EuroMillions
EuroMillions is one of the biggest lotteries in the world as it brings together participants from nine different European countries in order to create giant jackpots. Draws are held in Paris on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Players are required to select five main numbers from 1 to 50 and two Lucky Stars from 1 to 12. As the balls for the main numbers and the Lucky Stars are drawn from different sets, it is possible for the same number to come up as both one of the main balls and one of the Lucky Stars. You can decide to either choose the numbers yourself or use the Lucky Dip option to have them randomly generated, and tickets can be bought online or from authorised retailers.
There are a total of 13 prize tiers, and it’s possible to win money just by matching two main numbers. Anyone who matches all five main numbers plus both Lucky Stars will earn a share of the jackpot, which starts at a minimum of €17 million and keeps growing every time it is not won until it reaches a cap of €250 million. Special games called Superdraws may also be held throughout the year; these offer a fixed jackpot between €100 million and €130 million regardless of whether the top prize was won or not in the previous draw.
EuroMillions Prizes
EuroMillions prizes are calculated on a pari-mutuel basis, meaning that their value is determined by how many tickets have been sold as well as the number of winners in each tier. Here is a complete list of all the prize tiers on offer, the odds of winning in any of the prize tiers and what percentage of the prize fund is allocated to each prize tier:
| Match | % Prize Fund | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + 2 | 50% for draws 1 to 5 in a rollover series; 42% for draw 6 onwards | 1 in 139,838,160 |
| 5 + 1 | 2.61% | 1 in 6,991,908 |
| 5 + 0 | 0.61% | 1 in 3,107,515 |
| 4 + 2 | 0.19% | 1 in 621,503 |
| 4 + 1 | 0.35% | 1 in 31,076 |
| 4 + 0 | 0.26% | 1 in 13,812 |
| 3 + 2 | 0.37% | 1 in 14,126 |
| 2 + 2 | 1.30% | 1 in 986 |
| 3 + 1 | 1.45% | 1 in 707 |
| 3 + 0 | 2.70% | 1 in 314 |
| 1 + 2 | 3.27% | 1 in 188 |
| 2 + 1 | 10.30% | 1 in 50 |
| 2 + 0 | 16.59% | 1 in 22 |
| The overall odds of winning a EuroMillions prize are 1 in 13. | ||
Players who purchase tickets online will be automatically notified if they win any prize and smaller winnings will be paid directly into their account. Anyone who buys an entry from a retailer must make sure to keep their ticket safe and check the numbers to see if they win, before claiming smaller wins from a retailer. Players who win the jackpot or a larger prize need to contact lottery officials in their country to validate their claim. In the UK, EuroMillions prizes are valid for 180 days after the draw in question; other participating countries have their own deadlines.
Millionaire Maker
In the UK, every EuroMillions ticket sold comes with an automatic entry into a supplementary game called Millionaire Maker. Occasionally, a European Millionaire Maker raffle will also take place with at least one player from any of the nine participating countries winning a guaranteed life-changing prize. Visit the dedicated Millionaire Maker page to learn more.
Biggest EuroMillions Wins
The top prize in EuroMillions has reached as high as €240 million. This happened on 8th December 2023, when a player from Austria won the jackpot at its maximum amount. The prize was worth £206 million, and the jackpot cap subsequently increased to €250 million.