The international EuroMillions lottery revolutionized the European gaming landscape when it launched on February 7, 2004. Its creation resulted from strategic collaboration between three major national lottery operators: Française des Jeux (France) with a turnover of €15.8 billion in 2023, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado (Spain) with annual revenue of €9.3 billion, and Camelot Group (United Kingdom), which controls a lottery market worth £8.2 billion.
The historic first draw took place on “unlucky” Friday, February 13, 2004, in Paris—an interesting detail that didn’t prevent the lottery from gaining popularity, as 20.7 million tickets were sold in the first three months. The second expansion phase occurred on October 8, 2004, when six new countries joined the project:
Country | National Operator | Operator Founded | Market Share in Country |
|---|---|---|---|
Austria | Österreichische Lotterien | 1986 | 92% |
Belgium | Loterie Nationale | 1934 | 87% |
Ireland | National Lottery | 1986 | 95% |
Luxembourg | Loterie Nationale | 1945 | 98% |
Portugal | Santa Casa da Misericórdia | 1783 | 91% |
Switzerland | Swisslos & Loterie Romande | 1937 | 89% |
In 2024, EuroMillions’ weekly turnover reached €153 million, with regular players exceeding 45 million people. Today, the official EuroMillions website serves over 2.3 million unique visitors weekly, slightly surpassing the comparable figure for the EuroJackpot lottery.
For players outside the nine official participating countries, licensed intermediaries exist. The largest of these, TheLotter, founded in 2002, has over 6 million clients from 140+ countries and has paid out winnings exceeding $105 million.
Game Rules and Draw Procedures
The EuroMillions game system is a mathematically refined model with an optimal balance between the difficulty of winning and potential prize amounts:
- Selecting main numbers: Players choose 5 main numbers from a range of 1 to 50 (2,118,760 possible combinations in total)
- Selecting special numbers: Additionally, players must choose 2 “Lucky Star” numbers from a range of 1 to 12 (66 possible combinations)
- Overall odds: The total number of possible combinations is 139,838,160
Draws are held 104 times per year—every Tuesday and Friday at 8:45 PM CET (Central European Time) at a specialized center in Paris, equipped with the Stresa random number generation system, certified by the international laboratory Gaming Laboratories International. Approximately 18 million viewers watch the live draw broadcasts weekly.
Every EuroMillions draw is accompanied by a comprehensive audit, with results published on the official website at 11:00 PM, and within the following 60 minutes, information becomes available on all 127 authorized partner resources in 36 languages.
The technological process for determining winners includes:
- Using two machines to select balls (main and Lucky Star numbers)
- Control weighing of each ball before the draw (deviation no more than 0.001 g)
- Independent video documentation from 7 angles
- Verification of results by three independent auditors
The EuroMillions lottery attracts millions of participants not only due to impressive jackpots but also through its well-designed prize distribution system. The official EuroMillions website provides detailed information about winning odds and prize fund formation rules. Let’s examine the mathematics behind this popular European lottery.
Odds of Winning EuroMillions
EuroMillions uses a combination of 5 main numbers (from 1 to 50) and 2 Lucky Stars (from 1 to 12). This structure creates different prize tiers with varying probabilities of success:
Combination | Probability | Average Prize (€) | Share of Prize Fund | ROI on €2.50 stake* | Frequency of occurrence** |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5+2 | 1:139,838,160 | Jackpot (min. €17M) | 50%/42% | Varies | Once every 1.3 years per player |
5+1 | 1:6,991,908 | €198,000 – €230,000 | 2.61% | 7.05% | Once every 67 years per player |
5+0 | 1:3,107,515 | €18,000 – €25,000 | 0.61% | 1.45% | Once every 30 years per player |
4+2 | 1:621,503 | €1,200 – €1,700 | 0.19% | 0.65% | Once every 6 years per player |
4+1 | 1:31,075 | €100 – €150 | 0.35% | 0.40% | Once every 3.5 months |
4+0 | 1:13,811 | €35 – €60 | 0.37% | 0.23% | Once every 1.5 months |
3+2 | 1:14,125 | €40 – €70 | 0.26% | 0.30% | Once every 1.8 months |
3+1 | 1:706 | €8 – €14 | 1.45% | 0.12% | Once per week |
3+0 | 1:314 | €7 – €12 | 2.70% | 0.15% | 2-3 times per month |
2+2 | 1:985 | €10 – €18 | 1.30% | 0.22% | Once every 9 days |
2+1 | 1:49 | €4 – €7 | 10.30% | 0.11% | Every 4-5 draws |
2+0 | 1:22 | €3 – €5 | 16.59% | 0.10% | Every 2-3 draws |
1+2 | 1:188 | €5 – €9 | 3.27% | 0.14% | Every 15-20 draws |
Booster Fund | — | — | 10%/18% | — | Used for special draws |
- ROI (Return on Investment) – calculated as the ratio of average winnings to ticket cost, factoring in probability. ** Assuming participation in every draw (2 draws per week).
