Playing the lottery is a popular pastime for many Australians. With several major lotteries available, such as Powerball, Oz Lotto, and Saturday Lotto, Australians have plenty of chances to win big. But with so many options, which lottery gives you the best odds to become an overnight millionaire in Australia?
The Lotteries with the Biggest Jackpots
If your goal is to win the biggest jackpot possible, then Powerball and Oz Lotto are your best options. These national lotteries frequently have jackpots over $10 million, and sometimes over $50 million or more. The record Powerball jackpot was $150 million in 2019, while Oz Lotto set a record with a $110 million jackpot in 2019. While your chance of winning these huge prizes is slim, buying a ticket gives you a shot at instant multimillionaire status.
Powerball
Powerball is played every Thursday night. To play, you choose 7 numbers from 1-35 for the main barrel, and 1 number from 1-20 for the Powerball. To win the jackpot, you need to match all 7 numbers plus the Powerball. The minimum guaranteed Division 1 prize is $3 million, but it often climbs much higher. Powerball has delivered some of Australia’s biggest ever lottery prizes.
Oz Lotto
Oz Lotto draws take place every Tuesday night. Oz Lotto requires choosing 7 numbers from 1-45. Match all 7 and you win the jackpot, which starts at $2 million and often grows larger. Oz Lotto has the record for the biggest Australian lottery win of all time – $110 million in 2019.
Lotteries with the Best Odds
While Powerball and Oz Lotto can create instant millionaires, your overall odds of winning are very small, at around 1 in 134 million for both games. If you want to maximise your chance of a lottery win, albeit a smaller prize, then these lotteries have better odds:
Saturday Lotto
Saturday Lotto is played every, you guessed it, Saturday night! To play you choose 6 numbers from 1-45. If you match all 6 numbers, you win the jackpot which starts at $4 million and frequently goes higher. The odds of winning Saturday Lotto are much better than Powerball or Oz Lotto, at just 1 in 8.1 million.
Monday and Wednesday Lotto
These are smaller versions of Saturday Lotto, with the same format of choosing 6 numbers from 1-45. On Monday the jackpot starts at $1 million, while on Wednesday it starts at $2 million. With lower starting jackpots, the odds of winning are better than Saturday Lotto. For Monday Lotto the odds are 1 in 7.8 million, while for Wednesday Lotto the odds are 1 in 5.8 million.
Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot
Lucky Lotteries is a lottery with fixed cash prizes but also a chance to win a jackpot. Tickets cost just $2. The Super Jackpot version has prizes up to $1.8 million. There are 104 winning number combinations drawn, so your odds are 1 in 2.4 million – much better than the big national lotteries.
State Lotteries
Each Australian state also runs its own lottery draws, which are only open to players within that state. These lotteries generally have smaller top prizes than the national games, but better winning odds.
New South Wales Lotteries
Lotto players in NSW can enter Saturday Lotto, Monday Lotto, Wednesday Lotto and Oz Lotto. But the state offers other games too:
- Set for Life – Top prize of $20,000 cash per month for 20 years. 1 in 38 million chance of winning.
- Cash 3 – Pick 3 numbers from 0-9. Top prize of $500. 1 in 1,000 chance.
- Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot – 108 prizes from $100 up to $200,000. Odds as low as 1 in 8.9 million.
TattsLotto (Queensland)
Queensland players have access to national games like Saturday Lotto and Powerball. State specific games include:
- Gold Lotto – Pick 6 of 45 numbers to win up to $4 million. 1 in 8.1 million odds.
- Set for Life – $20,000/month top prize. 1 in 38 million odds.
- Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot – Up to $200,000 top prize. 1 in 8.9 million odds.
Lotterywest (Western Australia)
As well as playing into big national draws, WA lottery fans can enter:
- Saturday Gold Lotto – Match 6 numbers for a jackpot over $1 million. 1 in 8.1 million chance.
- Monday and Wednesday Gold Lotto – Smaller versions of Sat. Gold Lotto. Better odds.
- Set for Life – $20,000/month top prize. 1 in 44 million odds.
