The European Millionaire lottery is a popular multi-country lottery game that offers players the chance to win millions in prize money. The game is operated by the company EuroMillions and is played in nine different European countries. Here are some quick answers about the European Millionaire lottery:
How do you play the European Millionaire lottery?
To play the European Millionaire lottery, players select five main numbers between 1-50 and two Lucky Star numbers between 1-12. There is a draw held every Tuesday and Friday evening where five main numbers and two Lucky Star numbers are randomly selected. If a player matches all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars, they win the jackpot which starts at a minimum of €17 million and can roll over to €220 million.
What countries participate?
The European Millionaire lottery is played in nine different European countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Players from all participating countries are entered into the same draw.
What are the odds of winning?
The overall odds of winning any prize in the European Millionaire lottery are 1 in 13. However, the odds vary greatly depending on the prize tier:
| 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 numbers | 1 in 123,749 |
| Match 3 main numbers | 1 in 13,696 |
| Match 2 main numbers | 1 in 843 |
As you can see, the odds of winning the jackpot are very small at 1 in almost 140 million. But the odds of winning a smaller prize are more reasonable.
What are the biggest jackpots won?
Here are some of the biggest jackpot amounts that have been won in the history of the European Millionaire lottery:
- €220.3 million – won by a player in France in October 2021
- €210 million – won by a player in Switzerland in February 2021
- €190 million – won by a player in the UK in November 2019
- €190 million – won by a player in Spain in October 2017
- €185 million – won by a player in the UK in July 2011
As you can see, jackpots frequently exceed €100 million and have gone as high as €220 million. However, the odds of winning these huge prizes are extremely small.
How are prizes paid out?
For smaller prize tiers, winnings are paid out as a lump sum. However, for the jackpot prize, players have the choice between receiving the entire amount at once as a lump sum or receiving it as an annual pension paid out over 20 or 25 years.
The lump sum option is the most popular choice, as it allows winners to immediately invest or spend their windfall. If the annual pension is chosen, the prize money is invested and managed by EuroMillions and winners receive annual payments plus any interest earned.
Are winnings taxed?
Whether winnings are taxed or not depends on the winner’s country of residence. Each participating country has its own tax rules regarding lottery prizes:
- Austria – No taxes on lottery winnings
- Belgium – No taxes on lottery winnings
- France – No taxes on lottery winnings
- Ireland – Winnings over €12,700 taxed at 20% + social charges
- Luxembourg – No taxes on lottery winnings
- Portugal – No taxes on lottery winnings
- Spain – Winnings over €2,500 taxed at 20%
- Switzerland – No taxes on lottery winnings
- UK – No taxes on lottery winnings
So in some countries like Ireland and Spain, large prizes can be subject to substantial taxes. But in most participating countries, lottery prizes are exempt from taxation.
What is the difference between EuroMillions and Euromillions?
EuroMillions and Euromillions are actually the same lottery game. EuroMillions is the official name used by the operator and in most participating countries. However, in Spain specifically the game is called Euromillions rather than EuroMillions, using a slightly different spelling.
So EuroMillions and Euromillions refer to the exact same twice-weekly pan-European lottery draw. There is no difference between the two games in terms of rules, odds, prizes or draws. The slight spelling variation is just due to the specific translation used in Spain.
When did EuroMillions start?
The very first EuroMillions draw was held on Friday February 7, 2004. The lottery began with just three participating countries – France, Spain and the UK. Six more countries have since joined the game over the years:
- Austria joined in October 2012
- Belgium and Switzerland joined in July 2011
- Ireland joined in October 2004
- Luxembourg joined in October 2004
- Portugal joined in October 2004
So the lottery has gradually expanded across Europe since its launch in 2004. To date, over 6,100 draws have taken place and more than €118 billion in prizes has been won.
Have there been any special draws or events?
Over the years, EuroMillions has held several special draws and events:
- Superdraws – Held several times a year, with starting jackpots of €130 million.
- Mega Friday – Occasional mega jackpots held on Friday nights.
- Mega Weeks – Weeks with large guaranteed starting jackpots.
- UK Millionaire Maker – A raffle that guarantees 1 millionaire each draw in the UK.
- El Millón – Weekly raffle in Spain that guarantees 5 prizes of €1 million.
These special draws help increase interest and participation in the game. The Superdraws in particular can lead to enormous jackpots if the top prize rolls over multiple draws.
What is the EuroMillions Superdraw?
The EuroMillions Superdraw is a special event held several times a year where the starting jackpot is set at €130 million rather than the usual €17 million. Superdraws always take place on a Tuesday draw.
Superdraws create tremendous excitement and interest in the game, as a €130 million starting jackpot is highly attractive to players. The first Superdraw was held in May 2007 and they have been held regularly ever since. If the €130 million jackpot is not won, it can roll over for several weeks and grow to astonishing sums.
Who runs and organizes the EuroMillions lottery?
