What is EuroMillions?
EuroMillions is a popular European lottery game played across nine European countries. It offers some of the biggest guaranteed jackpots in the world, often worth over €100 million.
To play EuroMillions, players select five main numbers between 1-50 and two Lucky Star numbers between 1-12. There are 13 prize tiers in total, with prizes awarded for matching just two main numbers all the way up to matching all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars.
The game takes place every Tuesday and Friday evening, providing two chances each week to become a millionaire. Tickets can be purchased in participating countries until 7:30pm UK time on draw days.
How to Play EuroMillions
Playing EuroMillions is straightforward. Follow these simple steps:
Step 1: Select Your Numbers
When playing EuroMillions, you need to pick five main numbers from 1-50 and two Lucky Star numbers from 1-12. You can choose your own numbers or opt for a Lucky Dip to get randomly generated numbers.
Many players like to select special numbers like birthdays, anniversaries, and lucky numbers. Avoid picking consecutive or sequential numbers, as they are statistically less likely to be drawn.
Step 2: Buy Your Ticket
You can purchase EuroMillions tickets online or from authorised retailers in participating countries. Tickets can be bought right up until 7.30pm UK time on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Each line costs £2.50. You can play for up to seven lines per ticket. Playing with multiple lines gives you a better chance of winning.
When buying online, create an account, select your numbers for each line, and pay securely. Print your ticket or save it on your account.
If buying from a retailer, complete a playslip with your number selections or ask for a Lucky Dip. Pay the clerk for your ticket.
Step 3: Check for Winnings
After the draw, check your numbers against the winning numbers. Prizes are awarded for matching just two main numbers up to matching all five and both Lucky Stars.
Smaller prizes are usually paid out automatically. Larger amounts require you to make a claim within specific time limits. See the EuroMillions website for details on prize claims.
Match all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars to scoop the jackpot!
EuroMillions Draws and Odds
Here are some key details about EuroMillions draws and odds:
Draw Details
- Held every Tuesday and Friday evening in Paris
- Draw time is 8:45pm Paris time / 7:45pm UK time
- Results available shortly after on official sites and media
- Nine participating countries: UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland
Odds of Winning
| Prize Tier | Odds (1 in) |
|---|---|
| Match 2 main numbers | 1 in 22 |
| Match 3 main numbers | 1 in 107 |
| Match 4 main numbers | 1 in 2,330 |
| Match 5 main numbers | 1 in 139,838 |
| Match 5 main numbers + 1 Lucky Star | 1 in 679,089 |
| Match 5 main numbers + 2 Lucky Stars (Jackpot) | 1 in 139,838,160 |
As you can see, matching all seven numbers correctly has very long odds. But with jackpots frequently in the hundreds of millions, you only need one lucky ticket!
EuroMillions Jackpots and Rollovers
The main appeal of EuroMillions is the chance to win huge jackpot prizes. Here’s how the jackpots work:
- Minimum guaranteed jackpot is €17 million (about £14 million)
- Jackpots roll over if no one matches all 5 + 2 numbers
- Rollover limit is €220 million (about £187 million)
- Once limit is reached, excess goes towards next lower tier
- Biggest ever jackpot was £195 million in July 2022
With a minimum prize guarantee and frequent rollovers, jackpots can quickly balloon into mega millions. EuroMillions has produced several record-breaking lottery wins over the years.
Some of the biggest include:
- £195 million in July 2022 (UK)
- £184 million in May 2022 (UK)
- £175 million in October 2021 (UK)
- €220 million in October 2021 (France)
- €210 million in February 2021 (Switzerland)
These enormous prizes demonstrate the life-changing possibilities of playing EuroMillions!
How To Increase Your Chances of Winning EuroMillions
It’s difficult to guarantee a EuroMillions jackpot win with such long odds, but there are ways to potentially increase your chances:
- Play with multiple lines – Playing 7 lines gives 7x better odds than 1 line
- Join a syndicate – Pool money and share tickets for more number coverage
- Choose less popular numbers – Avoid consecutive and significant dates/ages as they are common picks
- Mix odd and even numbers – Draws rarely contain all odd or all even numbers
- Balance your selection – Aim for a mix of numbers across the 1-50 range
- Stick to your selection – Consistently playing the same numbers builds familiarity
While not foolproof systems, these tips could help increase your statistical chance of matching more numbers.
Ultimately, EuroMillions comes down to random luck. But the more lines you play with, the better your odds become.
What To Do if You Win EuroMillions
Very few of us expect to ever hit the EuroMillions jackpot, but just in case, it pays to be prepared:
- Remain calm – Don’t panic or make rushed decisions. Take time to let it sink in.
- Check your ticket – Carefully check the draw details and winning numbers to confirm your win.
- Keep it secret – Don’t announce your win publicly until you’ve made arrangements.
- Seek legal advice – Talk to a solicitor about protecting your identity and managing the money.
- Make a financial plan – Decide how much to keep, gift, invest, donate, etc.
- Go public – Contact the lottery organiser and prepare to share your story.
- Enjoy sensibly – Treat yourself but don’t go overboard. Stick to your financial plan.
Avoid going on a big spending spree right away. Take time to let the news settle and put a smart long-term plan in place.
With so much money involved, getting professional legal and financial advice is essential. You’ll want to ensure your winnings are handled wisely.
