EuroMillions is a popular pan-European lottery game that is played in several countries across Europe, including France. It offers some of the largest lottery jackpots in the world, often worth over €100 million. Here is an overview of how EuroMillions works specifically in France.
Introduction to EuroMillions in France
EuroMillions was launched in France in February 2004 after France joined several other European countries to create a shared lottery. It is operated by the Française des Jeux (FDJ), which is the state-owned lottery operator in France.
To play EuroMillions in France, players need to purchase a ticket either online at fdj.fr or from an authorized FDJ point of sale. The cost of a EuroMillions ticket in France is €2.50. For each ticket, players must select 5 main numbers between 1-50 and 2 Lucky Star numbers between 1-12.
There are usually two EuroMillions draws held every week on Tuesday and Friday evenings in Paris. The jackpot starts at a guaranteed €17 million and can roll over up to €220 million if there are no jackpot winners.
In addition to the jackpot, there are 13 other prize tiers in EuroMillions ranging from €2.50 up to over €500,000 for matching certain numbers. All EuroMillions prizes in France are exempt from personal income tax.
How to Play EuroMillions in France
To play EuroMillions in France, you must:
- Be over 18 years old
- Purchase a ticket via the FDJ website, app, or from an authorized point of sale before 7:30pm on the day of the draw
- Select 5 main numbers (between 1-50) and 2 Lucky Stars (between 1-12) for each ticket
- You can play between 1-10 boards per ticket
- Wait for the draw held at 9pm Paris time every Tuesday and Friday
- Check your ticket numbers against the winning numbers
You can purchase a EuroMillions ticket online, through the FDJ mobile app, or from over 30,000 authorized retailers across France. These include convenience stores, supermarkets, newsstands, and dedicated FDJ points of sale. Payment can be made via debit/credit card, cash, or smartphone wallet.
When playing online or via the app, you can either choose your own numbers or select a ‘Flash’ lucky dip to get random numbers generated for you. You will receive an electronic ticket with your selected numbers that can be checked after the draw.
EuroMillions Draws and Results in France
EuroMillions draws take place every Tuesday and Friday evening in Paris at 9pm local Paris time (GMT+1). The draws are conducted by FDJ under the supervision of a huissier de justice (bailiff) to ensure compliance with game regulations and procedures.
During each draw, 5 main numbers between 1-50 and 2 Lucky Star numbers between 1-12 are randomly selected by ball machines. To win the jackpot, players must match all 5 main numbers and 2 Lucky Stars. The odds of winning the EuroMillions jackpot are 1 in 139,838,160.
The results of each EuroMillions draw are:
- Broadcast live on TF1 and other TV channels in France
- Published online at fdj.fr
- Made available at FDJ point of sale terminals
French players can check their ticket numbers against the winning results to see if they have won a prize. Winning tickets must be redeemed within 60 days of the relevant draw.
EuroMillions Prizes and Odds in France
There are 13 prize tiers in EuroMillions offering both fixed and pari-mutuel prize funds. The odds of winning any EuroMillions prize in France are 1 in 13. Here are the different prize tiers and estimated win probabilities:
| Prize Tier | Prize Fund | Match | Odds (1 in x) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 – Jackpot | €17 million (Parimutuel) | 5 + 2 Lucky Stars | 139,838,160 |
| 2 | €275,000 (Fixed) | 5 + 1 Lucky Star | 6,991,908 |
| 3 | €52,000 (Fixed) | 5 main numbers | 3,107,515 |
| 4 | €1,500 (Fixed) | 4 main numbers + 2 Lucky Stars | 763,398 |
| 5 | €150 (Fixed) | 4 main numbers + 1 Lucky Star | 73,782 |
| 6 | €20 (Fixed) | 3 main numbers + 2 Lucky Stars | 14,125 |
| 7 | €10 (Fixed) | 4 main numbers | 689 |
| 8 | €10 (Fixed) | 2 main numbers + 2 Lucky Stars | 943 |
| 9 | €5 (Fixed) | 3 main numbers + 1 Lucky Star | 299 |
| 10 | €4 (Fixed) | 3 main numbers | 144 |
| 11 | €2 (Fixed) | 1 main number + 2 Lucky Stars | 62 |
| 12 | €2 (Fixed) | 2 main numbers + 1 Lucky Star | 31 |
| 13 | €2.50 (Fixed) | 2 main numbers | 14 |
As shown in the table, matching all 5 main numbers and 2 Lucky Stars wins the EuroMillions jackpot, which starts at €17 million and rolls over if not won. 2nd tier prizes fix at €275,000. All other prizes are fixed pari-mutuel amounts.
EuroMillions Super Draws and Events in France
In addition to the regular EuroMillions draws, FDJ also holds occasional Super Draws and special event draws which offer bigger starting jackpots and guaranteed prize funds to French players.
Some of the special EuroMillions events in France include:
- New Year’s Super Draw – A special €130 million jackpot held on New Year’s Day
- Saint Patrick’s Day Super Draw – Large €130 million jackpot on March 17
- Bastille Day Super Draw – €130 million jackpot on July 14
- Christmas Super Draw – Huge jackpot of €200 million on Christmas Day
- Monthly €100 million guaranteed jackpots
Tickets for Super Draws cost the same €2.50, but the starting jackpots are bigger. Sales cut-off times are also earlier on Super Draw days to allow for anticipated high demand.