EuroMillions is operated by EuroMillions Services, a consortium owned by various national lottery operators in the participating countries. The shareholders of EuroMillions Services include:
- Française des Jeux (France)
- Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (Spain)
- Camelot (UK)
- Loterie Nationale (Belgium)
- Loterie Romande (Switzerland)
- Österreichische Lotterien (Austria)
So while EuroMillions is a pan-European game, it is still run primarily by national lottery companies in each country. These experienced lottery operators work together to manage the game under EuroMillions Services.
How old do you have to be to play EuroMillions?
The minimum age to purchase EuroMillions lottery tickets varies slightly depending on the country:
- Austria – 16 years
- Belgium – 18 years
- France – 18 years
- Ireland – 18 years
- Luxembourg – 18 years
- Portugal – 18 years
- Spain – 18 years
- Switzerland – 18 years
- UK – 16 years
So in most participating countries, you must be at least 18 years old to play EuroMillions. However, a few countries allow ticket purchases from age 16. Players under the minimum age are prohibited from buying tickets or claiming any prizes.
Can you buy EuroMillions tickets online?
Yes, it is possible to purchase EuroMillions tickets online using authorized lottery ticket messenger services. These services purchase physical tickets on the player’s behalf and scan them into their account. Some popular EuroMillions online ticket messengers include:
- Jackpot.com
- LottosOnline.com
- LottoAgent
- LottoGo
- PlayEuroMillions.com
- TheLotter
Buying tickets online provides convenience and global access to EuroMillions. However, online ticket purchases usually come with an added service fee.
What is the biggest EuroMillions jackpot ever won?
The biggest jackpot ever won in EuroMillions history was a mammoth €220.3 million. This record-breaking prize was claimed by a single ticket holder in France on October 15, 2021.
The winner matched all 5 main numbers (21, 26, 31, 34, 49) and both Lucky Stars (2, 5) to win the entire €220.3 million jackpot. At the time, it was the largest lottery prize ever won in Europe.
Has anyone won the EuroMillions jackpot more than once?
Incredibly, there have been a handful of players who have managed to win the EuroMillions jackpot more than once:
- A Spanish player won €15 million in June 2017 and then €144 million in October 2017.
- A Portuguese player won €24 million in October 2014 and then €169 million in October 2019.
- An anonymous UK player won £1 million in November 2016 and then £121 million in April 2018.
Considering the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 140 million, hitting the top prize twice is extraordinary luck. Some lottery experts think syndicates who buy large volumes of tickets may account for some repeat wins.
What is the EuroMillions UK Millionaire Maker?
UK Millionaire Maker is a special add-on game exclusive to EuroMillions ticket holders in the UK. For an extra £1 per line played, participants are automatically entered into the Millionaire Maker raffle.
Each draw guarantees one raffle code is selected worth £1 million. So in every EuroMillions draw, at least one UK player is guaranteed to become an instant millionaire through the UK Millionaire Maker game.
Has EuroMillions created the most UK millionaires?
Yes, EuroMillions has created more UK millionaires than any other lottery game, thanks to the UK Millionaire Maker. Since UK Millionaire Maker launched in November 2004, over 6,000 lucky Brits have won £1 million through the raffle.
No other UK lottery game has created millionaires at such a high frequency. One guaranteed millionaire in every draw has led to thousands of huge winners over the years.
What changes have been made to EuroMillions over the years?
Some key changes that have been made to the game since EuroMillions launched include:
- 2012 – Prize tiers revamped to make winning easier
- 2011 – Second weekly draw added on Tuesdays
- 2007 – Introduction of occasional Superdraws
- 2006 – Jackpot cap increased from €115 million to €190 million
- 2005 – Lucky Star numbers increased from 1 to 2
- 2004 – First EuroMillions draw held
Modifications like increasing the prize cap, adding a second weekly draw, and expanding to more countries have all helped drive EuroMillions’ popularity and success over the past two decades.
Which country has won the EuroMillions jackpot the most?
The United Kingdom is the luckiest EuroMillions country, having won the jackpot more times than any other participating nation. As of October 2022, the EuroMillions jackpot has been won 126 times in total:
- UK – 63 wins
- France – 37 wins
- Spain – 35 wins
- Portugal – 10 wins
- Ireland – 6 wins
- Belgium – 3 wins
- Switzerland – 2 wins
UK players have accounted for exactly half of all jackpot wins to date. France and Spain trail behind, with Portugal in fourth place with 10 big wins.
Has any country won the jackpot consecutively?
Incredibly, the longest consecutive jackpot win streak belongs to Portugal. Portuguese players won the EuroMillions jackpot six draws in a row in October 2014.
The odds of one country winning six consecutive EuroMillions jackpots are astronomical. Portugal’s lucky streak beats the previous record of four in a row shared by the UK and Spain.
Conclusion
In summary, the EuroMillions lottery is a hugely popular multi-national game offering enormous jackpots. Players in nine European countries have the chance to become multimillionaires in the twice-weekly draws.
The game has created thousands of millionaires across Europe through massive jackpot wins and special raffles like UK Millionaire Maker. EuroMillions continues to grow and innovate, keeping Europeans eagerly anticipating the next giant jackpot.
