The EuroMillions lottery draw began in 2004, when the only participating countries where UK, France and Spain. Over the years, its popularity has grown and now the number of participating countries has more than tripled. The countries that now participate are:
- Austria
- Belgium
- France
- Ireland
- Luxembourg
- Portugal
- Spain
- Switzerland
- UK
You needn’t be a resident of participating countries to play- as long as you meet the minimum age requirements for the country from which you buy the ticket. This European lottery draw takes place twice a week and sees hundreds of thousands of players participating in each draw.
How to play EuroMillions Lottery
Traditionally, you could play EuroMillions by buying a ticket from a local lottery retailer. However, thanks to lottery sites, it’s also possible to buy tickets for EuroMillions online. Draws take place every Tuesday and Friday evening at 8.40pm (UK time) in Paris and players can buy tickets up to an hour before the draw takes place.
Players select five numbers between 1 and 50 and two Lucky Star numbers between 1 and 12, though you can pick the lucky dip for the random selection. You’ll be able to play up to seven number lines and buy up to ten slips at once. Buying a EuroMillions ticket in the UK automatically enters players into the UK Millionaire Makers draw, which guarantees four new millionaires every week. UK players will receive a code for this draw in addition to their seven numbers.
EuroMillions payouts depend on the numbers you match, and the jackpot is awarded to players matching all five numbers and the two Lucky Stars.
EuroMillions Prize Money
There are 13 different ways to win in the EuroMillions draw, with cash prizes starting for players who match two main numbers. The EuroMillions cash prize starts at £3.30 for the lowest tier number match, up to €190 million (that’s over £160 million!) for jackpot winners. With a jackpot this impressive, it’s hardly surprising that the chances of hitting it are pretty slim – the odds of winning the EuroMillions jackpot stand at 1 in 139,838,160.
With EuroMillions odds this long, there isn’t a jackpot winner at every draw. This means the amount often rolls over until someone is lucky enough to match all seven numbers. However, with the EuroMillions jackpot limit set at €190 million, this can only happen a certain number of times- after this, the prize money rolls down to the next highest tier with winning tickets.
Of course, given that UK players are automatically entered into the UK Millionaire Makers draw, it’s possible for these players to win an extra £1 million on top of any EuroMillions prize money.
While you can purchase tickets in any country that participates in the EuroMillions lotto draw, winning ticket holders must claim their prize in the country in which they bought the ticket. Of course, if you’ve bought lottery tickets online, the lottery site will claim the winnings for you.
If two, or more, people were to both match the seven EuroMillions numbers in the same draw, the jackpot would simply be divided among the lucky ticket holders in the same way other prize tiers are.
EuroMillions Payouts and Taxes
EuroMillions winners will receive their funds in a lump sum and in the UK— and most other participating countries— they won’t be taxed on these winnings. UK winners will, however, be taxed on any interest they earn on these winnings.
There are a few countries in which EuroMillions winners are taxed on their winnings. These are:
- Portuguese winners are taxed 20% on amounts over €5,000.
- In Switzerland, winners are taxed 35% on winnings over CHF 1,000. This amount is withheld from the initial prize and is automatically transferred to the Federal Tax Administration.
- Spanish winners are taxed 20% on all lottery prizes over €2,500.
Compare and play
Now that you’re clued up on the EuroMillions, you’re probably ready to start playing for yourself. With thirteen prize tiers there are plenty of ways you can win. Looking for the best place to play EuroMillions lottery online? Our handpicked list of the best lottery sites will set you on the right track, and our expert reviews tell you everything you need to know about a site before you sign up. All you need to do is compare, pick out a favourite and sign up to start playing EuroMillions lottery today.
