World Lottery Guide
Euro Lottery
Aside from playing at some of the best online casinos, countless players in Europe take part in the Euro Lottery. Unlike the other world lotteries, the Euro Lottery only includes two distinct games. Both games are pan-European lotteries that include multiple countries. The first game of the Euro Lottery is the EuroJackpot.
The EuroJackpot was first introduced in 2006. In 2011, six countries met to finish the negotiations for the lottery. The first ticket was sold on March 17, 2012, and as of October 2015, the EuroJackpot included the following countries as participants:
• Croatia
• Czech Republic
• Denmark
• Sweden
• Spain
• Slovenia
• Slovakia
• Norway
• Netherlands
• Lithuania
• Latvia
• Italy
• Iceland
• Hungary
• Germany
• Finland
• Estonia
If you add the above countries populations together, the EuroJackpot has the potential to reach over 270 million customers.
If you live in these countries, you can purchase tickets from dealers within your countries. However, players from around the world can participate in the EuroJackpot also just by buying tickets online which causes a massive increase in the total amount of potential customers.
This system is said to be safe and secure, so many people from around the world take advantage of purchasing tickets online each week.
The jackpot starts at €10 million but can be increased by rollovers when no one wins. The EuroJackpot does have a cap which means when the jackpot reaches €90 million, a winner is chosen regardless.
For example, if no one matches all of the main numbers and the two Euro numbers, the jackpot is split between the next winning tier. The largest EuroJackpot game is €90 million which has happened twice once on May 15, 2015, and the other was on October 14, 2016, where the prizes were given to other prize tiers.
The game is played by choosing five numbers between one and fifty and then choosing two Euro numbers between one and ten. A player must match any two main numbers and at least one Euro number to win a cash prize.
The drawing is held every Friday night and takes place in Helsinki, Finland. The odds of matching all the main numbers and both Euro numbers are one in 95,344,200. The rest of the odds are as follows:
• Match five main numbers and one Euro number- 1 in 5,959,013
• Match five main numbers- 1 in 3,405,150
• Match four main numbers and two Euro numbers- 1 in 423,752
• Match four main numbers and one Euro number- 1 in 26,485
• Match four main numbers- 1 in 15,134
• Match three main numbers and two Euro numbers- 1 in 9,631
• Match two main numbers and two Euro numbers- 1 in 672
• Match three main numbers and one Euro number- 1 in 602
• Match three main numbers- 1 in 344
• Match one main number and two Euro numbers- 1 in 128
• Match two main numbers and one Euro number- 1 in 42
The second Euro Lottery game you can play is called EuroMillions. France’s Française des Jeux, the United Kingdom’s Camelot, and Spain’s Loterias y Apuestas del Estado created the EuroMillions game which launched in February 2004.
The drawing held on Friday, February 13, 2004, in Paris was the first. By October of 2004, EuroMillions include the following countries:
• United Kingdom
• France
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Portugal
• Luxembourg
• Ireland
• Belgium
• Austria
You must select five numbers from one to fifty and two Lucky Stars between one and twelve to play EuroMillions. When you match all of the main numbers and both Lucky Stars, you win the jackpot. Thirteen prize tiers are available. The odds and levels are listed here:
• Two main numbers only is a 1 in 22 chance which pays €4
• Two main numbers with one Lucky Star is a 1 in 49 chance which pays €8
• One main number with two Lucky Stars is 1 in 188 chance w 31,0753645546hich pays €10
• Three main numbers only is 1 in 314 chance which pays €12
• Three main numbers with one Lucky Star is a 1 in 706 chance which pays €14
• Two main numbers and two Lucky Stars is a 1 in 985 chance and pays €19
• Four main numbers only is a 1 in 13,811 chance and pays €58
• Three main numbers and both Lucky Stars is a 1 in 14,125 chance and pays €104
• Four main numbers and one Lucky Star is a 1 in 31,075 chance and pays €164
• Four main numbers and both Lucky Stars is a 1 in 621,503 chances and pays €3,076
• Five main numbers only is a 1 in 3,107,515 chance and pays €31,448
• Five main numbers and one Lucky Star is a 1 in 6,991,908 chance and pays €303,798
• Five main numbers and both Lucky Star is a 1 in 139,838,160 chance, and it pays the jackpot
The overall odds of EuroMillions are a one in thirteen chance. The jackpot of the EuroMillions starts at €17 million and caps at €190 million which was achieved only twice in October of 2014 and August of 2012.
