How to Play EuroMillions

EuroMillions is a transnational lottery originally played in France, Spain, and the UK. Since 2004, the lottery has expanded its reach to include Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Portugal, and Switzerland. Each ticket costs €2.00, or £2.00 if purchased in the UK.

Among the world's lotteries it has the lowest probability of winning the jackpot, but a higher number of lower prize levels for partial matches.

The method of play and probabilities for each prize level are explained below the random EuroMillions number generator.

    

 

How the EuroMillions Lottery Works

Players select five distinct numbers from 1 to 50, and two distinct "lucky star" numbers from 1 to 11. Since the two lucky star numbers are drawn from a different set than the five main numbers, the lucky star numbers may coincide with the main numbers.

EuroMillions Lottery Odds

For each €2.00 ticket, the odds of obtaining winning matches are as follows:

5 main, 2 lucky stars:
[1/(50 c 5)]*[1/(11 c 2)] = 1/116,531,800
PRIZE: 32% of pool

5 main, 1 lucky star:
[1/(50 c 5)]*[2*9/(11 c 2)] ≈ 1/6,473,989
PRIZE: 4.8% of pool

5 main, no lucky stars:
[5/(50 c 5)]*[36/(11 c 2)] ≈ 1/3,236,994
PRIZE: 1.6% of pool

4 main, 2 lucky stars:
[5*45/(50 c 5)]*[1/(11 c 2)] ≈ 1/517,919
PRIZE: 0.8% of pool

4 main, 1 lucky star:
[5*45/(50 c 5)]*[2*9/(11 c 2)] ≈ 1/28,873
PRIZE: 0.7% of pool

4 main, no lucky stars:
[5*45/(50 c 5)]*[36/(11 c 2)] ≈ 1/14,387
PRIZE: 0.7% of pool

3 main, 2 lucky stars:
[10*990/(50 c 5)]*[1/(11 c 2)] ≈ 1/11,771
PRIZE: 0.5% of pool

3 main, 1 lucky star:
[10*990/(50 c 5)]*[2*9/(11 c 2)] ≈ 1/654
PRIZE: 2.2% of pool

3 main, no lucky stars:
[10*990/(50 c 5)]*[36/(11 c 2)] ≈ 1/327
PRIZE: 3.7% of pool

2 main, 2 lucky stars:
[10*14190/(50 c 5)]*[1/(11 c 2)] ≈ 1/821
PRIZE: 2.3% of pool

2 main, 1 lucky star:
[10*14190/(50 c 5)]*[2*9/(11 c 2)] ≈ 1/46
PRIZE: 17.6% of pool

2 main, no lucky stars:
[10*14190/(50 c 5)]*[36/(11 c 2)] ≈ 1/23
PRIZE: 18% of pool

1 main, 2 lucky stars:
[5*148995/(50 c 5)]*[1/(11 c 2)] ≈ 1/156
PRIZE: 6.5% of pool

The total odds of winning any prize are roughly 1/13.

All prizes are split evenly among the number of winning tickets, regardless of the country of origin. For example, matching 5 out of 50 main balls with no lucky stars earns 1.6% of the pool. If there are 8 winners at this prize level, then each person receives (1.6/8)% = 0.2% of the pool. As of January 2012, the EuroMillions jackpot is capped at €190,000,000.

© Had2Know 2010