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Lotto Knowledge 04 October 2022
Which lottery gives you the best chance of winning?
Find out which lottery has the best odds of hitting the jackpot
Table of Contents:
- WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF WINNING THE LOTTERY?
- WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF WINNING ANY LOTTERY PRIZE
- WHAT ARE THE ODDS OF BECOMING A MILLIONAIRE ON THE LOTTERY?
- WHICH LOTTERY HAS THE BEST JACKPOT ODDS
- THE BIGGEST LOTTERY JACKPOTS
- WHICH LOTTERY HAS THE WORST ODDS
- HOW TO CALCULATE LOTTERY ODDS
- CHOOSING A LOTTERY FOR YOU
What are the chances of winning the lottery?
- The lottery with the best odds of winning a jackpot worth over €1.1 million is the Spanish Christmas Lottery El Gordo with odds of 1 in 100,000
- The lottery with the best odds of winning a jackpot worth over €11 million is the Swedish Lottery with odds of 1 in 6,724,520
- The odds of winning the Irish Lotto jackpot are 1 in 10,737,573
- The lottery with the best chance of winning a jackpot worth over €114 million is EuroMillions with odds of 1 in 139,838,160 (not available at Lottoland).
- The next best lottery with the chance of winning a jackpot worth over €114 million is EuroJackpot with odds of 1 in 139,838,160 too!
- The lottery with the best odds of winning a prize is the French Lotto with odds of 1 in 5.99
- The lottery with the worst odds of winning the jackpot is SuperEnaLotto with odds of 1 in 622,614,630
- The lottery with the worst odds of winning any prize is Brazilian Mega Sena with odds of 1 in 2,298
What are the odds of winning any lottery prize?
Although it's the huge jackpots that tend to make the headlines, it's worth remembering that there are some fantastic lower-tier prizes of considerable value to be won and the probability of winning one of these prizes is not as remote as you may think. Some of these lower-tier prizes can still be substantial amounts of money and don't take as much luck to win as the jackpots. Even if you only win your money back, at least it's better than nothing!
As shown in the table below, the chances of winning any prize on many international lotteries are relatively good. Some of the most popular lotteries in Europe offer very favourable odds such as the French Lotto at 1 in 5.99, the Spanish Lotto (La Primitiva - used for comparison purposes only) at 1 in 6.16 and the Spanish Christmas Gordo (El Gordo de Navidad) at 1 in 10. Whilst most people would not consider winning one of these smaller prizes "winning the lottery" as such, it can still be a nice little surprise.
| Odds of Winning Any Prize | |
|---|---|
| Lottery | Odds |
| French Lotto | 1 : 5.99 |
| Spanish Lotto | 1 : 6.16 |
| Christmas El Gordo | 1 : 10* |
| Austrian Lotto | 1 : 12 |
| EuroMillions | 1 : 13 |
| Mega Millions | 1 : 13 |
| SuperEnalotto (Italy) | 1 : 20** |
| Powerball (US) | 1 : 24.9 |
| EuroJackpot | 1 : 32 |
| Irish Lotto | 1 : 29 |
| South African Lotto | 1 : 36 |
| Quina (Brazil) | 1 : 36 |
| Swedish Lotto | 1 : 55 |
| Polish Lotto | 1 : 57 |
| German Lotto | 1 : 63 |
| MINI Lotto (Poland) | 1 : 124 |
| Mega-Sena (Brazil) | 1 : 2,298 |
*The Christmas El Gordo jackpot is split up into ten shares (décimos), each share is worth €400,000 which is then subject to 20% tax, therefore the first prize would be €360,000.
**When playing with the SuperStar option.
What are the odds of becoming a millionaire on the lottery?
What are the odds of winning a more significant prize on some of the other higher tiers? As can be seen in the table below the odds of winning these bigger prize tiers varies significantly between lotteries and can often provide a substantial payout without having to match all of the winning numbers.
For example, the odds of becoming a millionaire on Powerball are much better than on Mega Millions. And the Irish Lottery has better odds of winning than the UK National Lotto, often with comparable payouts.
| Odds of winning other prizes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Lottery | Prize | Odds | Match |
| Powerball (US) | $1 million | 1 : 11,688,053.52 | 5 |
| $50,000 | 1 : 913,129 | 4 + Powerball | |
| Mega Millions (US) | $ 1 million | 1 : 12,607,306 | 5 |
| $10,000 | 1 : 931,001 | 4 + Mega Ball | |
| $500 | 1 : 38,792 | 4 | |
| EuroMillions | €344,559 | 1 : 6,991,908 | 5 + 1 Lucky Star |
| €26,078 | 1 : 3,107,515 | 5 | |
| €1,310 | 1 : 621,503 | 4 + 2 Lucky Stars | |
| EuroJackpot | €968,175 | 1 : 6,991,908 | 5 + 1 |
| €23,041 | 1 : 3,107,515 | 5 | |
| SuperEnalotto (Italy) | €599,163.79 | 1 : 103,769,103 | 5 +Jolly |
| €50,626.19 | 1 : 1,250,230 | 5 | |
Which Lottery Has the Best Jackpot Odds?
