Compare UK & Irish Lottery Odds, Jackpots, and Prizes In-Depth
Welcome to our comprehensive guide to comparing popular lotteries! If you've ever wondered how the UK Lotto stacks up against EuroMillions or how the odds of winning the Irish Lotto compare to those of Set For Life, you're in the right place. Our detailed analysis covers a range of factors to help you make informed decisions about where to try your luck.
Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the world of lotteries, our comparisons will provide valuable insights into each game's features and odds, helping you choose the best lottery for your next ticket.
Odds To Win Jackpot
| Lottery | Odds |
|---|---|
 Health Lottery |
1 in 2,118,760 |
 ThunderBall |
1 in 8,060,598 |
 Irish Lotto |
1 in 10,737,573 |
 Set For Life |
1 in 15,347,470 |
 UK Lotto |
1 in 45,057,474 |
 EuroMillions |
1 in 139,838,160 |
 Euro Jackpot |
1 in 139,838,160 |
While the Health Lottery offers the best odds for winning the jackpot at 1 in 2,118,760, it’s important to note that the jackpot is typically just £100,000—the lowest among all the lotteries. In contrast, other lotteries offer similar or better odds for much larger prizes without needing to hit the full jackpot. For instance, in Set For Life, you can win £120,000 by matching just 5 main numbers, with odds of 1 in 1,704,377. Similarly, in the Irish Lotto, matching 5 main numbers plus a bonus number can earn you over £100,000, with odds of 1 in 1,789,596. Both of these options offer better potential rewards for similar odds compared to the Health Lottery.
Odds to win the lottery
Number Of Winning Combinations After Each Draw
* Includes free ticket prizes
| Lottery | Winning Combinations | % of All Combinations |
|---|---|---|
| UK Lotto |
4,881,884 | 10.83% |
| Irish Lotto |
883,755 | 8.23% |
| ThunderBall |
650,910 | 8.08% |
| Set For Life |
1,236,210 | 8.05% |
| EuroMillions |
10,037,916 | 7.18% |
| Euro Jackpot |
10,037,916 | 7.18% |
| Health Lottery |
152,026 | 7.18% |
The percentage of winning combinations varies across different lotteries. For instance, the UK Lotto stands out with 10.83% of combinations winning a prize after each draw, which includes prizes as modest as a free £2 ticket. This makes the UK Lotto an attractive option if you're aiming for smaller prizes. In comparison, other lotteries like EuroMillions, EuroJackpot, and Health Lottery have similar percentages of winning combinations, generally around 7.18%. Overall, while the UK Lotto offers a higher percentage of winning combinations, the other lotteries are fairly consistent in their odds of winning.
Highest Jackpot To Date
| Lottery | Jackpot Amount | Date |
|---|---|---|
| EuroMillions |
£206,064,000 | 08-12-2023 |
| Euro Jackpot |
€120,000,000 | 08-11-2022 |
| UK Lotto |
£66,070,646 | 09-01-2016 |
| Irish Lotto |
€28,074,472 | 26-03-2011 |
| Set For Life |
£3,600,000 | fixed |
| ThunderBall |
£500,000 | fixed |
| Health Lottery |
£100,000 | fixed |
When it comes to record-breaking jackpots, EuroMillions takes the lead by a significant margin. The largest jackpot ever for EuroMillions reached an astounding £206,064,000 on December 8, 2023. In comparison, EuroJackpot's highest jackpot stands at €120,000,000, achieved on November 8, 2022. The UK Lotto follows with a notable £66,070,646 jackpot from January 9, 2016. Other lotteries, such as the Irish Lotto, Set For Life, ThunderBall, and the Health Lottery, offer smaller top prizes, with the highest being €28,074,472 for the Irish Lotto. If chasing the biggest jackpots is your goal, EuroMillions offers the most substantial rewards.