The EuroMillions allow the jackpot to remain at the cap for at least four drawings before it is rolled down and given to the next winning tier.
Even though only nine countries participate in the drawing, you can play online from anywhere in the world by purchasing tickets from a concierge service.
United Kingdom Lottery
The Million Lottery in 1694 and the Malt Lottery in 1697 were the first two lotteries in the United Kingdom. These two lotteries lead the way for the foundation of the Bank of England and were used to raise money for England.
The United Kingdom’s lottery was started in 1994 under the name National Lottery. The first drawing was held on November 19, 1994. The Camelot Group was granted the license for the lottery numerous times since 1994. The lottery was established by the government of John Major.
In 2002, the National Lottery was drastically changed to help sales income. The chief game’s name was changed to Lotto, and the National Lottery Extra was renamed Lotto Extra. The logo of the lottery was also changed during this time.
The games offered in the United Kingdom are collectively still called the National Lottery, and it is the most popular type of gambling in England. Today, these games include Lotto, Lotto Hotpicks, and Thunderball.
The Lotto requires you to pick six numbers between one and fifty-nine. A ‘Lucky Dip’ will choose the numbers for you randomly if you would like. During the drawing, six balls with numbers are drawn and one bonus ball which only applies to you if you match five numbers.
This lottery allows rollovers up to four consecutive drawings which can make the jackpot up to £19.5 million. When the Lotto has been rolled over four times and no ticket matches all six numbers, the jackpot can be divided among any players that match five numbers and the bonus ball.
The drawings for Lotto are on Wednesdays and Saturdays and are available live on the National Lottery website. The tickets cost £2, and the winnings are based on the sales of the tickets. The odds for the Lotto are:
• Matching two numbers has a one in 10.3 chance
• Matching three numbers has a one in 96 chance
• Matching four numbers has a one in 2,179 chance
• Matching five numbers has a one in 144,414 chance
• Matching five numbers and the bonus ball has a one in 7,509,578 chance
• Matching six numbers has a one in 45,057,474 chance
If you match two numbers, you receive a free Lotto Lucky Dip. Three numbers matched will earn you a prize of £25. Matching four numbers gives you £100, and five numbers will give you £1,000.
Five numbers and the bonus ball will earn you £50,000. If you match six numbers, you win the jackpot which starts at £10,000,000. The overall odds of Lotto are one in 9.3 chance of winning a cash prize.
The numbers drawn for the Lotto are also used for the Lotto Hotpicks game. The Lotto Hotpicks tickets cost £1 per board. In this game, you pick the numbers and the amount of drawn balls you want to try to match with a maximum of five balls. If you do not match all the numbers you pick, you are not a winner.
Many people call the Lotto Hotpicks the ‘five games in one’ games because there are five different ways to play the game. The prizes and odds for Lotto Hotpicks:
• If you pick one and match one, you win £6 (1:10)
• If you pick two and match two, you win £60 (1:115)
• If you pick three and match three, you win £800 (1:1,626)
• If you pick four and match four, you win £13,000 (1:30,342)
• If you pick five and match five, you win £350,000 (1:834,398)
On June 12, 1999, the first Thunderball was held. The Thunderball game makes you pick five main numbers between the numbers one to thirty-nine, and then you must pick one ‘Thunderball’ from the numbers one to fourteen. The cost of one board is £1.
The top prize is £500,000 and can be won by matching all five main numbers and the Thunderball. Drawings for the Thunderball are on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and like the Lotto are shown live on the website.