TattsLotto (Victoria)
Victorians can play into Powerball, Oz Lotto and more. State-based options include:
- TattsLotto – Pick 6 of 45 numbers to win up to $4 million. 1 in 8.1 million odds.
- Super 66 – Pick a 6 digit number to win a prize pool starting at $16,666. 1 in 1 million chance.
SA Lotteries (South Australia)
As well as national games, SA Lotteries offers:
- SA Lotto – Pick 6 of 45 numbers. Jackpot starts at $1 million. 1 in 8 million odds.
- Keno – Pick 10 of 80 numbers. Prizes from $1 to $1 million. Up to $250,000 on a $1 bet.
TattsLotto (Tasmania)
Tasmanians can enter draws like Powerball and Oz Lotto. Local options include:
- TattsLotto – Match 6 of 45 numbers to win from $4 million. 1 in 8 million odds.
- Super 66 – Pick a 6 digit number to win a prize pool starting at $16,666. 1 in 1 million chance.
Lottoland (Northern Territory)
Lottoland is the exclusive provider in the NT. Games include:
- Saturday TattsLotto – Match 6 of 45 numbers to win at least $4 million. 1 in 8.1 million odds.
- Oz Powerball – National Powerball game open to NT players through Lottoland.
The Best Lottery in Australia
While the huge national lotteries like Powerball and Oz Lotto capture our imagination with their massive jackpots, your odds of winning are extremely slim, often around 1 in 100 million. For the average punter, your best chance of landing a lottery win comes from playing a state lottery game with fixed better odds of 1 in 10 million or less.
Out of the state lotteries, Gold Lotto, TattsLotto and Saturday Lotto consistently offer the most winning chances. These games have odds between 1 in 5 million and 1 in 10 million, orders of magnitudes better than Powerball and Oz Lotto. Plus, state lottery jackpots often grow into the multi-millions anyway, so you can still win fortunes.
If we had to pick one game as the ‘best’ Australian lottery with a combination of big jackpots and reasonable odds, Saturday Lotto stands out:
- National coverage
- $4 million+ minimum jackpot
- Often reaches $10 million+
- 1 in 8.1 million chance of winning
While your odds are still exceedingly slim, a 1 in 8 million shot at a multi-million dollar windfall makes Saturday Lotto Australia’s most winnable major lottery – and your best bet for claiming a life-changing jackpot prize.
Other Factors When Choosing a Lottery
Aside from the odds and average jackpot sizes, other factors to consider when picking which lotteries to enter include:
Ticket Price
Entry into lotteries like Powerball and Saturday Lotto will set you back around $12-15 per game. But smaller draws like Lucky Lotteries can cost as little as $2 per entry. If you are playing on a budget, look for cheaper ticket prices.
Prize Structure
As well as the Division 1 jackpot, most lotteries award smaller prizes for matching some numbers. Lower tier prizes often start from just $10-20. Choose games that give you the best chance to win something.
Draw Frequency
Powerball and Oz Lotto draw twice weekly, while Saturday Lotto is once a week. But some state lotteries have nightly draws. More frequent draws give you more opportunities to win.
Syndicate Play
Buying tickets as part of a syndicate gives you more number coverage and entries. Consider joining a syndicate group if you want to maximise your chances without breaking the bank.
Availability
Some lotteries are limited to certain states. Make sure any lottery you want to play is available where you live.
Types of Lotteries in Australia
There are a few main types of lottery games played in Australia:
Draw Lotteries
The most common format involves choosing a selection of numbers from a range – e.g. pick 6 from 45. Draws are held at regular intervals, usually once or twice a week, and winning numbers are selected randomly. Match all your numbers to the draw and you win the jackpot. Lotteries like Powerball, Oz Lotto and Saturday Lotto are national draw lotteries.
Scratchies
Scratch card tickets have a layer that you scratch off to reveal symbols or prize amounts underneath. Match certain combinations to win prizes. Scratchies cost between $1-$20 per ticket. Brands include Instant Scratch Its, Cashword and Crosswords.
