EuroMillions is a popular pan-European lottery game that offers some of the biggest jackpots in the world. With jackpots starting at €17 million and the potential to roll over to €190 million, it’s no wonder EuroMillions has attracted so many players across Europe.
EuroMillions was launched in 2004 as a joint venture between national lotteries in France, Spain and the UK. More countries have joined over the years, and as of 2023, EuroMillions is played in Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
Despite having ‘Euro’ in its name, players from outside Europe can purchase tickets too. So if you live anywhere else in the world, you still have a chance to play this exciting lottery!
EuroMillions offers huge multimillion-euro jackpots twice a week, on Tuesday and Friday evenings. Tickets can be purchased in authorised retail outlets, online or via mobile apps in the participating countries.
How to Play EuroMillions
Playing EuroMillions is simple. To enter a draw, you need to pick five main numbers from 1-50 and two Lucky Star numbers from 1-12. Here’s a summary:
- Pick 5 main numbers from 1-50
- Pick 2 Lucky Star numbers from 1-12
- Each row of numbers is called a ‘line’ and costs €2.50 to play
- You can play up to 10 lines per draw
- Matches and prizes are based on how many numbers you get right
You can choose your own numbers by picking them individually, or you can go with a Lucky Dip and get a random selection generated for you by the lottery terminal.
Odds of Winning
The overall odds of winning a EuroMillions prize are 1 in 13. Here are the detailed odds for each prize tier:
| Prize Tier | Odds |
|---|---|
| Match 5 + 2 Lucky Stars | 1 in 139,838,160 |
| Match 5 + 1 Lucky Star | 1 in 6,991,908 |
| Match 5 main numbers | 1 in 3,107,515 |
| Match 4 main numbers | 1 in 423,752 |
| Match 3 main numbers | 1 in 26,485 |
| Match 2 main numbers | 1 in 1,789 |
| Match 1 Lucky Star | 1 in 1,015 |
As you can see, the odds of hitting the jackpot are extremely long. But with so many prize tiers, your chances of winning something are actually pretty decent.
EuroMillions Draws and Results
EuroMillions draws take place every Tuesday and Friday evening in Paris at 8:45pm local time (7:45pm UK time). The results are usually available shortly after.
At each draw, five main numbers and two Lucky Stars are randomly selected using two machines – one for the main numbers and one for the Lucky Stars. The draws are conducted under the supervision of independent auditors.
Once all the balls have been drawn, the numbers are announced and displayed online. Many outlets also show the EuroMillions results on TV screens. You can generally find the latest results on the official EuroMillions website or app within an hour of the draw.
It’s important to remember that EuroMillions has a total of 13 prize tiers, so you should always check your ticket thoroughly even if you haven’t matched all 5 main numbers and 2 Lucky Stars. Partial number matches can still win you prizes from €2.50 up to €190,000.
Rollovers and Jackpots
One exciting feature of EuroMillions is its rollover capability. If no ticket matches all 5 main numbers and 2 Lucky Stars in a draw, the entire jackpot will roll over to the next one. This means the pot can keep growing for several weeks until it’s won.
The guaranteed starting jackpot is €17 million. From there, it rolls over each time it’s not won. The jackpot cap is €190 million – once this limit is reached, any excess prize money will flow down to lower prize tiers.
EuroMillions jackpots don’t roll over forever though. Once the cap has been reached, there is a “must-be-won” draw four days later. If no one wins the jackpot in that draw, the entire amount gets split between the next prize tier down (match 5 main numbers + 1 Lucky Star).
The largest EuroMillions jackpot to date was €190 million, won by a UK player in November 2019 after the big prize rolled over for five consecutive draws.
How Prize Money is Paid Out
Once the EuroMillions draw results are official, prize payout begins. Here’s how it works:
- All prizes up to €200,000 are paid out as a lump sum
- Prizes over €200,000 are paid out annually over 25 years
- Annuity winners can opt for a discounted one-time lump sum up front
- All prizes are tax-free except in Switzerland, Spain and Portugal
- Unclaimed prizes are returned to players in bonus prizes and special draws
Prize money is paid out securely into your nominated bank account. You have 180 days from the draw date to claim EuroMillions prizes. Unclaimed money is redistributed to players in the form of raffles, special prizes and boosted jackpots.
EuroMillions Superdraws
On selected draw dates during the year, EuroMillions hosts Superdraws with bigger starting jackpots. Tickets for these special draws are priced higher and have guaranteed prizes of €130 million or more.
Superdraws create extra excitement and give players the chance to win truly epic jackpots. The very first EuroMillions Superdraw in September 2016 had a massive €130 million top prize shared by winners in Spain and Belgium.
EuroMillions Plus
EuroMillions Plus is an optional add-on game that you can play in Ireland for an extra €1 per line. It gives Irish players the chance to win a €500,000 top prize twice every week, in addition to the main EuroMillions draw.
