The Friday EuroMillions draw takes place at 9pm Central European Time (CET) every Friday evening. This is the time the draw is held in Paris, France where the EuroMillions lottery is based. Here are some quick answers about the timing of the Friday EuroMillions draw:
What time zone is the Friday EuroMillions draw held in?
The Friday EuroMillions draw takes place at 9pm Central European Time (CET). This time zone includes the following countries: France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Denmark, Czech Republic, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Sweden, Norway, Croatia, Slovenia, Serbia, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Moldova, Belarus, North Macedonia, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City.
What time is the EuroMillions draw if you live in the UK?
For those living in the United Kingdom, the Friday EuroMillions draw takes place at 8pm Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). This is because the UK observes GMT rather than CET.
What are the EuroMillions draw days and times?
The EuroMillions lottery holds two draws per week on Tuesdays and Fridays. The draw times are as follows:
- Tuesday EuroMillions draw: 9pm CET
- Friday EuroMillions draw: 9pm CET
Can you watch the EuroMillions draw live online?
Yes, you can watch the EuroMillions draw live online via the official EuroMillions website. A live stream is available shortly before 9pm CET each Tuesday and Friday showing the draw as it happens.
Where does the Friday EuroMillions draw take place?
The Friday EuroMillions draw is held in Paris, France at the EuroMillions studios. The draw is conducted under the supervision of accounting firm KPMG to ensure its fairness and integrity.
What days are EuroMillions draws held?
EuroMillions draws are held twice every week, on Tuesdays and Fridays. The draws have taken place on these days since the lottery began in 2004.
Can EuroMillions ticket holders watch the draw in person?
Unfortunately ticket holders are unable to watch the EuroMillions draw in person. Due to security reasons, only authorized personnel are permitted to attend the draw.
History of the EuroMillions Draw Days
When the EuroMillions lottery first launched in February 2004, draws only took place on Friday evenings. An additional draw on Tuesday nights was introduced in May 2011 to generate larger jackpots.
The table below shows the changes to EuroMillions draw days over the years:
| Date | Change |
|---|---|
| February 2004 | Friday draw introduced |
| May 2011 | Tuesday draw added |
Comparing EuroMillions Draw Times Around Europe
Here is a table comparing EuroMillions draw times across different European time zones:
| Time Zone | EuroMillions Draw Time |
|---|---|
| Western European Time | 9pm |
| Central European Time | 9pm |
| Eastern European Time | 10pm |
| Further-eastern European Time | 11pm |
| Moscow Time | Midnight |
This shows that while the draw takes place at 9pm CET, the local time varies across Europe depending on the time zone.
Previous EuroMillions Draw Times
For the first seven years since EuroMillions launched, the Tuesday and Friday draws were held at 8:45pm CET rather than 9pm.
The draw times were amended in October 2011 to the current time of 9pm CET. This was to move the draws slightly later in the evening.
How long does the EuroMillions draw last?
Each EuroMillions draw takes around 15 minutes from start to finish. The steps are as follows:
- The balls are loaded into the draw machine.
- The machine randomly draws 5 main numbers between 1-50.
- The machine then draws 2 bonus ‘Lucky Star’ numbers between 1-12.
- The 11 drawn numbers are announced in the studio.
- The entire draw is streamed live online.
What happens if there are any problems during the EuroMillions draw?
The draw procedure and equipment is checked thoroughly ahead of each draw. However, if any technical problems occur during the live draw, the draw is halted and restarted once the issue is resolved.
Independent observers from the accounting firm KPMG are present for every draw. This ensures full transparency and fairness in the rare event of any issues.
Who conducts the EuroMillions draw?
The EuroMillions draw is conducted automatically by an electronic draw machine. Lottery officials from participating countries oversee the draw process.
The machine used is called the Venus draw machine. It randomly selects the winning numbers under controlled conditions.
Security of the EuroMillions Draw Machine
The Venus draw machine is housed in a secure room inside the EuroMillions studios in Paris. Access is strictly controlled and monitored by CCTV.
Before each draw, the machine and lottery balls are checked in advance by independent auditors. This prevents any tampering with the equipment or draw process.
Backup Draw Procedures
In the unlikely event of a machine malfunction, EuroMillions has contingency procedures so the draw can continue quickly. The lottery balls can be manually drawn instead while repairs take place.
Where do EuroMillions lottery draws take place?
All EuroMillions lottery draws take place in Paris at the following location:
EuroMillions Draw Studio4 Rue de Prony
75017 Paris
France
This custom studio facility hosts both the Tuesday and Friday night draws.
Reasons for Locating EuroMillions Draws in Paris
There are several reasons Paris was chosen as the home of the EuroMillions lottery draws:
- Paris is a central and accessible location within Europe.
