The EuroMillions lottery is one of the most popular lotteries in the UK and Europe. It offers some of the biggest jackpots around, with a minimum guaranteed amount of €17 million and jackpots frequently exceeding €100 million. With such large prizes up for grabs, it’s no wonder that so many people want to try their luck playing EuroMillions. But how exactly do you play this pan-European lottery? Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about playing EuroMillions in the UK.
What is EuroMillions?
EuroMillions is a transnational lottery game that was launched in February 2004 as the Euro Millions and is played across nine European countries – the UK, France, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland. It is coordinated by the Camelot Group in the UK and their counterparts in the other participating countries.
EuroMillions offers some of the largest lottery jackpots available in Europe, often worth over €100 million. There is a minimum guaranteed jackpot of €17 million which rolls over to the next draw if there is no jackpot winner. Jackpots are capped at €190 million – if the top prize reaches this level and no one wins, the excess funding used to boost the awards in the next prize tier where there are winners. As such, jackpots frequently climb to nine-figure sums before being won.
The game takes place every Tuesday and Friday evening, providing two chances each week for players to become multimillionaires. Tickets can be purchased in participating countries until 7:30pm UK time on draw days.
How to Play EuroMillions in the UK
Playing EuroMillions in the UK is easy – simply pick five main numbers between 1 and 50 and two Lucky Star numbers between 1 and 12.
Here is a summary of the key EuroMillions rules for UK players:
- Pick 5 main numbers from 1-50.
- Pick 2 Lucky Star numbers from 1-12.
- Choose whether to enter a Tuesday, Friday or both draws.
- Select a draw date up to 10 weeks in the future.
- Match a minimum of 2 main numbers and 2 Lucky Stars to win a prize.
- Tickets can be purchased in-store, online or via the app.
- Purchase cut-off is 7:30pm on draw days.
- All draws take place at 8:45pm UK time in Paris.
You can purchase EuroMillions tickets from any authorised retailer in the UK, such as supermarkets, newsagents, petrol stations and convenience stores. Tickets can also be bought via the National Lottery website or official app.
Each EuroMillions line costs £2.50. You can play for Tuesday or Friday drawings, or enter both by picking the ‘twice weekly’ option. When buying in-store, you’ll get a printed ticket with your chosen numbers marked on it. For online/app purchases, your ticket is digital so numbers are stored securely in your account.
How Prizes are Awarded
EuroMillions uses a pari-mutuel prize structure, meaning the value of each prize tier is determined by the total funds allocated to prizes (50% of draw sales) divided by the number of winners for each tier. More winners means smaller prizes.
The prize breakdown is as follows:
Match | Prize % |
5 main numbers + 2 Lucky Stars | Minimum jackpot of €17 million (approximately £14 million). Rolls over to next draw if no winner. |
5 main numbers + 1 Lucky Star | Wins around €130,000 based on average jackpot size. |
5 main numbers | Wins around €13,000 on average. |
4 main numbers + 2 Lucky Stars | Wins around €900 on average. |
4 main numbers + 1 Lucky Star | Wins around €140 on average. |
3 main numbers + 2 Lucky Stars | Wins around €65 on average. |
4 main numbers | Wins around €25 on average. |
2 main numbers + 2 Lucky Stars | Wins around €12 on average. |
3 main numbers + 1 Lucky Star | Wins around €9 on average. |
3 main numbers | Wins around €8 on average. |
1 main number + 2 Lucky Stars | Wins around €7 on average. |
2 main numbers + 1 Lucky Star | Wins around €4 on average. |
As you can see, matching two main numbers and two Lucky Stars wins a prize 100% of the time. The jackpot is won by matching all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars. Rollovers to the next draw are common as this is so difficult to achieve.
EuroMillions HotPicks
UK players also have the option to enter EuroMillions HotPicks, a supplemental game that offers prizes of up to £1 million.
Here’s how it works:
- Play HotPicks when buying EuroMillions ticket.
- Costs £1.50 per play.
- When playing EuroMillions, your 5 main numbers are automatically entered into HotPicks.
- Prizes awarded for matching 1 number to 5 numbers.
- The more numbers matched, the bigger the prize.
HotPicks uses a raffle system so prizes are fixed amounts.
The prizes are:
Match | Wins |
5 main numbers | £1 million |
4 main numbers | £1,500 |
3 main numbers | £20 |
2 main numbers | £10 |
1 main number | £5 |
So if you spend £1.50 on HotPicks and match 3 numbers, you’ll win £20 – a cool 1300% return on your stake!
Probability and Odds
The chances of winning any EuroMillions prize (by matching at least two main numbers) are around 1 in 13. But what are your odds of landing the jackpot?