How EuroMillions Jackpots Grow in France
The minimum EuroMillions jackpot in France is €17 million, however this amount can grow bigger through rollovers when there is no jackpot winner. Here is how EuroMillions jackpots grow:
- If no player matches all 5 + 2 numbers, the jackpot rolls over to the next draw.
- This continues for a maximum of 4 consecutive draws.
- If there is no winner by the 5th draw, the full jackpot amount must be won in that draw through a system called the Jackpot Cap.
- Under the Jackpot Cap, if no ticket matches 5 + 2, the entire jackpot is shared among winners in the next tier.
- Once the jackpot is won, it resets to the base €17 million for the next draw.
The Jackpot Cap ensures that EuroMillions jackpots in France do not exceed €220 million and are won in every 5th draw at the latest. It has helped create massive EuroMillions jackpot winners in France.
Notable EuroMillions Jackpot Wins in France
There have been several massive EuroMillions jackpot winners over the years in France. Some record French jackpot wins include:
- €220.7 million – Won by a player in Haute-Garonne in December 2021, France’s biggest ever lottery win.
- €169 million – Record win by a French syndicate in December 2012.
- €163 million – Won by a young Francilien man in December 2020.
- €157 million – Record single ticket winner from South of France in November 2012.
- €144 million – Won by 3 French teachers in October 2014.
In addition, France has produced 7 out of the 11 biggest EuroMillions jackpot winners of all time. The country’s residents have won over €4.5 billion in EuroMillions prizes to date.
Claiming EuroMillions Prizes in France
For prizes up to €2,000, winners can claim their EuroMillions prize from any FDJ point of sale in France. You will need to present a valid ID and winning ticket.
For bigger prizes between €2,000 – €200,000, claims can be processed at designated FDJ regional centers. Appointments need to be made in advance.
EuroMillions prizes over €200,000 must be claimed at the FDJ headquarters in Boulogne-Billancourt near Paris. An appointment is required.
All prizes must be claimed within 60 days of the relevant draw. Unclaimed prizes are redistributed to players in the form of additional prizes and special draws.
EuroMillions Taxes and Withholdings in France
All EuroMillions prizes won in France are exempt from personal income tax and other deductions.
Lottery winnings are not considered taxable income, so French winners receive their full prize amounts. There are no withholdings or taxes applied.
This tax exemption makes France one of the best countries in Europe to win and claim lottery prizes. EuroMillions jackpot winners receive their entire multimillion sums tax-free.
Where EuroMillions Revenue Goes in France
As EuroMillions is operated by FDJ, revenue from ticket sales is distributed in the following ways in France:
- 60% towards prizes
- 25% to the state via taxation
- 8% to FDJ operating expenses
- 7% to FDJ retail network commissions
The 25% of revenue that goes to the state makes EuroMillions an important source of public funding in France.
State lottery revenue is used to support various causes like sports, social welfare, culture, and more. For example, €3 billion raised annually helps finance the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Odds of Winning EuroMillions in France
The overall odds of winning any EuroMillions prize in France are 1 in 13. The odds for the different prize tiers are summarized below:
- Jackpot (5 main + 2 Lucky Stars): 1 in 139,838,160
- 5 main numbers + 1 Lucky Star: 1 in 6,991,908
- 5 main numbers only: 1 in 3,107,515
- 4 main + 2 Lucky Stars: 1 in 763,398
- Other smaller prizes: Between 1 in 31 – 1 in 73,782
The best odds are for prizes at the lowest tiers by matching just 2 main numbers. But chasing the biggest win, odds of taking home the jackpot are around 1 in 140 million.
Strategies and Tips for Winning EuroMillions in France
While EuroMillions results are random, some strategies may be able to help improve your odds, including:
- Avoid popular lottery number combinations that many people play like birthdays or anniversary dates.
- Mix odd and even numbers in your selection.
- Spread your chosen numbers across the number range.
- Include at least 2-3 numbers over 31 to cover all possibilities.
- Consider a EuroMillions syndicate to buy more number combinations.
- Use both lucky dip and standard picks for more variety.
However, there is no guaranteed way to win EuroMillions. Your overall odds are mainly based on the number of lines and boards you play. Buying more tickets increases probability to some extent.
Playing Responsibly
EuroMillions is strictly for entertainment purposes only. Make sure to gamble responsibly by:
- Setting a budget and sticking to it
- Never chasing losses or borrowing to play
- Keeping lottery spend reasonable relative to income
- Seeking help if gambling becomes excessive or problematic
Summary
In summary, EuroMillions offers French lottery fans a chance to play for huge multimillion euro jackpots twice weekly. Draws take place every Tuesday and Friday from Paris with a minimum €17 million starting jackpot.
To play, French residents can buy €2.50 tickets online via FDJ or from authorized retail outlets. Prizes range from €2.50 up to massive nine-figure jackpot sums.
EuroMillions in France has already created several massive winners over the years due to French jackpots being tax-free. While winning requires incredible luck, the game remains hugely popular for its life-changing prize potential.