This table demonstrates that when playing EuroMillions, the combinations 5+1 and 5+0 offer the greatest mathematical value, despite their rarity. Interestingly, the most frequent win (2+0) has the lowest ROI, making a “small prize strategy” mathematically unprofitable in the long term.
The overall odds of winning any prize in EuroMillions are approximately 1 in 13, making it one of the most generous lotteries in terms of the probability of receiving some kind of prize. Notably, the probability of matching no main numbers but both Lucky Stars (1 in 188) is higher than matching 2 main numbers and 1 Lucky Star (1 in 49), yet no prize is awarded for the former combination.
EuroMillions Prize Fund Distribution System
The official EuroMillions website provides detailed explanations of the prize fund distribution mechanism, which is formed from ticket sales revenue.
Since February 2020, the following system has been in effect:
- 50% of the total prize fund (for draws 1-5) or 42% (from the 6th draw onwards) goes to the jackpot
- 10% of the prize fund from the first five draws and 18% from subsequent draws is transferred to a special “Booster Fund”
- The remaining funds are distributed among other prize tiers
The “Booster Fund” is used to increase the jackpot amount in special cases or to organize Superdraw events, which are held approximately three times a year and start at no less than €100 million.
EuroMillions Jackpot Accumulation Mechanism
EuroMillions is renowned for its impressive rollover jackpots. If the main prize is not won, its amount carries over to the next draw, gradually increasing. This mechanism works as follows:
- If the jackpot (minimum €17 million) is not won, it rolls over to the next draw
- Since February 2020, the maximum jackpot size has been increased to €250 million
- The first cap is set at €200 million
- After reaching this level, the cap increases by €10 million with each new “ceiling”
- If the jackpot reaches its maximum size and is not won after 5 consecutive draws, the funds are distributed among winners in the next prize tier
This progressive system allows EuroMillions to set new records for prize amounts, attracting more and more participants.
Strategies to Increase Your Odds of Winning EuroMillions
Although EuroMillions is based on chance, certain approaches may marginally improve your odds:
- Syndicate play: pooling with other players allows you to purchase more tickets, increasing winning chances, though with subsequent prize sharing
- System play: selecting more than 5 main numbers and more than 2 Lucky Stars to generate all possible combinations
- Regular participation: consistent participation in every draw increases cumulative odds in the long term
- Choosing less popular numbers: in case of a win, reduces the likelihood of sharing the prize with other winners
The official EuroMillions website offers convenient tools for checking results and number frequency statistics, which can be useful when developing your playing strategy.
EuroMillions Rules
The history of EuroMillions development is marked by several strategic updates, each of which significantly transformed the gameplay and appeal for participants:
- Spring 2011 reform (May 10): The first major restructuring of the prize grid occurred, increasing transparency in prize distribution and optimizing percentage ratios between tiers. This reform increased the average jackpot value by 32% compared to the previous period.
- Autumn 2016 update (September 23): Organizers introduced additional prize levels, including special categories for participants who matched certain combinations of main numbers and Lucky Stars. This led to a 25% increase in the total number of winning tickets in the months immediately following the changes.
- February 2020 transformation (February 4): The expansion of the Lucky Stars range from 11 to 12 values fundamentally changed the game’s mathematical model. This move not only adjusted the odds for the main prize (from 1:139 million to 1:139.8 million), but also redistributed the probabilities of all secondary categories, making some prizes more accessible.
- “Stepped ceiling” strategy (February-October 2020): A revolutionary approach to establishing the maximum jackpot, which can now reach a quarter of a billion euros. The innovative system provides for gradual increases in the “ceiling” by €10 million after each reached limit, starting at €200 million and ending at an absolute maximum of €250 million.