Staying grounded and not letting the money go to your head will also help you adjust and avoid some of the pitfalls that come with a jackpot win.
The Benefits of Playing EuroMillions
Here are some of the great benefits EuroMillions offers compared to other lottery games:
- Huge jackpots – Minimum €17 million to over €200 million
- Good odds – More prize tiers than many other lotteries
- Pan-European reach – Play and win from multiple countries
- Excitement factor – Rollovers build anticipation between draws
- Extra chances – Two draws per week so more opportunities
- Big publicity – Winners gain international media attention
- Good causes – Money raised goes towards social projects and charities
For a fun and exciting lottery game with monumental jackpot possibilities, EuroMillions ticks all the boxes. The twice weekly draws add to the enjoyment, providing regular opportunities to become an overnight multimillionaire!
The History of EuroMillions
EuroMillions has an interesting history since being launched in February 2004:
- Launched by Camelot (UK), Française des Jeux (France) and Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (Spain)
- First draw held on Friday 13 February 2004
- Original participating countries were UK, France and Spain
- By 2012, nine countries were competing in EuroMillions
- Biggest jackpots to date are £195m (UK) and €220m (France)
- Over €100 million jackpots are now relatively common
- Has created over 35 billionaires through its mega jackpots
- Hundreds of millions won by players across Europe
In less than 20 years, EuroMillions has gone from fledgling lottery to Europe’s biggest, creating some of the world’s largest lottery jackpots. It continues breaking records and producing new millionaires every week.
Having started out with just three countries, its expansion across Europe helped quickly grow EuroMillions into a massive success story. The ability to enter a pan-European game has been key to its phenomenal popularity.
Why EuroMillions is so Popular
A few key factors help explain why EuroMillions has become so popular:
- Excitement of big jackpots – Minimum €17 million gets players eager to play
- Good odds of winning smaller prizes – Better odds than many other lotteries
- Rollover feature – Jackpots grow bigger with every roll
- Pan-European appeal – Play easily from multiple countries
- Easy to play – Simple selection and purchase process
- Regular playing schedule – Twice weekly draws maintain interest
- Dramatic wins – Huge jackpots capture public’s imagination
The lure of massive multimillion jackpots is undoubtedly the biggest driver of EuroMillions’ success. Even if the odds of winning are long, the dream of landing a record-breaking windfall keeps players coming back.
But the two draws per week and reasonable odds of winning smaller prizes also help keep EuroMillions popular. The convenience of entering online or via a local retailer makes playing straightforward.
And when jackpots are won, the media attention given to dramatic EuroMillions wins helps fuel interest in playing and dreaming of future success.
Some Interesting EuroMillions Statistics
Here are some intriguing statistics relating to EuroMillions results and wins over the years:
- Number of draws to date: Over 800
- Biggest ever jackpot: £195 million in July 2022
- Most common main numbers: 50, 19, 4, 21, 23
- Most common Lucky Stars: 2, 3, 4, 11
- Number of jackpot wins: Over 25
- Minimum jackpot: €17 million
- Total prize money won: Over €15 billion
- Amount raised for good causes: Over €30 billion
These figures demonstrate the huge success and popularity of EuroMillions over nearly two decades. Billions in prize money won, record jackpots, frequent rollovers, and enormous sums raised for charitable projects highlight why EuroMillions is Europe’s favourite lottery.
Some Memorable EuroMillions Winners
EuroMillions has produced dozens of massive winners over the years. Here are some of the luckiest and most memorable jackpot winners:
- Colin and Chris Weir, UK – £161 million in 2011
- Adrian and Gillian Bayford, UK – £148 million in 2012
- Anonymous, Spain – £136 million in 2017
- Anonymous, Portugal – £153 million in 2014
- Frances and Patrick Connolly, UK – £114 million in 2019
The Bayfords were the biggest UK winners prior to 2022, while the Connollys famously went public with their win. Spain and Portugal have also produced anonymous EuroMillions billionaires.
But the Weirs remain the UK’s biggest ever winners, scooping a mind-boggling £161 million back in 2011. Their record stood for over a decade until it was surpassed in 2022.
Some Recent Notable Wins
Some huge EuroMillions jackpots in the last couple of years show it’s still possible to land monster prizes:
- July 2022 – Anonymous UK winner of £195 million
- May 2022 – Joe and Jess Thwaite won £184 million
- October 2021 – Swiss player won €220 million
- February 2022 – UK player won £109 million
- December 2021 – French player won €163 million
These colossal amounts prove EuroMillions is still smashing records and producing gigantic winners, even after almost 20 years. Life-changing sums of over £100 million are now somewhat commonplace!
The £195 million UK jackpot in 2022 set a new National Lottery record. And more massive jackpots will inevitably come along soon to rewrite the history books all over again.
Conclusion
EuroMillions offers an exciting biweekly European lottery with some of the biggest payouts available. With jackpots starting at €17 million and frequently reaching over €100 million, it gives players the chance to become instant multimillionaires.
Although the odds are long, playing with multiple lines can help increase your chances. EuroMillions also offers better odds of winning smaller prizes compared to other lotteries.
With its convenience, huge jackpots driving publicity, and regular playing schedule, EuroMillions has become a firm favourite across Europe. Some lucky players have won truly staggering sums that changed their lives forever.
So if you want the chance to write your name into the EuroMillions history books, make sure to get your ticket for the next draw! It could just turn out to be the most important thing you’ll ever do.