With seven prize tiers in total, the chances are as follows:
Prize Tier | Odds |
Match 5 main + 2 Lucky Stars (Jackpot) | 1 in 139,838,160 |
Match 5 main + 1 Lucky Star | 1 in 6,991,908 |
Match 5 main numbers | 1 in 3,107,515 |
Match 4 main + 2 Lucky Stars | 1 in 379,051 |
Match 4 main + 1 Lucky Star | 1 in 57,735 |
Match 3 main + 2 Lucky Stars | 1 in 14,125 |
Match 2 main + 2 Lucky Stars | 1 in 1,947 |
Any Prize | 1 in 13 |
As you can see, the odds of winning a prize are pretty decent at 1 in 13 – much better than UK National Lottery games like Lotto and EuroMillions where the odds are around 1 in 54.
But landing the jackpot is another matter – at almost 1 in 140 million, you have a better chance of being struck by lightning or becoming a movie star! Still, you’ve got to be in it to win it and one lucky player somewhere in Europe scoops the big one in every single draw.
Notable Big Winners
There have been some truly mind-blowing EuroMillions jackpot wins over the years. Here are some of the biggest:
- A UK ticket-holder won a staggering £195 million jackpot in July 2022, the biggest National Lottery win of all time.
- A lucky UK winner banked £170 million in October 2019.
- Someone in the UK won £148 million in 2012 which stood as the record win for nearly a decade.
- A European jackpot of €190 million was hit in November 2019 and split between two ticket holders.
- A UK couple won £161 million in July 2011.
- A UK ticket claimed £113 million on a Tuesday draw in October 2010.
EuroMillions jackpot wins of over £100 million seem to occur most years… could 2023 see another UK player land a mammoth nine-figure prize?
Pros
So why should you play EuroMillions? Here are some of the key advantages:
- Huge jackpots – starting at €17 million and frequently exceeding €100 million.
- Good odds – a 1 in 13 chance of winning a prize.
- Low ticket price – plays cost just £2.50.
- Great secondary game – HotPicks offers prizes up to £1 million.
- Celebrity spotting! – Many big winners go public with their win.
Compared to other big lotteries like US Powerball and Mega Millions, the EuroMillions ticket price is quite low. And with those huge pots, the game offers serious value for money along with the chance to become nearly a 200-times over millionaire from just a £2.50 stake.
Cons
The flip side is that EuroMillions does have a few drawbacks:
- Tough to win jackpot – odds of 1 in 140 million means luck is essential.
- Smaller prizes – aside from jackpot, prizes typically in hundreds or thousands.
- No cash option – annuity payments spread over many years.
- Tax on wins – deductions made from prizes before payout.
The mammoth jackpots lead to very long odds so matching all numbers is essentially down to sheer luck. Lower tier prizes won’t make you a millionaire overnight either, with most paying a few hundred or thousand at best.
Winners don’t get the choice of a cash lump sum like US lotteries, and have no way of remaining anonymous – something past UK winners have struggled with. Tax also eats into prize money, although winnings are tax-free up to £12,570.
How to Improve Your Chances
The odds of 1 in 139 million against winning EuroMillions are daunting for an individual. But there are ways you can improve your odds slightly:
- Buy multiple tickets – playing more lines enhances your chances.
- Join a syndicate – pool money for more tickets and combine luck.
- Look for patterns – some numbers appear more frequently.
- Try a tactical system – wheeling and key numbers can help.
- Mix it up – avoid birthdates and consecutive numbers.
Playing in a syndicate allows you to buy many more lines which improves your group’s overall chances. Studying number frequencies and using systems like wheeling to cover more possibilities can maximize your chances too.
Ultimately, a healthy dose of luck is required. But the more lines you play, the more the odds shift in your favour.
Why Play EuroMillions?
To recap, here are 7 great reasons to play EuroMillions:
- Pots frequently exceed €100 million.
- Minimum jackpot is a whopping €17 million.
- Overall odds of 1 in 13 are decent.
- Tickets only cost £2.50.
- Prizes up to £1 million in HotPicks.
- Draws twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays.
- Someone has to win – it could be you!
If you want the chance to take home mind-boggling eight or nine-figure sums of cash, this is undoubtedly one of the best lottery games to play. Yes, the odds are very long but huge jackpots have to be won eventually and just a couple of lucky numbers on one night can change your life forever.
The trick is to play responsibly, never spending more than you can afford. After all, winning is about luck rather than logic. But with responsible play, EuroMillions gives you the chance to hit the jackpot and become richer beyond your wildest dreams!
Summary
EuroMillions offers some of the biggest lottery jackpots in the world, frequently exceeding nine figures in value. Played across nine European countries including the UK, draws take place every Tuesday and Friday night for your chance to become an overnight multimillionaire by matching five main numbers and two Lucky Stars.
With a minimum jackpot of €17 million and low £2.50 ticket price, it represents fantastic value for money. While the odds are very long at 1 in 140 million, joining a syndicate and using systems can help improve your chances. Numerous UK players have won enormous sums over the years so one day, it could be you celebrating that magical lottery win of a lifetime!