to see how to send a text message from your phone.
How do I switch on/switch off predictive text on my phone?
This depends on the handset you are using. Please refer to your handset user's handbook for further information.
What is the quickest way to send you my lottery numbers?
On most phones, when you are constructing a text message, you can simply hold down the number key that you want to add to the message, rather than repeatedly pressing the key. If this is not the case on your phone, please refer to the manufacturer's instructions for further information.
Can I Play by Text from the Isle of Man?
Unfortunately players from the Isle of Man are unable to Play by Text. The mobile network operators' technology is currently not in place to allow players on the Isle of Man to send text messages to short codes such as 61111.
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Play by Text hours of service |
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General opening hours
You are normally able to play by text from 8am to 11pm, 7 days a week.
However, you will not be able to play during 'draw break'. Draw break occurs on the day of the relevant draw, at the following times for each game:
LOTTO, DREAM NUMBER, THUNDERBALL & LOTTO HOTPICKS: Wednesday 7.30pm to 8am; Saturday 7.30pm to 9pm
EUROMILLIONS: Friday 7.30pm to 9pm
DAILY PLAY: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday 7.30pm to 8am.
You are advised to play by text well in advance of 7.30pm on the day of the relevant draw, as it may take longer to process your selection at this time. This may lead to your selection not being included in the draw.
If we receive your selection during draw break, we will send you a message advising you it is draw break and your selection will not be processed. If we receive your selection after draw break, your selection will be entered into the next available draw for that game.
On some occasions the National Lottery systems may have technical problems and may not be able to process your selection at the time that you submit it. If this is the case, your purchase will not be processed, and you must re-submit your selection at a later time when the National Lottery system is re-opened.
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Signing up |
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How do I sign up to Play by Text?
If you already have a National Lottery Account, then click here to add your mobile details to your Account. If you have not previously signed up with The National Lottery, then click here to open an Account.
Problems signing up?
When signing up to play by text, you will be asked to enter your mobile number. You must be the authorised user of the mobile. You will then be sent a 4 digit authorisation code by text message which you must enter into the website. If you do not receive the code it may be for one of the following reasons:- You have entered an incorrect phone number
- The text message memory on your phone is full
- Your pre-pay credit has run out/you have no credit on your phone
- Your phone may be out of range and unable to receive a text message
It may take up to 5 minutes for this code to arrive on your phone. If you have still not received a code after this period, please call our Interactive Customer Care team on 0845 278 8000.
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Adding funds to your Account |
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How do I add funds to my Account to Play by Text?
You may either add funds to your Account on the internet by visiting 'My Account' and then clicking on 'Add Funds', or by sending us a text message (eg LOAD 10) to tell us to add funds to your Account. Please see the How to Play section for further info.
If you select 'Autoload' then we will automatically add the appropriate amount to your account in order to play your lines, subject to a £5 minimum. Visit 'My Account' and then go to 'Mobile service' to select 'Autoload'.
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Cost of service |
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How much does it cost to play?
You will be charged 20p every time that you send a text message to the National Lottery shortcode - 61111. This charge will either appear on your phone bill or will be debited directly from your pre-pay account. Please ensure that you construct your text message correctly (and are aware of our hours of operation) by following the instructions in the How to Play section in order to avoid being charged for messages sent in error.
The cost of your ticket is the same as it is if you bought the ticket from a retailer (eg £1 per Lotto line per draw, etc). This cost is debited from your National Lottery Account.
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Changing My Details |
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How do I change my mobile phone details or opt out of the service?
If you change your mobile phone number you are able to update your details by visiting 'My Account' and then selecting 'Mobile service'.
To opt out of the service, visit 'My Account' and select 'Mobile service' then 'Opt out of service'.
How do I change my play settings?
You are able to restrict the amount of money that you can spend per day or per week playing by text. Visit 'My Account' and then go to 'Mobile service'.
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Where are my ticket details kept? |
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We keep your ticket details safe and secure in your National Lottery Account, so you can view them online whenever you like (except when our system is closed for maintenance).
To access your Account, click 'Sign in' at the top right of the homepage, then enter your secure username and password. If you can't remember your sign in details, click the 'Forgotten username or password' link for assistance.
Once you've signed in, select the 'My Account' tab. Under 'My online tickets', select 'Current tickets' or 'Finished tickets' to view your ticket details.
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What happens if I win? |
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For convenience, most winnings can be paid directly to your National Lottery Account or your debit card as detailed below.
If you have given us a valid email address, we will email you to let you know that you have won. We will also send you a text message if you play your selection via text message.
Wins of up to and including £500
These will be paid directly to your National Lottery Account. You can either transfer them to your debit card or use them to play more games.
Wins of £501 to £5,000 inclusive
These are paid directly into your bank via your Debit Card, once you claim them via the website, so you can quickly start to enjoy them!
Wins of over £5,000
Wins over £5,000 must be claimed by calling our Interactive Customer Care Team on 0845 278 8000, and will be paid by cheque.
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Rollover alerts/result text alerts |
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How can I sign up to receive free Rollover alerts by text message?
When you sign up to play by text you are given the option to sign up for free Rollover and special draw text alerts. You may update your preference to receive/stop these alerts by visiting 'My Account' and going to 'Mobile service'.
How can I sign up to get National Lottery results by text message?
You can receive a text alert with the results of National Lottery games by calling 0871 871 8787 (service subject to terms and conditions). For further infomation, please visit text alerts.
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Find out more about:
Registering to Play by Text
How to Play by Text
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It's quick to register
You can play on the move
We'll check your numbers and send you a text when you win
We'll send you FREE Rollover text reminders
Try our interactive demo
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