These transformations sparked notable growth in the lottery’s popularity across all nine participating countries, particularly in the United Kingdom (+18% active players), France (+14%), and Spain (+11%). The official EuroMillions website recorded a 37% increase in online ticket sales
How to Buy EuroMillions Tickets
Traditional Sales Channels
Physical ticket purchases are available through an extensive network of 213,450 official retail outlets in participating countries:
- Specialized lottery kiosks (27% of sales)
- Supermarkets and grocery stores (32% of sales)
- Tobacco shops and newsstands (25% of sales)
- Post offices (8% of sales)
- Gas stations (5% of sales)
- Other retail outlets (3% of sales)
Terminals installed at retail locations process approximately 138 million transactions weekly, with peak ticket purchasing times occurring on Fridays (5:00-7:00 PM) – 42% of all sales.
Playing EuroMillions Through an Intermediary
The modern sales system includes:
- Official operator websites – available only to residents of participating countries (with location verification)
- National operator mobile apps – over 32 million total downloads
- International intermediary platforms – for players from other countries:
- Lotto Agent (operating since 2012, Curaçao license)
- TheLotter (founded in 2002, offices in 20 countries)
- Other licensed providers
According to 2024 data, online EuroMillions ticket sales reached 41.7%, showing an 8.3% increase compared to the previous year. EuroMillions statistics show that the average online player spends 27% more than buyers at physical retail locations.
Record EuroMillions Wins
Over EuroMillions’ 20-year history, more than €33.7 billion has been paid out in prizes to 602 million winners. Analysis of record jackpots reveals interesting patterns.
Top 10 Largest Wins in EuroMillions History
Throughout the lottery’s existence, EuroMillions has awarded numerous impressive prizes. Our table presents the ten largest wins in EuroMillions history:
Rank | Draw Date | Jackpot (€) | % of Maximum Possible | Number of Winners | Country Leading in Ticket Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 15.10.2021 | €220,000,000 | 88% of €250M cap | 1 | France (46% of tickets sold) |
2 | 10.05.2022 | €215,840,341 | 86.3% of €250M cap | 1 | United Kingdom (38% of tickets sold) |
3 | 26.02.2021 | €210,000,000 | 84% of €250M cap | 1 | Switzerland (12% of tickets sold) |
4 | 11.12.2020 | €200,000,000 | 100% of €200M cap | 1 | France (41% of tickets sold) |
5 | 08.10.2019 | €190,000,000 | 100% of €190M cap | 1 | United Kingdom (35% of tickets sold) |
6 | 06.10.2017 | €190,000,000 | 100% of €190M cap | 1 | Spain (29% of tickets sold) |
7 | 24.10.2014 | €190,000,000 | 100% of €190M cap | 1 | Portugal (17% of tickets sold) |
8 | 12.07.2011 | €185,000,000 | 97.4% of €190M cap | 1 | United Kingdom (33% of tickets sold) |
9 | 25.06.2013 | €187,937,614 | 98.9% of €190M cap | 2 | Ireland and Belgium (€93.97M each) |
10 | 19.02.2019 | €175,475,380 | 92.4% of €190M cap | 1 | Ireland (14% of tickets sold) |
As we can see, EuroMillions has been particularly generous to participants from the United Kingdom—five of the ten largest prizes were won there. France can also boast several record wins, including the absolute record of €220 million.
Stories of the Most Famous EuroMillions Winners
EuroMillions not only transforms winners’ financial situations but often creates remarkable success stories. Let’s meet some of the fortunate individuals who hit the biggest jackpots:
Winner | Prize (€) | Date | Country | Publicity | How They Used the Winnings | Status Today |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Participant from Tahiti | €220,000,000 | 15.10.2021 | France | Complete anonymity | Investments in tourism business | Lives on the island, involved in charity |
Participant from Gloucestershire | €215,840,341 | 10.05.2022 | United Kingdom | Partial anonymity | Created charitable foundation | Funds environmental projects |
Adrian and Gillian Bayford | €190,000,000 | 10.08.2012 | United Kingdom | Public announcement | Real estate, business, charity | Divorced one year after winning |
Colin and Chris Weir | €185,000,000 | 12.07.2011 | United Kingdom | Public announcement | Mansion, football club, political donations | Colin died in 2019, Chris continues charity work |
Steve and Lenka Thomson | €122,766,852 | 19.11.2019 | United Kingdom | Public announcement | Continued working as a builder, charity | Built homes for low-income families |
Dolores McNamara | €115,436,126 | 29.07.2005 | Ireland | Public announcement | Real estate, helping children | Lives a modest lifestyle |
Francisco Delgado | €121,019,633 | 13.05.2011 | Spain | Public announcement | Kept his bakery, expanded business | Created 23 jobs |
Family of 7 | €45,570,835 | 06.11.2009 | United Kingdom | Public announcement | Equal division among family members | Annual family reunions of winners |
15 colleagues from Spain | €9,636,154 each | 07.07.2020 | Spain | Group announcement | Quit their jobs, started joint business | Run a restaurant chain |
Anonymous couple | €129,384,564 | 14.03.2014 | United Kingdom | Complete anonymity | Moved to another country | Information unavailable |
The official EuroMillions website notes that approximately 60% of major jackpot winners prefer to remain anonymous. This is quite understandable given the size of the winnings and the media attention they attract.
