EuroJackpot
EuroJackpot is a transnational lottery run across 18 European countries. Players pick numbers from two separate pools and compete for a jackpot that frequently reaches tens of millions of euros.
Tuesday and Friday
5 from 50
2 from 12
Participating national lotteries
12 divisions
1 in 95 million (jackpot)
How the Draw Works
EuroJackpot requires you to select 5 main numbers from 1 to 50, then 2 bonus numbers (called euro numbers) from 1 to 12. Both draws happen on the same night. The order does not matter.
Matches are determined by how many of your numbers align with the draw result. You do not need to match all seven numbers to win a prize. The lowest tier pays for matching two main numbers plus one euro number.
Draws take place twice per week: Tuesday and Friday at 20:00 CET. Results are published within minutes of the draw.
Prize Structure and Odds
EuroJackpot has 12 separate prize divisions. The jackpot (Division 1) requires all 5 main numbers plus both euro numbers. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 95,344,200.
The structure descends as follows:
- Division 1: 5 main + 2 euro numbers. Odds: 1 in 95,344,200.
- Division 2: 5 main + 1 euro number. Odds: 1 in 5,952,763.
- Division 3: 5 main + 0 euro numbers. Odds: 1 in 3,870,495.
- Division 4: 4 main + 2 euro numbers. Odds: 1 in 515,830.
- Division 5: 4 main + 1 euro number. Odds: 1 in 32,239.
- Divisions 6 through 12 reward progressively smaller matches, down to 2 main numbers + 1 euro number.
The probability of winning any prize across all 12 divisions is approximately 1 in 26.4. This means roughly one in every 26 tickets returns some cash.
Prize amounts vary by draw. The jackpot grows when nobody wins Division 1. Maximum jackpots can exceed 100 million euros, though most draws sit between 10 and 50 million.
History and Regulation
EuroJackpot launched on 23 March 2012. It was the first lottery to operate across multiple European jurisdictions simultaneously under a shared pool model.
The lottery is managed by participating national lottery operators from countries including Germany, Spain, Italy, France, Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, and 11 others. Each country's lottery authority regulates ticket sales and prize payouts within its borders.
The European Lotteries Association oversees coordination between national operators to ensure consistent rules and draw mechanics.
Expected Value and Maths Context
The return to player (RTP) on EuroJackpot is approximately 50 percent. This means that across all tickets sold in a draw, players collectively receive back half of what they wagered. The other half funds prize pools for lower divisions, operator costs, and contributions to public causes.
For individual players, the expected value of a single 2-euro ticket is roughly 1 euro. Buying 100 tickets does not change your odds of the jackpot. It only increases your total stake proportionally.
Syndicates do not improve your odds of winning but do allow shared cost and shared payout. A ten-person syndicate buying 10 tickets (instead of one) costs each player 2 euros total and splits any prize won equally.
The odds of any prize (Divisions 2-12) are still long. Only 1 in 26 tickets wins anything. Only 1 in 3,870,495 wins more than 100 euros without matching the jackpot.
Draw Schedule and Timing
Draws happen every Tuesday and Friday at 20:00 CET. Ticket sales close 30 minutes before the draw in most jurisdictions, though some countries allow sales until 19:45 CET.
Results publish on the EuroJackpot website and in national lottery systems within five minutes of the draw. Winners have 90 days (in most countries) to claim prizes, though some jurisdictions allow up to 180 days.
The draws are conducted under strict security protocols by certified random number generators. Draws are televised in several participating countries.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the 5 main numbers and the 2 euro numbers?
You choose 5 numbers from a pool of 1-50. Then you choose 2 separate numbers from a smaller pool of 1-12 (the euro numbers). Both sets are drawn together on the same night. You can win prizes by matching different combinations of these two groups. For example, matching all 5 main numbers but zero euro numbers still pays a prize (Division 3).
What are the odds of winning any prize, not the jackpot?
The overall odds of winning at least something on a single EuroJackpot ticket are approximately 1 in 26. This covers all 12 prize divisions. The jackpot odds are 1 in 95,344,200. Lower divisions (matching 2 or 3 main numbers) are much more common but pay smaller amounts.
How often does the jackpot roll over?
The jackpot rolls to the next draw whenever nobody wins Division 1. Rollovers are common. Most weeks, at least one of the two draws (Tuesday or Friday) sees the jackpot carry forward. Jackpots grow rapidly during rollover sequences and frequently exceed 50 million euros.
Can I improve my odds by playing multiple tickets or joining a syndicate?
Playing more tickets increases your total chance of winning something, but not your odds per ticket. A syndicate works the same way. Ten people buying one ticket each have the same combined odds as ten people combining into one pool, but they share the cost and any prizes. The maths does not favor either approach for the jackpot.
What is the expected value of a EuroJackpot ticket?
A single 2-euro ticket has an expected value of approximately 1 euro. This means that over many plays, you should expect to recover about 50 cents per euro spent. This percentage, called the return to player (RTP), is fixed by regulation and does not change based on how many people play or how large the jackpot grows.
How long do I have to claim a EuroJackpot prize?
Most European jurisdictions allow 90 days from the draw date to claim a prize. Some countries extend this to 180 days. Check the rules in your country, as deadlines vary. Large jackpot wins typically require verification and often have additional procedures beyond simple ticket validation.