The prizes and odds for the Thunderball are as follows:
• Match only Thunderball win £3 (1 in 14)
• Match Thunderball and one main number win £5 (1 in 35)
• Match Thunderball and two main numbers win £10 (1 in 135)
• Match three main numbers win £10 (1 in 111)
• Match Thunderball and three main numbers win £20 (1 in 1,437)
• Match four main numbers win £100 (1 in 3,647)
• Match Thunderball and four main numbers win £250 (1 in 47,415)
• Match five main numbers win £5,000 (1 in 620,046)
• Match Thunderball and five main numbers win £500,000 (1 in 8,060,598)
French Lottery
The lottery in France dates back to 1505 with King Francis I creating one to help support his war. The attempt was not as successful as the King hoped and lotteries were outlawed in France for over two centuries.
At the end of the 17th century, Loterie de L’Hotel de Ville was created for the Paris municipality. Private lotteries were also seen during this time to support religious orders and the nuns in convents. Religious orders relied on lotteries to help build or repair churches during the 18th century.
In Paris, lotteries helped build or rebuild over 15 churches which included churches like St. Sulpice and Le Pantheon. At first, the King was happy to allow the religious orders to raise funds by lotteries because then the state did not have to provide any funding.
However, as the churches continued to sponsor lotteries, the profits increased and they became so significant that the King and the Church began to struggle for control of the lotteries. In 1774, the monarchy banned all lotteries except for Loterie de L’Ecole Militaire which would become the Loterie Royale de France.
By 1789, almost 7% of France’s revenues came from lotteries. The French even created a lottery for the mass guillotine murders that happened. During the French Revolution, lotteries in France were frowned upon and became almost obsolete.
In 1936, the French lottery was reintroduced and Française des Jeux which is government owned controls all the lotteries available in France. The Française des Jeux offers a variety of ways to gamble, but the three most popular are the French Loto, French Loto Raffle, and Keno Winner for Life.
Keno Winner for Life you choose the winnings and the chances of winning based on:
• The numbers you want to check which can be between two and ten numbers out of 70
• The amount of the bet you want which can range from 1, 2, 3, 5, or 10 Euros
• If you want to participate in any multiplier option
If you decide to play Keno Winner for Life, you can win up to €100,000 for each year of the rest of your life or €2,000,000 cash. If you add a multiplier option, it is possible to win up to €1,000,000 for each year of the rest of your life or €20,000,000 cash.
Keno Winner for Life drawings happens twice a day every day of the week. These drawings occur at lunch and at dinner time. Twenty numbers and a multiplier are drawn randomly for each of the drawings.
The French Loto Raffle is a complimentary game to the French Loto which guarantees ten extra prizes of €20,000 for each drawing. A code is printed on the side of every line played on the French Loto.
If your code matches, you win €20,000. Sometimes extra drawings are held during the holidays. When you buy a French Loto ticket, you are automatically entered in the French Loto Raffle.
The Française des Jeux introduced the French Loto in 1976 and since that time, every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, a drawing has taken place. The French Loto has a minimum guarantee of €2,000,000 which can be rolled over 34 times which makes it one of the most popular lottery games in France.
The Loto increases by €1 million every time it is rolled over. After the prize has been rolled over 34 times, if no one matches all five numbers and the Chance number, the prize is rolled down to the other prize tiers. Each ticket costs €2.20 and includes both games (French Loto and French Loto Raffle).
The prizes for the French Loto are tax-free which means tickets can be purchased online through a concierge agency. It is necessary for you to remember that taxes may be required for your home area.
To play the French Loto, you must select five main numbers between one and forty-nine and a Chance number between one and ten. The prizes and odds are as follows:
• If you match five main numbers and the Chance number, you win the jackpot (1 in 19,068,840).
• If you match five main numbers, you win €100,000 (1 in 2,118,760).
• If you match four main numbers and the Chance number, you win €1,000 (1 in 88,677).
• If you match four main numbers, you win €500 (1 in 9,631).
• If you match three main numbers and the Chance number, you win €50 (1 in 2,016).
• If you match three main numbers, you win €20 (1 in 224).