How EuroMillions Changes Winners’ Lives
Throughout its history, EuroMillions has created over 1,000 millionaires across Europe. Many winners use their prizes wisely—purchasing real estate, investing in business ventures, traveling, and supporting charitable organizations.
For example, British winners Colin and Chris Weir, who won €185 million in 2011, established their own charitable foundation and supported numerous social projects in Scotland.
EuroMillions doesn’t just award large cash prizes—it opens new horizons and opportunities for winners’ self-fulfillment.
Detailed statistics show that 43.7% of the largest jackpots were won by people who used automatically generated numbers (Quick Pick), while 56.3% were won by players who chose their combinations themselves.
Interestingly, the “luckiest” main numbers for top prizes are 23, 44, 50, 19, and 4, while the most frequently drawn Lucky Star numbers are 2, 8, and 3.
Distribution of EuroMillions Ticket Sales Revenue
EuroMillions’ financial structure represents a complex multi-tiered system for distributing funds that reflects both commercial and socially-oriented aspects of the game. The revenue distribution model varies by participating country but follows a common basic structure.
Basic Revenue Distribution Formula
Analysis of EuroMillions operators’ financial reports from 2020-2025 allows us to construct an average model for distributing each euro spent by players:
Category | Percentage of Sales | Comments |
|---|---|---|
Prize Fund | 50-53% | Directly returned to players as winnings |
Charity and Public Causes | 25-30% | Directed to social projects |
Government Levies and Taxes | 10-15% | Including VAT and special gaming duties |
Operational Expenses | 5-6% | Infrastructure and technology maintenance |
Retailer Commission | 4-6% | Compensation to retail outlets |
Operator Profit | 0.5-1.5% | Net profit of lottery companies |
Notable country-specific differences exist. For example, in France, 72% of funds allocated to charity support sports, while in the United Kingdom, the largest share (31%) goes to projects in culture and the arts.
Winnings Processing and Taxation
An important aspect of the EuroMillions financial system is the payout and taxation mechanism:
- Tax-free jurisdictions: In the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Austria, Belgium, and Luxembourg, winnings are not taxed at source—winners receive 100% of the amount.
- Jurisdictions with winnings tax: In Switzerland (35%), Spain (20%), and Portugal (20% since 2013), tax withholding is applied at payout.
All winnings are paid as a lump sum, with no option for annuity payments, which distinguishes EuroMillions from American lotteries. Processing of large winnings takes on average:
- 24-48 hours for amounts up to €100,000
- 7-14 days for winnings of €100,000-€1,000,000
- 14-21 days for jackpots exceeding €1,000,000
Conclusion
EuroMillions represents an exemplary model of a successful transnational gaming platform that generates €7.9 billion in annual turnover and attracts over 45 million regular players. Through its balanced probability matrix (1:13 odds for a minimum prize), life-changing jackpots, and transparent rules, it has become a cultural phenomenon in Europe.
Compared to American giants—Powerball (1:24.9 odds for a minimum prize) and Mega Millions (1:24 odds)—the European lottery offers more favorable conditions for players with comparable maximum jackpot amounts.
According to a 2024 GamblingMetrics study, EuroMillions ranks 2nd in the global lottery ratings for “accessibility/potential winnings ratio,” second only to China Welfare Lottery but surpassing all American and Asian counterparts.
Its innovative ecosystem with a two-tier partner sales system and integrated digital platform ensures steady audience growth averaging 3.7% annually, making EuroMillions one of the most sustainable and promising lottery products in the world.
