How to Use a Bitcoin Lottery: Beginner's Complete Guide

New to Bitcoin lotteries? This guide walks you through everything from setting up your wallet to claiming your first winnings.

Before You Start

What You'll Need:

• A smartphone or computer
• A Lightning Network wallet (free to download)
• A small amount of Bitcoin (even $1 worth is plenty to start)

Step 1: Get a Lightning Wallet

Download one of these beginner-friendly wallets:

• Wallet of Satoshi (iOS/Android) - Simplest option
• Alby (Browser) - Good for desktop
• Strike (iOS/Android) - Easy to buy Bitcoin directly

Create your account and note your Lightning address. It looks like an email: yourname@walletofsatoshi.com

Step 2: Add Some Bitcoin

Fund your wallet with a small amount. Options:

• Buy directly in the app (Strike, Wallet of Satoshi)
• Transfer from an exchange (Coinbase, Kraken, etc.)
• Receive from a friend

For testing, $5-10 gives you thousands of lottery entries at 1 sat each.

Step 3: Visit a Bitcoin Lottery

Go to playtdt.com (Daily Thunder). You'll see:

• Current jackpot amount
• Time until next draw
• Number selection interface

Step 4: Enter Your Lightning Address

Type or paste your Lightning address. This is where:

• Receipts are sent
• Winnings are delivered automatically

Step 5: Pick Your Numbers

Choose your 8-digit number (00000001 to 99999999). You can:

• Pick meaningful numbers (birthdays, lucky numbers)
• Use random selection
• Enter multiple different numbers

Step 6: Pay for Your Entry

A Lightning invoice appears. Either:

• Scan the QR code with your wallet
• Click to open in your wallet app

Confirm payment (just 1 satoshi!). It's instant.

Step 7: Confirmation

You'll receive:

• On-screen confirmation of your entry
• Receipt to your Lightning address

Step 8: Wait for the Draw

Daily Thunder draws every 100 Bitcoin blocks (approximately every 16 hours). Check:

• Current block progress on the site
• The /stats page for past results

Step 9: Automatic Payouts

If your numbers match (fully or partially), winnings are sent automatically to your Lightning address. No action needed!

Pro Tips

• Start with just 1-2 entries to understand the process
• Bookmark the stats page to track results
• Check the referral program to earn 1% on friends' wins