• If you match two main numbers and the Chance number, you win €10 (1 in 144).
• If you match two main numbers, you win €5 (1 in 16).
• If you match the Chance number, you win €2.20 (1 in 18).
The overall odds of winning a cash prize in the French Loto are one in 5.99.
German Lottery
In 1614, the first lottery was held in Germany. This lottery began Germany’s long history with gambling. Germany is a largely Catholic country which causes issues. However, gambling has continuously been legal throughout Germany.
Germany has always allowed states to regulate gambling legislation, but a new State Treaty on Gaming Act was created in 2008. This act made gambling the government jurisdiction and not the sixteen federal states.
The government in Germany now has a monopoly on the German lottery system. The German Lottery encompasses over sixteen independent lottery companies which are called Deutscher Lotto- und Totoblock.
This community of regional lottery operators handles all the gambling within the country. Responsibility and reliability are the two main principles of these companies. Every three years, a new leader from the conglomeration of sixteen takes over the group.
These companies provide a variety of gambling options, but Lotto 6 aus 49, Spiel 77, and Super 6 are the three most popular games in Germany.
The Lotto 6 aus 49 is one of the longest running lottery games in Europe with the first drawing happening in October 1955. When the Lotto first started the drawings were held only on Saturdays, but a Wednesday drawing was added in 1982.
The game was changed from 7 aus 38 to 6 aus 49 in 1986. In 2013, the game was changed again with an introduction of the Superzahl, and the overall odds were improved from one in fifty-four to one in thirty-one.
You play the game by choosing six main numbers between one and forty-nine and a bonus number, Superzahl, between zero and nine. The Lotto can be played by people who live outside of Germany by hiring an agent in Germany to purchase the ticket for you.
Any winnings from the Lotto 6 aus 49 are tax-free, but taxes may be required from your government. The minimum jackpot for a Saturday drawing is €3,000,000, but on Wednesday, the minimum jackpot is €1,000,000.
If no one matches all six numbers and the Superzahl after the jackpot has rolled over for twelve drawings, the prize is distributed among the next winning tier. The largest jackpot for Lotto 6 aus 49 was €45.3 million. It will cost you €1 plus a 0.50€ fee to play this game.
The prize amounts for the Lotto are based upon a percentage of the prize pool. An example of the odds and prize tiers for the Lotto 6 aus 49 are as follows:
• Two main numbers plus the Superzahl pays €5 (1 in 76)
• Three main numbers pays €9.40 (1 in 63)
• Three main numbers and Superzahl pays €16.40 (1 in 567)
• Four main numbers pays €38.90 pays (1 in 1,147
• Four main numbers and Superzahl pays €152.70 (1 in 10,234)
• Five main numbers pays €2,794.20 (1 in 60,223)
• Five main numbers and Superzahl pays €8,326.90 (1 in 542,008)
• Six main numbers pays €870,958.40 (1 in 15,537,573)
• Six main numbers and Superzahl pays the jackpot (1 in 139,838,160)
The prize amounts listed above change according to the number of tickets sold for each drawing. The overall odds for the Lotto are one in thirty-one.
Spiel 77 is played with the German Lotto. You can add Spiel 77 to your Lotto 6 aus 49 by paying an additional fee. When you pay the extra fee, a seven digit number is printed on your German Lotto ticket. The numbers are chosen randomly by the computer.
The last number of the seven-digit number is the Superzahl number for the main Lotto drawing. If you match any of these numbers in order, you can win cash prizes. The jackpot for Spiel 77 starts at €177,777 and will increase if no one matches the numbers drawn in exact order.
The prizes and odds for the Spiel 77 are as follows:
• Seven numbers matched in order pays a minimum of €177,777 (1 in 10,000,000)
• Six numbers matched in order pays €77,777 (1 in 1,111,111)
• Five numbers matched in order pays €7,777 (1 in 111,111)
• Four numbers matched in order pays €777 (1 in 11,111)
• Three numbers matched in order pays €77 (1 in 1,111)
• Two numbers matched in order pays €17 (1 in 111)
• Final number drawn matched pays €5 (1 in 11)
Super 6 is another game offered by the Deutscher Lotto- und Totoblock. Similar to Spiel 77, Super 6 can be added to your Lotto 6 aus 49 tickets by paying an extra fee. The same seven digit that is created for Spiel 77 is used. However, when you play Super 6, the first number is discarded.