Everyone wants to hit the jackpot and win the big prize. However, jackpot sizes and the odds of winning vary widely and unsurprisingly, generally the bigger the top prize is the harder it is to win.
The lottery jackpot with the best odds is the Spanish Christmas Lottery (Sorteo Extraordinario de Navidad) which is more of a giant national raffle than a lottery, with the top prize known as "El Gordo" or "the Fat One" set at €4 million. However, bets on this annual lottery are split up and sold in shares of ten known as décimos and one would need to purchase 10 shares of the same number to win the full jackpot, making it significantly more expensive than other entries on the list. The chances of winning the jackpot are unrivalled though at 1 in 100,00.
Of all the lotteries with draws on a weekly basis the Polish Mini Lotto has the best odds but with relatively small, fixed jackpots. The Austrian, Polish and Irish Lottos are all good options that balance price, jackpot size and chances of winning.
For jackpots that have gone beyond the incredible sum of €1.1 billion the US Powerball lottery has slightly better odds of winning than Mega Millions.
| Probability of winning the lottery | |
|---|---|
| Lottery | Jackpot Odds |
| Christmas El Gordo | 1 : 100,000 |
| Malta Lotto | 1 : 784,808 |
| Mini Lotto (Poland) | 1 : 850,668 |
| Austrian Lotto | 1 : 8,145,060 |
| Super 5 | 1 : 1,221,759 |
| Superstar | 1 : 2,272,424 |
| Irish Lotto | 1 : 10,737,573 |
| Polish Lotto | 1 : 13,983,816 |
| French Lotto | 1 : 19,068,840 |
| Quina (Brazil) | 1 : 24,040,016 |
| South African Lotto | 1 : 31,625,100 |
| MegaSena (Brazil) | 1 : 50,063,860 |
| EuroJackpot | 1 : 139,838,160 |
| Euromillions | 1 : 139,838,160 |
| Spanish Lotto | 1 : 139,838,160 |
| Swedish Lotto | 1 : 139,838,160 |
| German Lotto | 1 : 139,838,160 |
| Powerball (US) | 1 : 292,201,338 |
| Mega Millions (US) | 1 : 302,573,350 |
| SuperEnalotto (Italy) | 1 : 622,614,630 |
The biggest lottery jackpots
It's the very first thing any lottery fan wants to know – how big is the jackpot?
Well, wonder no more. In the table below you'll find a full list of all available lotteries to bet on at Lottoland (excluding EuroMillions and the Spanish Lotto, which are used for comparison purposes only) with all their record jackpots.
| The Biggest Lottery Jackpots | |
|---|---|
| Lottery | Jackpots |
| Powerball (US) | $1.586 billion |
| Mega Millions (US) | $1.5377 billion |
| EuroMillions | €230 million |
| SuperEnalotto (Italy) | €209.1 million |
| EuroJackpot | €110.2 million |
| Mega-Sena (Brazil) | R$289 million |
| Quina (Brazil) | R$20 million |
| Spanish Lotto | €26.2 million |
| Swedish Lotto | kr237 million |
| Irish Lotto | €18.9 million |
| Austrian Lotto | €14.9 million |
| South African Lotto | R232 million |
| Polish Lotto | zł57.8 million |
| Christmas El Gordo | €4 million |
| MINI Lotto (Poland) | zł366,518 |
| French Lotto | €24 million |
Which Lottery Has the Worst Odds?
When it comes to winning any prize, the Brazilian Mega-Sena offers the worst odds of any major lottery at 1 in 2,298 as there are only three main prize tiers, although the odds of winning the jackpot are better than EuroMillions, PowerBall and MegaMillions.
With regards to winning a major jackpot, the SuperEnalotto of Italy ranks lowest amongst the world’s biggest lotteries with odds of 1 in 622,614,630. It must be said though, that this is a hugely popular lottery and there are great odds of winning any prize, as low as 1 in 16 if using the Super Star Option. The biggest SuperEnalotto record jackpot currently stands at €209.1 Million, just €900,000 shy of the Euromillions record of €210 million.
How To Calculate Lottery Odds?
In order to calculate lottery odds, the following formula can be used:
where n = the total amount of possible numbers to choose from, r = the amount of numbers chosen and ! is the factorial.
FINDING THE PROBABILITY
Before we divulge the odds of the various lotteries we are going to look at, let’s look a bit closer into the formula which we used above and explain by using a few examples:
STEP 1: IDENTIFY THE BASICS
To work out the exact odds of any lottery requires two things: the total amount of balls that appear in each draw, and the range of numbers that players have to choose from.
