How to choose a crypto lottery: a 12-point checklist

Why a checklist beats a gut feeling

Scam sites and honest sites can look identical. Both have dark themes, big jackpots and a "Connect wallet" button. The difference is in the details that take a few minutes to read, and most people skip them because buying is made to feel urgent.

The checklist below is ordered from the questions that matter most (is the draw fair?) to the ones that matter for peace of mind (is support real?). If a site fails the first three, you can stop reading.

Fairness: the first three questions

1. 1How are the winners chosen? A trustworthy lottery names its source of randomness (for example a public randomness beacon or a verifiable random function) and explains the steps from random number to winning ticket. "Our certified RNG" with no detail is not an answer.
2. 2Can you check a past draw yourself? Look for a published ticket list, the random value used, and a way to recompute the winners. If results appear as a screenshot or a number with no way to verify it, you are trusting the operator.
3. 3Are sales closed before the random value exists? If tickets can be bought after the random number is known, someone could buy with knowledge of the result. Good lotteries close the ticket list first, then use randomness that did not exist yet.

On CryptoDrawz, the ticket list closes at 20:00 UTC on Sunday and the random value comes from the drand beacon at that moment. Every result is published with the data needed to recompute it.

Money: questions four to seven

1. 1What share of ticket sales is paid out? Written, specific numbers are a good sign. Be wary of "up to" jackpots with no stated pool share. Here, 90% of sales go to the prize pool.
2. 2Where does the rest go? A lottery that says plainly what happens to the remainder is easier to trust than one that hides it. Here, the other 10% goes to good causes, to improving the site and to its developer.
3. 3What is the minimum to run a draw, and what happens below it? Rules for cancelling and refunding a draw that did not sell enough are a sign of a well-thought-out operation.
4. 4How and when are prizes paid? Ask whether prizes are paid automatically, or after you contact the operator, in which coin, and whether identity checks may apply.

Trust: questions eight to twelve

1. 1Who runs it? A named operator, a contact page and clear terms are the minimum. Anonymous sites are not automatically scams, but they carry more risk and deserve smaller stakes.
2. 2Is there an independent audit? For smart-contract lotteries, an audit by a reputable firm matters a lot. For operator-run draws, the transparency of the draw matters more. Be honest about which one you are looking at.
3. 3Do the terms and the marketing agree? Read the terms. If the home page promises "instant on-chain payouts" and the terms say prizes are paid manually, believe the terms.
4. 4Can you reach a human? Send a test question through the contact form. A real reply, even slow, tells you something that no design ever can.
5. 5Does it respect your limits? Responsible gaming pages with real tools, age checks and country restrictions show the operator expects to be held to account.

How to use the checklist in five minutes

Open the site's FAQ, terms and draw-results page in three tabs. Score each of the twelve questions as yes, no or unclear. Treat every "unclear" as a "no" until you get an answer by email. Anything under eight clear yeses deserves a very small first purchase, or none.

A smart habit: start with the cheapest possible purchase, then check that the confirmation arrives, the ticket is visible on a tracking page, and the next draw result is published as promised. Only then consider buying more.

A worked example: scoring two imaginary sites

Suppose Site A says "Provably fair, big jackpots, join now" and nothing else. Its FAQ is empty, there is no terms page, and results are shown as a single number. Score it against the checklist: fairness unclear, payout share unstated, remainder unexplained, no minimum rules, no named operator. That is zero or one clear yes out of twelve.

Site B explains its randomness source, publishes the ticket list and random value after each draw, states a 90% payout, explains where the rest goes, names a minimum number of tickets and a refund rule, has terms, a contact page and a responsible-gaming page. That is ten or eleven clear yeses. Neither site is guaranteed honest, but Site B has given you things to verify and Site A has not.

Mistakes people make when choosing

• Judging by design. Dark themes, animations and big numbers are cheap to copy.
• Judging by the jackpot. Huge headline prizes usually mean terrible odds.
• Trusting social proof. Screenshots of "winners" and copied reviews are easy to fake.
• Skipping the terms. The terms are where the real promises, and the exclusions, live.
• Starting big. A first purchase should be your smallest, so a bad surprise costs little.
• Ignoring local law. A site can be honest and still not legal for you to use.

Questions to email before you buy

A short email tells you a lot about an operator. Ask three things: how are prizes paid and how soon, what happens if a draw does not reach its minimum, and how can I verify a past result. A clear, specific reply within a few days is a good sign. A vague reply, a reply that dodges, or no reply is information too.

A printable scorecard

Score each row. Treat any "unclear" as a "no" until you get a written answer.