Bingo Lotteries
Bingo lottery games are played just like standard 75 ball bingo, with winning numbers called until someone completes a pattern. Prizes are guaranteed at each level. Popular bingo lotteries include TV Bingo, Super Bonanza and Eyecons.
Raffles
Lottery raffles involve buying numbered tickets – common formats are 50-100 tickets in a raffle. A draw is held to select winning tickets. Prizes can be cash, cars, vacations and more. Raffles are popular for charity fundraisers.
How Lottery Odds Work
Lottery odds represent your chance of winning. With so many number combinations in most draws, the odds are astronomical.
Lotteries calculate odds based on the following formula:
Odds of winning = 1 / (number of possible combinations)
Some example odds calculations:
- Powerball – Choose 7 numbers from 35 plus 1 Powerball from 20. Total combinations = 35 x 34 x 33 x 32 x 31 x 30 x 29 x 20 = 134,460,000. Odds – 1 in 134.4 million.
- Gold Lotto – 6 numbers from 45. Total combinations 45 x 44 x 43 x 42 x 41 x 40 = 8,145,060. Odds – 1 in 8.15 million.
- Lucky Lotteries Mega – 7 numbers from 37. Total combinations = 37 x 36 x 35 x 34 x 33 x 32 x 31 = 19,087,128. Odds – 1 in 19 million.
As you can see, the more numbers required, and the bigger the number pool, leads to much longer odds.
Tips for Winning the Lottery in Australia
Can you improve your lottery chances beyond simply the stated odds? Here are some handy lottery winning tips:
1. Buy More Tickets
The more number combinations you enter, the more chances to get lucky. But only spend what you can afford.
2. Join a Syndicate
Splitting tickets with a group spreads the cost and gives more coverage.
3. Avoid Quick Picks
Learning how to pick your own numbers can sometimes boost odds versus relying on randomly generated quick picks.
4. Look for Secondary Prizes
While you likely won’t hit the jackpot, matching some numbers can win smaller prizes.
5. Follow Your Intuition
Letting your gut instinct guide number selection can help you feel more engaged.
6. Keep Playing Consistently
Enter every draw rather than sporadically to increase overall chances.
7. Take Advantage of Promotions
Some lotteries run contests and deals giving extra tickets or cheaper entry.
8. Avoid Obvious Patterns
Don’t use birthday numbers, date patterns or repeated digits as these are common choices.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is playing the lottery a good investment?
No, financially the lottery is a very poor investment. The tiny chance of a big win is outweighed by the much larger chance of losing your money. Never spend more than you can afford on the lottery for entertainment.
Can you improve your odds of winning?
Not really. Your odds are determined by the total number of number combinations. Buying more tickets in a draw increases how many combinations you have covered to boost your chances marginally.
What is the most common lottery winning number?
In most lotteries, all numbers have an equal chance of being picked. There aren’t really universally ‘lucky’ or ‘unlucky’ numbers. However, many players favour birth dates, anniversaries and dates, so dates 31 and under seem to be chosen more.
Has anyone won the lottery more than once?
Amazingly, some people have claimed multiple major lottery wins. Evelyn Adams won the New Jersey lottery twice in 1985 and 1986. Joan Ginther from Texas won 4 separate massive lottery prizes during the 1990s.
What happens if no one wins the jackpot?
If no one matches all the winning numbers, the jackpot will roll over to the next draw, increasing the size of the top prize. This is how we end up with giant jackpots like $150 million Powerball draws after many weeks of accumilation.
Summary
Australia has a wide choice of lottery games, from giant jackpot draws like Powerball and Oz Lotto to smaller state-based games. While the monster national lotteries capture our imagination, your best chance of winning comes from lotteries with fixed better odds, like Saturday Lotto. A fun weekly ticket gives you a 1 in 8 million shot at joining the millionaire’s club – better value than the 1 in 100 million plus odds in something like Powerball. For lottery players wanting value, entertainment and a good shot at smaller secondary prizes, Saturday Lotto is arguably the ‘best’ all-round lottery option Australia has to offer.