Super 6 is played in the same manner as Spiel 77 where you must match the numbers to win cash prizes. The prizes and odds for Super 6 are listed here:
• Six numbers matched in order pays €100,000 (1 in 1,000,000)
• Five numbers matched in order pays €6,666 (1 in 111,111)
• Four numbers matched in order pays €666 (1 in 11,111)
• Three numbers matched in order pays €66 (1 in 1,111)
• Two numbers matched in order pays €6 (1 in 111)
• Final number drawn matched pays €2.50 (1 in 11)
Irish Lotto
The Irish Lotto is called A Crannchur Naisiunta which means National Lottery. The lottery was created in 1986 when the Republic of Ireland’s government agreed to the National Lottery Act. The act was passed to allow the state to raise revenue for good causes.
These causes include:
• Irish language
• Natural environment
• Sport and recreation
• National heritage and the arts
• Health and welfare
In March of 1987, Ireland began offering scratch cards, but the primary lottery did not start until March of 1988. The lottery has grown to include a variety of games that are offered at over 3,700 retailers across the nation.
The Irish government was struggling financially in 2013, so they sold the National Lottery license to Premier Lotteries Ireland for 20 years to raise the needed revenue. The government now only receives €405,000,000 from the sales of the tickets. They plan to use this revenue to fund the National Children’s Hospital.
The lottery offers Daily Millions, All or Nothing, Millionaire Raffle, Telly Bingo, Game shows, and a variety of other lottery-type games. The three most popular games are Irish Lotto, Irish Lotto Plus 1, and Irish Lotto Plus 2.
Over the years, the ball pool in the Irish Lotto has grown from thirty-six to forty-seven. The last increase came in September of 2015. The Irish Lotto now requires you to choose six numbers from the numbers one through forty-seven.
The Irish Lotto is held every Saturday and Wednesday. The jackpot for the Irish Lotto starts at €2,000,000 and can grow bigger with rollovers. The Irish Lotto does not have a cap on how many times it can be rolled over, so the jackpot will just continue to grow until someone matches all six numbers.
The largest jackpot accumulated was for €18.9 million. You can play the Irish Lotto for €2, and anyone in the world can purchase tickets online through a concierge service. If you win the Irish Lotto, the Irish government does not charge taxes, but if the government where you live may charge taxes on the winnings.
The prizes and odds for the Irish Lotto are:
• If you match six numbers, you win the jackpot. (1 in 10,737,573)
• If you match five numbers and the bonus ball, you win an estimated €100,000. (1 in 1,789,596)
• If you match five numbers, the winnings vary. (1 in 44,740)
• If you match four numbers and the bonus ball, the winnings vary. (1 in 17,896)
• If you match four numbers, the winnings vary. (1 in 918)
• If you match three numbers and the bonus ball, the winnings vary. (1 in 688)
• If you match three numbers, you win an estimated €9. (1 in 54)
• If you match two numbers and the bonus ball, you win a €3 scratchcard. (1 in 72)
The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 29. When you play the Irish Lotto, you have the option to pay an extra fee and play Irish Lotto Plus 1. Irish Lotto Plus 1 was first introduced in 2000 and only cost €0.25 per line with a jackpot of only €250,000.
In 2002, the jackpot was raised to €300,000, and the extra fee was increased to €0.50. Lotto Plus 1’s jackpot today guarantees €500,000.
