EuroMillions Questions and Answers
Find out the answers to all your EuroMillions questions below, from information about playing the game after Brexit to whether you can take part from another country. You can also contact us if there’s anything else you want to know about the game.
When do draws take place?
EuroMillions draws are held every Tuesday and Friday night at approximately 8:00pm. A full breakdown of prizes is released later in the evening.
What time do ticket sales close?
The EuroMillions cut-off time is 7:30pm on draw days. If you miss this deadline, you must wait until sales reopen for the next draw later that evening at approximately 9.00pm. You can purchase tickets at any time on other days.
Did anyone win Friday's EuroMillions jackpot?
No, the £161,692,181 jackpot was not won, so that means there's a £173,000,000 jackpot up for grabs in the next draw.
How do I play EuroMillions?
You play EuroMillions by selecting five main numbers from 1 to 50, plus two Lucky Stars between 1 and 12. Choose your own numbers or play a Lucky Dip. The game is available online or at authorised retailers. See the How to Play page for step-by-step instructions.
Can I enter multiple draws in advance?
Yes. You can enter up to eight consecutive draws in advance by selecting to play on both Tuesdays and Fridays for the maximum of four weeks. If you are playing online, you can also set up to play continuously.
Can I play EuroMillions abroad?
Yes, you can play EuroMillions from overseas. EuroMillions tickets are sold in nine countries - Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, as well as the UK. You have to claim any prizes won in the country where you bought your ticket.
Can I play online from outside the UK?
You don't have to be located in one of the participating EuroMillions countries to enjoy the game. You can also choose numbers from many other nations around the world thanks to online concierge and betting services. Go to the Playing from Overseas page to find out more.
Can UK residents still play EuroMillions after Brexit?
Yes, UK residents can still play EuroMillions and will not have to leave the game because of the decision to leave the European Union. EuroMillions is organised by the official lottery operators of the participating countries, not the respective governments, so membership of the EU is not a prerequisite for playing EuroMillions.
How do I win prizes?
You win prizes if your selected numbers are the same as the winning numbers. There are 13 different prize categories, from matching two main numbers right up to the jackpot for matching all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars.
What are the odds of winning?
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 139,838,160. The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 13.
Why aren't the prize amounts the same every time?
The prize amounts are calculated on pari-mutuel basis, so a percentage of the overall prize fund is allocated to each of the 13 categories and is then split between winners in each category. Go to the Prizes page for more information.
Is there a minimum jackpot?
The jackpot starts at a minimum of €17 million (approximately £15 million). If there are no tickets that match all the numbers, the jackpot rolls over to the following draw and an even larger amount will be offered in the next game.
What happens if the EuroMillions jackpot is not won?
If no ticket holders match all five numbers and both Lucky Stars in a particular draw the jackpot rolls over and increases in value for the following draw. The maximum EuroMillions jackpot is €250 million, so although there is no limit to the number of rollovers allowed, the jackpot cannot go any higher than that.
Once the top prize reaches €250 million, funds which would normally boost it higher are added to the next tier in which there are winners, usually the Match 5 + 1 Lucky Star category. The jackpot can only stay at this level for four draws, then it must be won in the fifth draw at the jackpot cap. The Jackpot Cap page explains more about how it works.
What should I do if I win EuroMillions?
If you win a EuroMillions jackpot the first thing you need to do is contact the National Lottery to let them know you have the winning ticket. They will guide you through the claim process and will arrange an appointment to validate the ticket. You have 180 days from the date of the winning draw to claim your prize.
If you bought a ticket from a retailer it's very important to keep it safe, as the National Lottery will need it to be able to validate the win. Things get a lot more complicated if you lose the winning ticket or it gets damaged to the point where it can't be verified.
If you played online you won't need to worry about this; you'll just need to log in to your player account, where a very welcome message about your win should be waiting for you. You’ll then just need to contact the National Lottery to begin the claim process.
Are prizes tax-free?
UK players receive EuroMillions prizes as a tax-free lump sum. However, taxation varies a lot for overseas players, depending on where you are playing the lottery and your own personal circumstances, so it is advised that you seek out independent financial advice.
What are the Lucky Stars?
The Lucky Stars are the two extra numbers that you must choose to play EuroMillions. They are drawn from a separate pool of 12 numbers, meaning that some numbers can appear twice in the same draw – once as a main number and then again as a Lucky Star. The Lucky Stars create extra EuroMillions prize tiers, and you must match all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars to win the jackpot.
How long do I have to claim a prize?
If you buy your ticket in the UK, you must come forward to claim your prize within 180 days. The method for claiming your prize depends on how much you have won, and whether or not you played in-store or online.
What is a Superdraw?
A Superdraw is a special draw in which the jackpot is increased to a guaranteed amount, regardless of whether or not it was won in the previous draw. Superdraws are usually announced several weeks in advance and the jackpot is set at a figure such as €120 million or €130 million. The extra money for Superdraws comes from the EuroMillions Reserve Fund, which receives a percentage of the prize fund in every draw.
Who have been the biggest EuroMillions winners?
The biggest EuroMillions winner so far has been a player from Austria who scooped £206 million (€240 million) on Friday 8th December 2023. The largest win ever claimed in the UK was worth £195 million (€230 million) and was won on Tuesday 19th July 2022.
What is Millionaire Maker?
Millionaire Maker is a supplementary game that is exclusive to the UK. You are automatically entered when you buy a ticket, and you receive one random code for each line of EuroMillions numbers you select. At least one winning code is drawn on the night, and if you match this code exactly you will receive £1 million.
Are my Millionaire Maker raffle codes checked when I play online?
If you play online, you are notified of any Millionaire Maker win just as you would be if you won a prize in the main EuroMillions draw. If you buy a ticket from a retailer, you must check the winning code yourself – you can do so on the ticket checker page.
What is EuroMillions HotPicks?
EuroMillions HotPicks is a game that can be played separately to the main draw, but the same winning numbers are used. You can enter for £1.50, and must decide whether to pick one, two, three, four or five numbers. The difference is that you must match all the numbers you pick to win the associated prize. The reward for the Pick 1 game is £10, while for Pick 5 it is £1 million.