- France was one of the founding participants in EuroMillions.
- French lottery operator Française des Jeux hosts the lottery.
- Paris is a major European capital city.
- The draw facilities meet stringent security standards.
How are EuroMillions draw numbers selected randomly?
EuroMillions draw numbers are selected by a certified random number generator inside the draw machine. This ensures all numbers have an equal chance of being chosen.
The lottery balls are also rigorously checked and tested ahead of each draw. This guarantees the randomness and fairness of the selection process.
Details of the Random Number Generator
The technical process used to randomly generate the EuroMillions numbers involves these key steps:
- A quantum physics-based algorithm generates an initial random seed number.
- This seed undergoes cryptographic hashing to produce random values.
- These values determine the number selection order.
- Draw equipment mechanically selects the balls accordingly.
The latest quantum technologies ensure complete unpredictability in the digits produced.
Testing of Lottery Balls
Before each EuroMillions draw, the weight and dimensions of all balls are meticulously measured by independent auditors. This guarantees they are identical and meet strict standards.
The balls are also x-rayed to check for defects and visibly inspected for any damage or irregularities.
How does the time of the draw affect ticket sales?
The timing of the EuroMillions draw can influence ticket sales patterns throughout the day. Sales tend to surge leading up to the 9pm CET cut-off as people rush to buy their tickets in time.
On draw days, over half of ticket sales typically occur between 7-9pm local time shortly before the draw. The hours just before the deadline see a sales frenzy.
Causes of Pre-Draw Ticket Sale Spikes
There are several factors that drive the spike in last-minute EuroMillions ticket sales:
- People wait till the deadline nears to decide if they will play or not.
- Procrastinators eventually rush out to buy tickets.
- Some players add impulse purchases if jackpots are high.
- Queues can form at retailers before cut-off.
The fixed 9pm CET draw time certainly focuses sales just prior as the sense of urgency kicks in.
Quieter Sales Periods Before and After Draws
In contrast, EuroMillions ticket sales tend to be slower at other times on draw days. The hours after the 9pm draw produce fewer sales.
Sales activity is also relatively subdued earlier in the mornings leading up to draws. So the time of the draw itself directly impacts patterns.
Do late ticket purchases have the same odds of winning?
All EuroMillions tickets purchased before the 9pm CET deadline have an equal chance of winning, regardless of what time they were bought.
Whether tickets are purchased days early or seconds before the cut-off, they have identical odds for that draw because the number selection is entirely random.
Examining the Odds for All Ticket Purchasers
The overall chances of winning any EuroMillions prize currently stand at 1 in 13. Here is a breakdown of the odds:
- Odds of winning the jackpot: 1 in 139,838,160
- Odds of winning €2.50: 1 in 42
- Odds of winning smallest prize: 1 in 22
These published odds apply equally to all tickets for a draw regardless of purchase time. The timing has no bearing whatsoever on the probability.
How Results Are Determined Randomly
Winners are selected at draw time by the lottery machine’s certified random number generator. This process cannot be influenced in any way by players or ticket sales.
So luck is the only factor that determines results, not whether someone bought their ticket early or at the last minute before the deadline.
Do more people buy tickets as jackpots grow larger?
Yes, EuroMillions ticket sales clearly trend upwards whenever the jackpot rolls over and grows to a substantial amount.
Huge jackpots attract extra casual players who do not normally buy tickets. This is referred to as ‘jackpot fever’.
Evidence of Increased Ticket Sales for Big Jackpots
Past data illustrates the link between enormous EuroMillions jackpots and ticket sales volumes:
- UK sales soared by 360% when the jackpot hit £175 million in October 2019.
- Over 5 million Spanish entries were sold for the €190 million jackpot in October 2017.
- French sales more than doubled ahead of the record €220 million jackpot in October 2021.
These figures demonstrate how giant jackpot amounts directly stimulate extra ticket purchases and interest.
Psychology Behind Playing for Huge Jackpots
Bigger jackpots capture attention and create a ‘lottery fever’ for various psychological reasons:
- Dreams of life-changing wins seem more attainable.
- Regret avoidance kicks in – playing avoids missing out.
- Headlines spur social media chatter and FOMO.
- Office pools and group syndicates become more popular.
Ultimately, people are drawn to fantastic riches and want a chance to win Huge jackpots also feel more ‘worth it’ to play for.
Conclusion
The Friday EuroMillions draw takes place at 9pm Central European Time in Paris. This translates to 8pm in the UK. Draws are also held every Tuesday at the same time. Sales tend to peak just before the deadline due to people rushing to buy tickets in time. All players have equal odds of winning regardless of purchase time. Bigger jackpots also stimulate higher ticket sales, driven by dreams of life-changing wealth.