EuroMillions Odds Explained: Jackpot and All 13 Prize Tiers

The odds of winning the EuroMillions jackpot are 1 in 139,838,160 for each play. The odds of winning any prize are 1 in 12.97. Those figures are the same in the UK and in Ireland, because both countries play the same game: 5 numbers from 1 to 50, plus 2 Lucky Stars from 1 to 12.

This guide explains where those odds come from, lists all 13 prize tiers, and shows how to read the numbers without getting carried away by them.

How EuroMillions works

A play has two parts:

• 5 main numbers chosen from 1 to 50.
• 2 Lucky Stars chosen from 1 to 12.

In each draw, 5 main numbers and 2 Lucky Stars are drawn. You win a prize when your play matches enough of them. The prize tier depends on how many main numbers you match and how many Lucky Stars you match.

Draws take place on Tuesday and Friday. In the UK, the draw is at 20:45 (Europe/London time) and a play costs £2.50. In Ireland, the draw is at 19:30 (Europe/Dublin time) and a play costs €2.50.

The UK game is listed together with UK Millionaire Maker. This article covers the main EuroMillions prize tiers only.

The jackpot odds in plain words

To win the jackpot, you must match all 5 main numbers and both Lucky Stars. The odds are 1 in 139,838,160. You can also write that as about 1 in 139.8 million.

What does that mean? Think of 139,838,160 different possible plays. Each one is equally likely to be drawn. Your play is one of them. So is every other play.

Why is the number so large? Two things multiply together. First, there are many ways to pick 5 numbers out of 50. Second, each of those can be paired with a Lucky Star choice. Every extra number you must match shrinks your chance by a lot.

The jackpot amount changes from draw to draw. The jackpot amount does not change the odds. A bigger jackpot is a bigger prize, but your chance of winning it stays at 1 in 139,838,160.

All 13 EuroMillions prize tiers and their odds

There are 13 ways to win a prize. Only the top tier is a jackpot. The other 12 tiers pay prizes that are set after each draw. That means the amount for those tiers is not fixed ahead of time. You find it in the official results for that draw.

| Match | Odds | Prize type | | --- | --- | --- | | 5 numbers + 2 Lucky Stars | 1 in 139,838,160 | Jackpot (varies) | | 5 numbers + 1 Lucky Star | 1 in 6,991,908 | Set after each draw | | 5 numbers | 1 in 3,107,515 | Set after each draw | | 4 numbers + 2 Lucky Stars | 1 in 621,503 | Set after each draw | | 4 numbers + 1 Lucky Star | 1 in 31,075 | Set after each draw | | 4 numbers | 1 in 13,811 | Set after each draw | | 3 numbers + 2 Lucky Stars | 1 in 14,125 | Set after each draw | | 3 numbers + 1 Lucky Star | 1 in 706 | Set after each draw | | 3 numbers | 1 in 314 | Set after each draw | | 2 numbers + 2 Lucky Stars | 1 in 985 | Set after each draw | | 2 numbers + 1 Lucky Star | 1 in 49.27 | Set after each draw | | 2 numbers | 1 in 21.9 | Set after each draw | | 1 number + 2 Lucky Stars | 1 in 188 | Set after each draw |

Reading the table

A few things stand out.

• Lucky Stars matter a lot. Matching 3 numbers and 2 Lucky Stars (1 in 14,125) is a bit harder than matching 4 numbers and no stars (1 in 13,811). The two odds are close, even though the matches look different.
• Matching just 1 number can win. But only if you also match both Lucky Stars (1 in 188). One number with fewer stars does not win.
• The easiest prize is Match 2. That is 1 in 21.9. Prizes in the lower tiers are usually much smaller than the jackpot, and the exact amount is set after each draw.

The tiers are not in strict order of difficulty from top to bottom. A tier with more matches can sometimes be a little easier than one listed above it, as the 4-number and 3-number rows show. Always check the tier name against the official results rather than guessing from the order.

What "1 in 12.97" really means

The odds of winning any prize are 1 in 12.97. That is the chance that a single play lands in at least one of the 13 tiers.

It is easy to misread this figure. Here is what it does and does not say.

• It does say that, on a single play, the chance of winning some prize is about 1 in 13.
• It does not say you will win once in every 13 plays. Odds describe chance. They do not promise a pattern. You could play many times and win nothing, or win on your first play.
• It does not say you will make money. Many prizes in the lower tiers are small, and the prize amount is set after each draw. A prize can be smaller than what you spent on the play.

So "any prize" is a real figure, but it covers a wide range, from small wins to the jackpot. Most of the 12.97 in "1 in 12.97" is made of the easier tiers, such as Match 2 at 1 in 21.9 and Match 2 + 1 Lucky Star at 1 in 49.27.

Do past draws, hot numbers or lucky picks change the odds?

No. Every draw is independent. The machine and the draw process have no memory. If a number came up last week, it has the same chance as any other number this week. If a number has not come up for a long time, it is not "due". That idea is a common mistake, and it is not true.

The same goes for any system, pattern or lucky choice. Picking birthdays, picking a sequence, or picking numbers that look random does not change your odds. Every possible play has the same chance of being drawn: 1 in 139,838,160 for the jackpot.

Draw history can still be interesting to read. It describes what happened in the past. It does not predict the next draw. If you like looking at numbers, the number statistics page shows past draws for fun, and nothing more. To learn more about how the numbers come out, read how lottery numbers are drawn.

It is also worth saying plainly: a lottery play is entertainment. It is not an investment, and it is not a plan for making money. Spending more does not turn it into one.

UK and Ireland: what is the same and what is different

The odds are the same in both countries. Every number in the table above applies to both the UK and Irish versions of the game. The details around the game differ a little.

| | UK | Ireland | | --- | --- | --- | | Price per play | £2.50 | €2.50 | | Draw days | Tuesday, Friday | Tuesday, Friday | | Draw time | 20:45 (Europe/London) | 19:30 (Europe/Dublin) | | Pick | 5 from 1 to 50 + 2 Lucky Stars from 1 to 12 | 5 from 1 to 50 + 2 Lucky Stars from 1 to 12 |

For the rules of each version, see the official game pages. The UK operator publishes its game procedures, and the Irish operator publishes its EuroMillions rules. Those documents are the final word on how the game works. You can also read our guides to EuroMillions in the UK and EuroMillions in Ireland.

How to check what your play won

The tier table is only useful if you know which tier your ticket falls in. After the draw, compare your 5 numbers and 2 Lucky Stars with the drawn ones. Count the main number matches first. Then count the Lucky Star matches. Then find that row in the table.

The LottoCheck app can scan a ticket and show whether it won, which can save you counting by hand. Results in the app are unofficial. Official results always prevail, so confirm any win with the official lottery results before you act on it. For the manual method, see how to check a lottery ticket step by step.

Official results for each draw, including the prize for each tier, are published on the official draw history pages for the UK and Ireland.

The short version

• Jackpot odds: 1 in 139,838,160 (about 1 in 139.8 million).
• Odds of any prize: 1 in 12.97.
• There are 13 prize tiers. Twelve of them pay prizes set after each draw.
• Odds are the same in the UK and Ireland.
• Past draws, hot numbers and lucky picks do not change the odds.

Play for fun and only spend what you can afford to lose. If gambling stops being fun, call 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential help. LottoCheck is for adults 18 and older.