If you’ve ever wondered what are the odds of winning the lottery, the answer depends on which lottery you’re playing and which prize you’re trying to win.
Different lottery games use different numbers of balls, additional numbers and prize structures. That means the odds of winning the jackpot can vary significantly between games.
For Irish players, popular draw-based games include Lotto, EuroMillions, Daily Million and EuroDreams. Each has its own rules and odds.
NetBet Casino looks at how they compare…
How Do Lottery Odds Work?
Lottery odds are based on the mathematical probability of a particular combination being drawn.
In a typical number lottery, players select a certain number of numbers from a larger pool. The more possible combinations there are, the less likely any single combination is to be selected.
Importantly, lottery odds don’t change because you’ve played before.
Each draw is a new event, and previous winning numbers don’t make particular numbers more or less likely to appear in the next draw.
The Irish National Lottery states that the odds remain the same each time a game is played.
What Are the Odds of Winning the Irish Lotto?
Irish Lotto currently involves selecting six numbers from 1 to 45. Six main numbers and one Bonus number are drawn.
The jackpot requires matching all six main numbers.
The current jackpot odds are:
| Result | Approximate odds |
|---|---|
| 6 numbers | 1 in 8,145,060 |
| 5 + Bonus | 1 in 1,357,510 |
| 5 | 1 in 35,724 |
| 4 + Bonus | 1 in 14,290 |
| 4 | 1 in 772 |
| 3 + Bonus | 1 in 579 |
| 2 + Bonus | 1 in 64 |
| 3 | 1 in 48 |
The odds of winning any Lotto prize are approximately 1 in 25.4 for Lotto alone.
The Lotto jackpot therefore has considerably longer odds than winning one of the smaller prize categories.
What Are the Odds of Winning EuroMillions?
EuroMillions uses a larger number pool than Irish Lotto.
Players select five numbers from 1 to 50 and two Lucky Stars from 1 to 12.
To win the jackpot, you need to match all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars.
The jackpot odds are approximately:
1 in 139,838,160
Other prize combinations have significantly shorter odds. For example:
- 5 numbers + 1 Lucky Star: 1 in 6,991,908
- 5 numbers: 1 in 3,107,515
- 4 numbers + 2 Lucky Stars: 1 in 621,503
- 3 numbers + 2 Lucky Stars: 1 in 14,125
- 2 numbers + 2 Lucky Stars: 1 in 985
Overall, the odds of winning any EuroMillions prize are approximately 1 in 13.
Irish EuroMillions players are also automatically entered into the Ireland Only Raffle, which offers additional prizes.
What Are the Odds of Winning Daily Million?
Daily Million is another Irish draw game.
Players select six numbers from 1 to 39, while six main numbers and one Bonus number are drawn.
The jackpot odds are approximately:
1 in 3,262,623
Other prize odds include:
- 5 + Bonus: 1 in 543,771
- 5: 1 in 16,993
- 4 + Bonus: 1 in 6,797
- 4: 1 in 439
- 3 + Bonus: 1 in 329
- 3: 1 in 33
The odds of winning any Daily Million prize are approximately 1 in 28.
What Are the Odds of Winning EuroDreams?
EuroDreams has a different prize structure from traditional jackpot lotteries.
Players choose six numbers from 1 to 40 and one Dream Number from 1 to 5. The top prize is paid as regular instalments rather than as a single lump sum.
The jackpot odds are approximately:
1 in 19,191,900
The next tier, matching all six main numbers without the Dream Number, has odds of approximately 1 in 4,797,975.
Other prize tiers include:
| Match | Approximate odds |
|---|---|
| 6 + Dream Number | 1 in 19,191,900 |
| 6 | 1 in 4,797,975 |
| 5 | 1 in 18,815.59 |
| 4 | 1 in 456.14 |
| 3 | 1 in 32.07 |
| 2 | 1 in 5.52 |
The overall odds of winning any EuroDreams prize are approximately 1 in 4.66.
Which Lottery Has the Best Odds?
This all depends on the specific meaning of ‘best odds’.
If you’re comparing jackpot odds, Daily Million currently has considerably shorter jackpot odds than EuroMillions. EuroMillions, however, offers the possibility of much larger jackpots.
If you’re interested in the chance of winning any prize, EuroDreams currently has the shortest overall odds among the games discussed here, at approximately 1 in 4.66.
These figures shouldn’t be interpreted as saying that one lottery is universally “better”. Each game has its own entry cost, prize structure and jackpot potential.
How Many Lottery Numbers Do You Need to Win?
The answer depends on the game.
For Irish Lotto, you need all six main numbers to win the jackpot. Matching fewer numbers can still result in a lower-tier prize, including combinations involving the Bonus number.
For EuroMillions, the jackpot requires five main numbers and two Lucky Stars.
For Daily Million, six main numbers are required for the top prize.
EuroDreams requires six main numbers plus the Dream Number for its top tier.
Does Choosing Your Own Numbers Improve Your Odds?
No. Whether you select your own numbers or use a Quick Pick, the probability of any particular valid combination being drawn remains the same.
There is no mathematical advantage to choosing birthdays, repeating numbers, “lucky” numbers or numbers that haven’t appeared recently.
The National Lottery notes that the outcome of these games is based on chance and cannot be influenced by how you play.
Do Lottery Odds Change?
They can change when the rules of a game change.
For example, Irish Lotto recently moved from 47 balls to 45, improving the jackpot odds from approximately 1 in 10.7 million to 1 in 8.1 million.
This illustrates why it’s important to check the current rules and published odds rather than relying on figures you may have seen previously.
What Should You Remember About Lottery Odds?
The biggest jackpots don’t necessarily come with the best odds.
Before playing, consider:
- How many numbers you need to match
- The size of the number pool
- Whether Bonus or additional numbers are used
- The odds of winning each prize tier
- The odds of winning any prize
- The size and structure of the top prize
Understanding the numbers can help you make an informed decision about the games you choose.
If you’re also interested in other forms of online gaming, you can explore the casino games available at NetBet Casino IE.
Before you begin playing, decide on a budget, take regular breaks and enjoy your gaming responsibly. NetBet Casino also offers a comprehensive range of Safer Gambling tools, including deposit limits, reality checks and cooling-off periods, helping players stay in control while enjoying their favourite games.
