EuroJackpot Lottery Guide

How EuroJackpot Works

You pick 5 numbers from a pool of 1 to 50, plus 2 euro numbers from 1 to 12. Draws happen twice a week: Tuesday and Friday at 20:00 CET. The lottery operator draws 5 main balls and 2 euro balls. Your ticket wins if your numbers match in any combination across the 12 prize tiers.

Unlike some lotteries, EuroJackpot has no bonus or supplementary ball drawn separately. Your win depends entirely on how many of your 5 main numbers and 2 euro numbers match the draw. The matching structure creates 12 distinct prize categories, from matching one euro number up to all five main numbers plus both euro numbers.

Prize Tier Breakdown

EuroJackpot divides prizes into 12 tiers. The jackpot (tier 1) requires all 5 main numbers plus both euro numbers. Tier 2 is all 5 main numbers plus 1 euro number. Tier 3 is all 5 main numbers with no euro matches.

Lower tiers include 4 main numbers with various euro combinations, down to tier 12, which pays for 1 euro number match. The exact prize amount for each tier varies based on ticket sales and the number of winners. The jackpot rolls over if nobody wins it in a draw, meaning the top prize can grow across multiple draws.

Approximately 50% of revenue returns to prizes across all tiers. The remaining funds go to operator costs, regulatory fees, and contributions to public projects in participating nations.

History and Operator

EuroJackpot launched in March 2012 across eight European nations. It expanded to 18 participating countries over subsequent years. A separate operator manages EuroJackpot on behalf of the national lottery operators in each country, ensuring coordination across borders and independent draw verification.

The lottery is regulated through each nation's gambling authority. Draws take place in Helsinki, Finland, and are broadcast and monitored independently.

Draw Schedule and Timing

Draws occur every Tuesday and Friday at 20:00 CET (Central European Time). Results are published shortly after, typically within minutes of the draw closing. Most operators accept ticket purchases up to 19:00 CET on draw days, though cut-off times vary by region and sales platform.

The frequency (twice weekly) means 104 draws per year, giving more opportunities for a win compared to single-weekly lotteries. Jackpots can grow rapidly if they roll over multiple times, particularly across Friday and Tuesday draws.

Odds and Expected Value

The overall probability of winning any prize in EuroJackpot is roughly 1 in 95. The jackpot probability is approximately 1 in 95 million. These odds reflect the combinatorial mathematics: picking 5 from 50 is 2,118,760 combinations, and picking 2 from 12 is 66 combinations, giving 139,838,160 total possible outcomes.

Expected value depends on jackpot size. A €2 ticket has negative EV at all times, since payout rates are capped at 50% return. The breakeven point mathematically occurs when a jackpot reaches approximately €89 million, but that assumes a single winner. Shared jackpots reduce EV further.

Syndicates improve odds of winning a prize by covering more combinations, but they do not improve overall EV. A 10-person syndicate picking 10 different tickets has 10 times the chance of any prize, but also splits any win. The mathematics remain the same: the house edge is built into the game design.

Tax Treatment

Tax on lottery winnings varies by the player's country of residence and the rules of the participating nation where the ticket was purchased. European lotteries typically do not withhold tax at the source. Instead, tax obligations fall on the winner in their home jurisdiction.

Some countries treat lottery winnings as non-taxable income, while others classify them as taxable gambling income or windfall gains. Players are responsible for declaring winnings to their tax authority. Consulting a tax professional before claiming a large prize is standard practice.