This reference page provides a comparative analysis of major national and multi-national lottery games across the United Kingdom and Europe. It details the mathematical formats, jackpot probabilities, overall winning odds, and standard entry costs as of June 2026, including recent format updates to the UK National Lottery.
UK & EU Lottery Comparison Table
The following table compares the primary metrics for the top 10 lottery games by participation and jackpot size in the UK and Europe.
| Game Name | Format (Main + Bonus) | Jackpot Odds (1 in X) | Overall Odds (Any Prize) | Standard Entry Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EuroMillions | 5/50 + 2/12 [1] | 139,838,160 [1] | 1 in 13 [1] | £2.50 / €2.50 [1] |
| EuroJackpot | 5/50 + 2/12 [2] | 139,838,160 [2] | 1 in 32 [2] | €2.00 [2] |
| UK Lotto (New 2026 Format) | 6/59 (Two-Round Draw) [3] | 45,057,474 [3] | 1 in 4.9 [3] | £2.00 [3] |
| SuperEnalotto (Italy) | 6/90 [4] | 622,614,630 [4] | 1 in 16 [4] | €1.00 [4] |
| French Loto | 5/49 + 1/10 [5] | 19,068,840 [5] | 1 in 6 [5] | €2.20 [5] |
| Vikinglotto | 6/48 + 1/5 [6] | 61,357,560 [6] | Varies by country [6] | ~€1.00 – €1.50 [6] |
| El Gordo de la Primitiva (Spain) | 5/54 + 1/9 [7] | 31,625,100 [7] | 1 in 10 [7] | €1.50 [7] |
| Irish Lotto | 6/47 [8] | 10,737,573 [8] | 1 in 29 [8] | €2.00 (min 2 lines) [8] |
| Set For Life (UK) | 5/47 + 1/10 [9] | 15,339,390 [9] | 1 in 12.4 [9] | £1.50 [9] |
| Thunderball (UK) | 5/39 + 1/14 [10] | 8,060,598 [10] | 1 in 13 [10] | £1.00 [10] |
Game Format Definitions
- Double-Matrix System
- A format where players must select numbers from two separate pools (e.g., 5/50 + 2/12). Both sets must match exactly to win the jackpot.
- Two-Round Draw (UK Lotto 2026)
- Introduced in June 2026, this format enters a single set of numbers into two consecutive, independent draws for the same ticket price, effectively doubling the chances of matching a winning combination per entry.
- Annuity Prize
- A prize paid out in regular installments over a fixed period (e.g., UK Set For Life’s £10,000 per month for 30 years) rather than as a single lump sum.
- Jackpot Cap
- The maximum limit a jackpot can reach. For EuroMillions, this is currently €250 million, with plans to increase to €300 million following the September 2026 update.
Last verified: 2026-06-26
Sources
- Wikipedia: EuroMillions
- The National Lottery: About EuroMillions
- Wikipedia: Eurojackpot
- Euro-Jackpot.net: Odds of Winning
- Allwyn: New UK Lotto Format 2026
- SuperEnalotto.net: Odds and Prizes
- Euro-Millions.com: French Loto Guide
- Viking-Lotto.net: Prize Tiers and Odds
- Loterías y Apuestas del Estado: El Gordo de la Primitiva
- National Lottery Ireland: How to Play Lotto
- The National Lottery: Set For Life Rules
- The National Lottery: Thunderball Odds