Starting Jackpot Amount
| Lottery | Jackpot Amount | |
|---|---|---|
| EuroMillions |
£10,908,000 | average amount |
| Euro Jackpot |
€10,000,000 | fixed |
| Set For Life |
£3,600,000 | fixed |
| UK Lotto |
£2,000,000 | fixed |
| Irish Lotto |
€2,000,000 | fixed |
| ThunderBall |
£500,000 | fixed |
| Health Lottery |
£100,000 | fixed |
The starting jackpot amount can greatly influence a lottery's appeal. EuroMillions leads with an average starting jackpot of £10,908,000, making it the most lucrative option right from the beginning. EuroJackpot follows closely with a fixed starting amount of €10,000,000. The Set For Life lottery offers a fixed starting jackpot of £3,600,000, while the UK Lotto and Irish Lotto each start at £2,000,000 and €2,000,000 respectively. ThunderBall and the Health Lottery have significantly smaller starting jackpots, with £500,000 and £100,000 respectively. If you're looking for the highest initial jackpot, EuroMillions is the clear winner.
Current lottery jackpots for the next draw
Odds To Win Smallest Prize
* Excludes free ticket prizes
| Lottery | Odds |
|---|---|
| ThunderBall |
1 in 14 |
| Set For Life |
1 in 15 |
| EuroMillions |
1 in 22 |
| Euro Jackpot |
1 in 48 |
| Irish Lotto |
1 in 54 |
| UK Lotto |
1 in 96 |
| Health Lottery |
1 in 224 |
When aiming for the smallest prize, the odds vary widely between lotteries. ThunderBall and Set For Life offer the best chances, with odds of 1 in 14 and 1 in 15, respectively. EuroMillions is a close contender with odds of 1 in 22. If you’re hoping for a small prize, these lotteries provide relatively favorable odds. On the other end of the spectrum, the Health Lottery presents the most challenging odds for winning even the smallest prize, with a steep 1 in 224 chance. Overall, for better odds of securing a small win, ThunderBall and Set For Life are your best bets.
Smallest Prize Amount
* Excludes free ticket prizes
| Lottery | Jackpot Amount |
|---|---|
| UK Lotto |
£30 |
| Health Lottery |
£10 |
| Euro Jackpot |
€8.58 (average) |
| Irish Lotto |
€7 |
| Set For Life |
£5 |
| ThunderBall |
£3 |
| EuroMillions |
£2.78 (average) |
The UK Lotto offers the absolute best value when it comes to the smallest prize, with a £30 payout and odds of 1 in 96. No other lottery comes anywhere close to matching this combination of prize value and odds. While some lotteries, like ThunderBall and Set For Life, offer better odds for winning their smallest prizes, those payouts are relatively low in comparison. For example, ThunderBall's smallest prize is £3, and Set For Life offers £5—both of which are significantly less than the UK Lotto’s £30. If you’re looking for a small win that actually provides good value, the UK Lotto is clearly the top choice.
Ticket Price
| Lottery | Price |
|---|---|
| ThunderBall |
£1.00 |
| Health Lottery |
£1.00 |
| Set For Life |
£1.50 |
| Euro Jackpot |
€2.00 |
| Irish Lotto |
€2.00 |
| UK Lotto |
£2.00 |
| EuroMillions |
£2.50 |
When it comes to ticket prices, there is some variation among lotteries. ThunderBall and the Health Lottery are the most affordable options, each costing £1.00 per ticket. Set For Life costs £1.50 per ticket, offering a slightly higher price point. EuroJackpot and the Irish Lotto both charge €2.00 per ticket, which is the equivalent of about £1.70. The UK Lotto is priced at £2.00 per ticket, aligning with the cost of EuroJackpot and Irish Lotto. EuroMillions has the highest ticket price at £2.50. If you’re looking for the most economical entry, ThunderBall and the Health Lottery are your best bets.
Frequency of Draws
| Lottery | Number of draws per week |
|---|---|
| Health Lottery |
5 |
| ThunderBall |
4 |
| EuroMillions |
2 |
| Set For Life |
2 |
| UK Lotto |
2 |
| Euro Jackpot |
2 |
| Irish Lotto |
2 |
The frequency of lottery draws varies among the different games, which can impact how often you have a chance to win. Most lotteries, such as the UK Lotto, EuroMillions, EuroJackpot, Set For Life, and Irish Lotto, hold draws twice a week. This regular schedule provides consistent opportunities to play and win. However, the Health Lottery stands out with draws held five times a week, offering more frequent chances to participate. ThunderBall also offers a higher frequency of four draws per week. If you prefer more frequent playing opportunities, the Health Lottery and ThunderBall are your best options.