The Irish Lotto Plus 1 game also requires you to purchase at least two entries which means you must spend at least €1 to play. You must choose six numbers from a pool of 47. The prize amounts are based on sales, but the odds of winning and prize tiers are:
• 1 in 10,737,573 for matching six numbers
• 1 in 1,789,596 for matching five numbers and Bonus Ball
• 1 in 44,740 for matching five numbers
• 1 in 17,896 for matching four numbers and Bonus Ball
• 1 in 918 for matching four numbers
• 1 in 688 for matching three numbers and Bonus Ball
• 1 in 54 for matching three numbers
The overall odds of winning a prize in Irish Lotto Plus 1 are one in forty-eight. Irish Lotto Plus 2 was introduced in 2002 with a jackpot of €200,000. In 2006, the jackpot was increased to €250,000. In 2015, the jackpot was again increased to €500,000,
Irish Lotto Plus 2 is played the same as Irish Lotto Plus 1 except there are no prizes for only matching three numbers. The odds are also the same for this game, but the overall odds are one in 381.
Australian Lottery
In 1931, the Australian government passed the Lotteries Act which paved the way for the first Australian lottery. The first lottery used a wooden barrel that had 100,000 marbles inside of it. The first jackpot was for $10,000.
This unique history would develop into one of the largest lottery systems in the world. The lotteries are controlled by the Tatts Group Limited, Intralot Australia, Jumbo Interactive, and Netlotto. The most popular lotteries in Australia are the Australian Powerball and Oz Lotto.
The Australian Powerball requires you to choose six numbers from forty-five numbers. The way the drawing takes place is unique compared to other lotteries. The first five numbers are drawn from a series of 55 numbers and the sixth (Powerball) number is drawn from a separate group of 42 numbers.
This system of drawing numbers allows more flexibility when playing. The game is supervised by the Tattersall Group and is available in all states of Australia. The drawing is held on Thursday nights with the first drawing happening in 1996.
The jackpot begins at AU$3,000,000 and can be rolled over an unlimited amount of times because there is not a cap on the jackpot. The largest jackpot ever offered was for $80 million. The cost of a single ticket is AU$1.70.
The amounts of the prizes vary depending on the amount of sales, but the prize tiers and odds are:
• 1 in 76,767,600 is for Level 1 which is six numbers and Powerball matched
• 1 in 4,040,400 is for Level 2 which is six numbers matched
• 1 in 376,312 is for Level 3 which is five numbers and Powerball matched
• 1 in 19,806 is for Level 4 which is five numbers matched
• 1 in 9,123 is for Level 5 which is four numbers and Powerball matched
• 1 in 641 is for Level 6 which is three numbers and Powerball matched
• 1 in 480 is for Level 7 which is four numbers matched
• 1 in 110 is for Level 8 which is two numbers and Powerball matched.
The Oz Lotto is also supervised by the Tattersall Group and is held on Tuesdays. The first drawing was held in February of 1994. To win a Division 1 prize, you must match seven numbers. The starting jackpot is AU$2 million which can increase with roll overs.
The Oz Lotto does not have a cap and the largest jackpot ever won was $111 million in November of 2012. You play Oz Lotto by choosing seven numbers for a group of 45 numbers. It is possible to increase your chance of winning by paying extra and choosing more numbers.
When the drawing is held, two supplementary numbers are drawn to increase the earnings in some of the tiers. The Oz Lotto offers seven Divisions as prize tiers. These tiers with the odds for each are:
• Division 1 you have to match seven numbers and it has a 1 in 45,379,620 chance and pays 40% of the prize fund
• Division 2 you have to match six numbers and at least one supplementary number and it has a 1 in 3,241,401 chance and pays 1.7% of the prize fund
• Division 3 you have to match six numbers and it has a 1 in 180,078 chance and pays 3.5% of the prize fund
• Division 4 you have to match five numbers and either of the supplementary numbers and it has a 1 in 29,602 chance and pays 1.8% of the prize fund
• Division 5 you have to match five numbers and it has a 1 in 3,430 chance and pays 2.1% of the prize fund
• Division 6 you have to match four numbers and it has a 1 in 154 chance and pays 24% of the prize fund
• Division 7 you have to match three numbers and at least one supplementary number and it has a 1 in 87 chance and pays 36.9% of the prize fund