STEP 2: CRUNCH THE NUMBERS
If you have a lottery with 6 balls ranging between 1 and 50, you would proceed as follows:
Equation 1: 6/50 = 0.12 (this is the likelihood that one of the first 6 picks will match with your first number)
Equation 2: 5/49 = ~0.10 (this is the likelihood that one of the 5 remaining balls will match with your second number)
Equation 3: 4/48 = 0.08 (the probability of ball 4 matching your third number)
Equation 4: 3/47 = ~0.06 (probability that the 3rd remaining ball will match your fourth number)
Equation 5: 2/46 = ~0.04 (probability of one of the last two picks matching your fifth number)
Equation 6: 1/45 = 0.02 (the likelihood of the final pick matching your last number)
Note: ~ means an approximation
Essentially, your first equation is the highest available number in the lottery's range divided by the total amount of balls that are drawn, then proceed down in descending order until you reach number 1.
To find your overall chance of winning, simply multiply the results of all the equations made in step 2 together, and this will give the probability of claiming the jackpot.
For our example, the answer would be ~0.0000000629.
STEP 3: PROBABILITY
To find your overall chance of winning, simply multiply the results of all the equations made in step 2 together, and this will give the probability of claiming the jackpot.
For our example, the answer would be ~0.0000000629.
STEP 4: TELL ME THE ODDS
The final step is to simply divide the number generated in step 3 by 1.
1 / 0.0000000629 = 15,890,700
Therefore the odds on you winning a 6 ball lottery with a number range of 1 to 50 is 1 : 15,890,700
Choosing A Lottery For You
There are many factors to keep in mind when choosing the right lottery for you. The good news is that, at Lottoland, we go the extra mile to ensure our customers are as well informed about each lottery as possible. So be sure to check out our extensive FAQs (simply click on the Help & FAQ button on the top right) on each lottery page for vital information including prizes, odds, rules, detailed instructions on how to make your bets, plus tips on how to win.
There are also some great Lottoland exclusive lotteries to bet on for our Matlese customers. Since we’re on the subject, here’s a look at some of the amazing jackpots to be won and the odds to win them.
EuroMillions
A well loved lotto, the EuroMillions, is availble for you to bet on at Lottoland with the chance of winning the same prizes and jackpots! Draws take place every Tuesday and Fridays. Shown below is the breakdown of Europe's biggest draw.
| EuroMillions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prize Tiers | Odds of winning | Prize amount |
| Match 5 numbers + 2 stars | 1 in 139,838,160 | €41 million |
| Match 5 numbers + 1 star | 1 in 6,991,908 | €149,455* |
| Match 5 numbers | 1 in 3,107,515 | €15,526* |
| Match 4 numbers + 2 stars | 1 in 621,503 | €967* |
| Match 4 numbers + 1 star | 1 in 31,076 | €89.10* |
| Match 3 numbers + 2 stars | 1 in 14,126 | €43.17* |
| Match 4 numbers | 1 in 13,812 | €29.31* |
| Match 2 numbers + 2 stars | 1 in 986 | €10.42* |
| Match 3 numbers + 1 star | 1 in 707 | €8.35* |
| Match 3 numbers | 1 in 314 | €6.87* |
| Match 1 number + 2 stars | 1 in 188 | €4.92* |
| Match 2 numbers + 1 star | 1 in 50 | €4.12* |
| Match 2 numbers | 1 in 22 | €2.86* |
SuperEnalotto
If you dream of winning a super massive jackpot, Lottoland also offers you the chance to play the SuperEnalotto with a chance to win millions three times a week!
| SuperEnalotto | ||
|---|---|---|
| Prize Tiers | Odds of winning | Prize amount |
| Match 6 numbers | 1 in 622,614,630 | €49.9 million |
| Match 5 numbers + the bonus | 1 in 103,769,105 | €250,000 |
| Match 5 numbers | 1 in 250,230 | €25,000 |
| Match 4 numbers | 1 in 11,907 | €250 |
| Match 3 numbers | 1 in 327 | €25 |
| Match 2 numbers | 1 in 22 | €2.50 |
| Match 1 number | 1 in 3 | €0.50 |
There are many more lottos available for you to play on from Malta. So goodluck and have fun and may you beat the chances of winning the lottery with Lottoland!
*Amounts shown in EUR are according to the exchange rate of 03/10/2022
Last updated: 03rd October 2022
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What I Cover: I love diving into the exciting world of international lotteries and keeping you in the loop with the freshest updates, the juiciest jackpot wins, and any cool changes happening with the draws. I'm also your go-to person for honest reviews of all the latest casino games. I'll let you know which games are packing the biggest jackpots and the most fun, giving you the lowdown on the themes, special features, and what the gameplay is like.
When it comes to sports, I've got your back. I break down all the ins and outs of different sports and show you how to make smart bets online. And hey, if you're into bingo, I've got tips and tricks to make your online bingo experience a total blast.
My Background: I have been deeply immersed in the realms of lotteries, casinos, and sports since 2021, capturing the ever-evolving landscape of these dynamic industries. With an astute focus on the pulse of the gaming world, I have closely monitored the shifts, trends, and innovations shaping the experiences of enthusiasts worldwide. Prior to my venture into the world of content creation, I pursued a degree in marketing, harnessing its insights to infuse creativity into my work and ensure my readers remain thoroughly engaged and informed.
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