Number of Prize Tiers
| Lottery | Number of prize tiers |
|---|---|
| EuroMillions |
13 |
| Euro Jackpot |
12 |
| ThunderBall |
9 |
| Set For Life |
8 |
| Health Lottery |
8 |
| Irish Lotto |
8 |
| UK Lotto |
7 |
The number of prize tiers in a lottery can significantly impact your chances of winning something, even if it’s not the jackpot. EuroMillions leads the way with the highest number of prize tiers at 13, offering a wide range of winning possibilities from matching just two main numbers to hitting the jackpot. On the other end of the spectrum, the UK Lotto has the lowest number of prize tiers at 7. While having fewer tiers might mean fewer chances to win smaller prizes, it could potentially lead to higher payouts within each tier due to less prize distribution. If you’re looking for a lottery with diverse winning opportunities, EuroMillions is your best bet with its extensive prize structure.
Final Summary
Choosing the right lottery involves considering several factors, from jackpot sizes to ticket prices and winning odds. Here’s a quick overview based on our comparisons:
- Jackpot Odds: The Health Lottery offers the best odds of winning the jackpot, with a chance of 1 in 2,118,760. However, its jackpot is typically just £100,000—the lowest among all lotteries. In contrast, you can win larger amounts, like £120,000 in Set For Life or over £100,000 in the Irish Lotto, with similar or better odds without hitting the full jackpot.
- Winning Combinations: The UK Lotto has the highest percentage of winning combinations, with 10.83% of tickets winning a prize. This includes the smallest prize of a free ticket. Other lotteries generally have similar percentages, ranging from 7.18% to 8.23%.
- Highest Jackpot to Date: EuroMillions boasts the largest jackpot ever, reaching £206,064,000. EuroJackpot follows with a top prize of €120,000,000. Other lotteries, like the Irish Lotto and Set For Life, offer significantly smaller jackpots.
- Starting Jackpot Amount: EuroMillions leads with an average starting jackpot of £10,908,000. EuroJackpot is next with a fixed starting amount of €10,000,000. The Health Lottery has the smallest starting jackpot at £100,000.
- Odds to Win the Smallest Prize: ThunderBall and Set For Life provide the best odds for winning the smallest prize, at 1 in 14 and 1 in 15, respectively. EuroMillions has the least favorable odds for the smallest prize, with a 1 in 22 chance.
- Smallest Prize Amount: The UK Lotto offers the highest smallest prize at £30, with odds of 1 in 96, making it the absolute best value in terms of prize amount and odds. No other lottery comes close to matching this combination. While other lotteries like ThunderBall and Set For Life offer better odds for winning their smallest prizes, those payouts are much lower in comparison.
- Ticket Price: For affordability, ThunderBall and the Health Lottery each cost £1.00 per ticket. Set For Life costs £1.50, while EuroMillions is the most expensive at £2.50 per ticket.
- Frequency of Draws: Most lotteries, such as the UK Lotto, EuroMillions, EuroJackpot, Set For Life, and Irish Lotto, hold draws twice a week, providing consistent opportunities to play. The Health Lottery stands out with draws held five times a week, and ThunderBall offers four draws per week, giving more frequent chances to participate.
- Number of Prize Tiers: EuroMillions has the highest number of prize tiers at 13, offering diverse winning possibilities. In contrast, the UK Lotto has the lowest number of prize tiers at 7, which might mean fewer chances to win smaller prizes but potentially higher payouts within each tier.
In summary, while the Health Lottery offers favorable odds, its lower jackpot may make other lotteries like Set For Life or the Irish Lotto more appealing options for bigger wins. For the largest jackpots, EuroMillions stands out, though at a higher ticket price and tougher odds. For better odds on smaller prizes, consider ThunderBall or Set For Life, and for the most economical tickets, the Health Lottery and ThunderBall are your best bets. The UK Lotto offers exceptional value for its smallest prize, making it a standout choice for those seeking smaller wins. For more frequent playing opportunities, the Health Lottery and ThunderBall provide the most chances to win. Lastly, EuroMillions offers the most diverse range of winning opportunities with its extensive prize structure.
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