Here’s how it works:
- When buying EuroMillions tickets in Ireland, opt-in for Plus for €1 extra per line
- For each EuroMillions line played, you get a EuroMillions Plus code printed
- EuroMillions Plus draws happen every Tuesday and Friday right after the main draw
- Matching the 5 numbers drawn wins the €500,000 top prize
EuroMillions Plus has a top prize of €500,000 and overall odds of 1 in 1.8 million. It’s an easy additional chance to become a guaranteed millionaire off each main EuroMillions ticket.
Special EuroMillions Events
Aside from Superdraws, EuroMillions also hosts special event draws throughout the year with guaranteed jackpots and raffle-style giveaways. These include:
- Mega Friday – €130 million guaranteed jackpot every last Friday of September
- Mega Week – €130 million guaranteed jackpot on the last draw of the year
- My Million – Raffle with €1 million prize on every Tuesday draw
- El Millón – Weekly raffle for Spanish players with €1 million prize
These special draws help increase excitement around EuroMillions and give players more chances to win big prizes.
How To Play EuroMillions Online
You don’t have to leave your house to play EuroMillions. Tickets can be purchased conveniently online via the official lottery websites and mobile apps in each participating country. Here are some tips for playing online:
- Find your country’s official EuroMillions lottery website
- Sign up for an account and deposit funds into it
- Choose your numbers manually or select a Lucky Dip
- Confirm your ticket before the cutoff time
- Wait for the draw and check results online
- Winnings get credited back to your account
Playing online is safe and secure. Your account is encrypted and anonymised. If you win, the money gets paid directly into your nominated bank account via bank transfer. It’s the easiest way to play EuroMillions from anywhere!
EuroMillions Results History and Statistics
Since EuroMillions held its first draw in February 2004, there have been over 1,800 draws as of October 2023. Here are some interesting stats:
- Over €36 billion in prizes has been given out
- There have been over 500 jackpot winners
- The luckiest EuroMillions numbers are 23, 27, 40 and 44 (drawn over 240 times)
- The least drawn numbers are 33, 36, 47, 48 and 49
- Tuesday is the most popular draw day, accounting for 52% of sales
- UK players have won the most jackpots (133), followed by Spain (111)
Number patterns and trends can be seen in EuroMillions results over the years. Some numbers clearly appear more often than others. While past draws can’t predict the future, many players use statistics, number frequencies and hot/cold trends to help guide their number selections.
Biggest EuroMillions Jackpot Wins
Here are the top 10 biggest jackpot wins in EuroMillions history:
| Amount | Date | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| €190 million | Nov 2019 | UK |
| €190 million | Jul 2021 | UK |
| €180 million | Oct 2021 | UK |
| €175 million | Oct 2014 | Portugal |
| €169 million | Oct 2020 | France |
| €163 million | Jul 2012 | UK |
| €161 million | Nov 2019 | Portugal |
| €160 million | Oct 2017 | Spain |
| €156 million | Oct 2016 | UK |
| €153 million | Aug 2012 | UK |
Britons have won the biggest EuroMillions jackpot prizes by far, taking 6 of the top 10 spots. Portugal comes in second with two mega jackpot wins. France, Spain and Switzerland have each won once.
EuroMillions Syndicates
Playing EuroMillions in a syndicate means pooling money with other players to buy more tickets and have more chances to win. You split any prizes between members based on how many shares each contributed.
Joining a EuroMillions syndicate can improve your odds in these ways:
- Afford to buy many more lines and number combinations
- Split costs across multiple players
- Win a share of prizes proportional to the number of shares owned
Playing in an organised syndicate is safer than informally pooling money, which can lead to legal issues later. You should find reputable lottery syndicates that use fair terms, clear contracts and authorised payment methods.
Should You Play EuroMillions?
Playing EuroMillions offers the dream of multi-millionaire riches at a small stake of just €2.50 per line. The advantages are:
- Huge jackpots up to €190 million
- Great overall odds of winning a prize (1 in 13)
- Draws twice a week
- Nine participating countries
- Fair rules and payout procedures
The biggest downside is the tiny odds of actually hitting the jackpot, though this is the case with all massive lottery games. EuroMillions gives you the opportunity to play for life-changing sums twice a week, alongside millions of other hopefuls across Europe.
Conclusion
EuroMillions offers some of the biggest lottery jackpots in the world. Its multimillion-euro prizes have made it extremely popular across Europe and beyond. With low-cost tickets, twice-weekly draws and massive jackpot rollovers, EuroMillions gives you the chance to dream big every Tuesday and Friday.
The game is easy to play – simply pick five numbers from 1-50 and two Lucky Stars from 1-12 to enter. To win the jackpot, you need to match all seven numbers. There are also 12 other prize tiers for partial number matches.
Results are announced shortly after the 8:45pm CET draws held in Paris. Prizes can be claimed online or in person within 180 days. Overall, playing EuroMillions is fun, accessible and offers the potential for life-changing riches at very little cost!
