Are You More Likely to Win Lotto or EuroMillions Draws?

Many people wonder which draw gives them a better chance of winning: Lotto or EuroMillions. Both are popular across the UK, but the odds, ticket prices and prize structures differ in important ways.

This guide compares headline odds, costs and prize tiers, including how smaller wins work, what happens during rollovers, and how payouts and tax work in the UK.

Read on to learn more.

How Do The Odds Compare Between Lotto And EuroMillions?

The biggest gap between Lotto and EuroMillions lies in the jackpot odds. Lotto asks players to pick six numbers from 59. Matching all six wins the jackpot at odds of about 1 in 45 million.

EuroMillions requires five numbers from 1 to 50 plus two Lucky Stars from 1 to 12. To land the jackpot, all seven must match, at roughly 1 in 140 million. That makes the EuroMillions top prize harder to hit than the Lotto jackpot.

Both games include several lower-tier wins, but the headline odds set the overall picture: jackpots are rare by design. With that in mind, cost and entry options often become the next deciding factor.

Ticket Cost And Entry Options For Lotto And EuroMillions

A Lotto ticket costs £2 per line. Each line is a separate entry, and players can pick their own numbers or use Lucky Dip.

EuroMillions costs £2.50 per line. As with Lotto, numbers can be chosen or generated at random.

Entries can be made in shops or online via official platforms. Some players join syndicates to pool entries and share any prizes, which increases the number of lines without changing the odds for each line. Subscriptions are also available, automatically entering the same numbers in every draw for those who prefer a set-and-forget approach.

Cost is only part of the picture, though. How prizes are structured can make each game feel quite different.

How Do Prize Tiers And Payouts Differ Between The Games?

Lotto and EuroMillions take different approaches to prize tiers and how much each tier pays. Understanding these differences helps frame expectations.

Lotto Prize Tiers And Odds

Lotto has six prize tiers. The jackpot is won by matching all six main numbers, with odds of about 1 in 45 million.

Below that, matching five main numbers plus the Bonus Ball pays a fixed £1,000,000. Matching five main numbers wins £1,750, four numbers pays £140, three numbers pays £30, and matching two main numbers awards a free Lucky Dip for a future draw. These amounts are fixed, so payouts for these tiers do not vary by draw.

EuroMillions Prize Tiers And Odds

EuroMillions has more prize levels. The jackpot is won by matching five main numbers and both Lucky Stars, with odds of around 1 in 140 million.

Most EuroMillions prizes are shared among winners and vary by ticket sales and rollovers. As a general guide, five main numbers plus one Lucky Star often pays a six-figure sum, and five main numbers typically returns a five-figure amount. Lower tiers include small prizes for matching combinations such as two main numbers, or one main number plus both Lucky Stars. Exact amounts change from draw to draw.

There is also the UK Millionaire Maker, which guarantees that at least one UK player wins £1,000,000 in each draw, independent of the main prize table.

With the tiers mapped out, a natural next question is whether more frequent smaller prizes change a player’s overall chances in a meaningful way.

Do Smaller Prizes Change Your Overall Chance Of Winning?

Smaller prizes are more common than jackpots in both games, but they do not alter the odds of winning the top prize. Each tier has its own probability, based on how many numbers need to match and the size of the number pools.

As a rough benchmark, the chance of winning any prize is about 1 in 9 for Lotto and around 1 in 13 for EuroMillions. That figure reflects the many lower-tier outcomes, including free entries and small cash amounts, happening more often than headline wins.

These more frequent outcomes can make play feel more eventful, yet the fundamental odds for each tier remain the same on every ticket. With that context, many players keep an eye on rollovers and jackpots to see how prize funds evolve between draws.

How Do Jackpots And Rollovers Affect Winning Probability?

A rollover occurs when no ticket matches all the required numbers, so the jackpot carries over to the next draw and grows. While the amount at stake can climb quickly, the probability that any single ticket wins does not change. Matching the numbers remains just as unlikely as before.

Bigger jackpots tend to attract more entries, which can increase the chance of a shared top prize if there are multiple winners in the same draw. In EuroMillions, once the jackpot reaches its cap, additional prize money can flow into lower tiers, which may lift returns in those tiers for that draw. Even so, the underlying odds for each tier stay fixed.

This links neatly to expected value, which looks at returns in an average sense rather than on a single night.

What Is The Expected Value Of A Lotto Ticket Versus A EuroMillions Ticket?

Expected value is the average return of a ticket when you factor in all prizes and their odds over a very long period. For both Lotto and EuroMillions, this expected return is typically well below the ticket price, because jackpots are rare and many entries do not win.

Rollovers and special draws can raise the expected return temporarily, and UK-only features like Millionaire Maker add value for EuroMillions players in the UK. Even so, the average return usually remains lower than the cost of an entry.

The takeaway is straightforward: these games are designed for entertainment rather than to generate a financial return. Understanding how payouts work can still be useful if you land a prize.

How Are Winnings Paid Out In The UK And What Are The Tax Rules?

In the UK, Lotto and EuroMillions prizes are paid as tax-free lump sums. Small wins from tickets bought in shops can usually be claimed from the retailer, while larger prizes are processed through official channels, which may involve post, appointments or verification, depending on the amount.

For tickets bought online or in an app, smaller wins are often credited to the player’s account automatically, with higher amounts requiring additional checks and arrangements. Identification may be requested to confirm the claim.

There is no income tax on lottery winnings in the UK. However, once the money is banked, interest, investment returns or gifts made to others may have tax implications. For substantial wins, many people seek independent financial advice to plan how the funds are managed.

Practical Takeaways For Players Deciding Which Draw To Play

Choosing between Lotto and EuroMillions generally comes down to priorities. Lotto offers shorter odds to win the jackpot, but the top prize is usually smaller. EuroMillions aims for larger jackpots, though the probability of winning the main prize is lower.

Ticket prices differ, and the prize structures feel distinct: Lotto’s fixed lower-tier amounts offer predictability, while EuroMillions’ variable payouts can rise when rollovers boost the prize pool. Syndicates are a way to play more lines collectively and share any prizes, without altering the odds on each line.

If you choose to take part, set clear spending limits that suit your budget and stick to them. If play starts to affect your well-being or finances, seek help early. Independent organisations such as GamCare and GambleAware offer free, confidential support.

Ultimately, the better choice is the game that matches your budget and comfort level, not simply the one with the biggest headline jackpot.

_{**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.}