EuroMillions vs EuroJackpot: what's the difference?

EuroMillions and EuroJackpot give you exactly the same chance of the jackpot: 1 in 139,838,160 per line. Both games ask for 5 main numbers from 1–50 and 2 extra numbers from 1–12, and both are drawn on Tuesday and Friday. What separates them is money: EuroMillions has the bigger jackpot (a €17 million start and a €250 million cap), while EuroJackpot has the cheaper line in the markets we checked (€2 in Germany) with a smaller ceiling of €120 million.

Short verdict: pick EuroMillions if you want the largest possible jackpot, a prize for just 2 main numbers, or you live in the UK or Ireland, where the National Lottery sells it. Pick EuroJackpot if you want the same jackpot odds for less per line and can live with a lower cap.

EuroMillions and EuroJackpot side by side

All rules and prices below were checked on operator pages on 11 October 2026, except the launch years, which come from Wikipedia.

Two price notes. The UK EuroMillions line at £2.50 is made up of £1.74 for EuroMillions and £0.76 for the UK Millionaire Maker, according to the National Lottery's Game Procedures. In Ireland a panel is €2.50, or €3.50 with EuroMillions Plus.

How we compared the two games

Because the number matrix is identical, the jackpot odds can't separate the two lotteries. We compared everything else that changes what a line gets you:

1. Jackpot size and ceiling: the starting jackpot and the cap.
2. Price per line in markets where an operator page confirms it.
3. Prize structure: number of tiers and the lowest winning combination.
4. Rules at the cap: what happens to money above the ceiling.
5. Where you can play: which operators sell each game to English-speaking players.

We did not score the games on a points scale, because the "best" choice depends on which of these matters to you. LottaGo earns a commission when tickets are bought through its partner for either game; that relationship does not change this comparison.

Why the jackpot odds are identical

Both games use the same two pools, so the number of possible lines is the same:

• Main numbers: C(50, 5) = (50 × 49 × 48 × 47 × 46) ÷ 120 = 2,118,760
• Extra numbers: C(12, 2) = (12 × 11) ÷ 2 = 66
• Total: 2,118,760 × 66 = 139,838,160

A EuroMillions line and a EuroJackpot line each have a 1 in 139,838,160 chance of the top prize. The lower tiers differ, because the two games split the prize money differently: EuroMillions pays for 2 main numbers with no Lucky Star, while EuroJackpot's lowest class needs 2 main numbers plus 1 Euro number. Our lottery odds explained guide shows how to run the same arithmetic for any game.

EuroMillions in detail

What it is. EuroMillions is a joint lottery played in nine countries: the UK, Ireland, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Spain, Portugal, Austria and Switzerland. Its operators include Allwyn in the UK, Premier Lotteries Ireland in Ireland and FDJ in France. The game started in 2004, according to Wikipedia.

Draws. Tuesday and Friday. UK viewers can watch all draws first at 8.45pm.

Jackpot rules. The jackpot starts at €17 million and rolls over when nobody wins. It is capped at €250 million. Once it reaches the cap it can roll four more times; if it is still unwon at the fifth draw at the cap, the money rolls down to the next prize tier that has a winner.

Prizes. 13 prize tiers, from 5 + 2 down to 2 main numbers and no Lucky Stars (1 in 22). The odds of winning any prize are 1 in 13.

Price. £2.50 in the UK, €2.50 in Ireland and France (October 2026).

Coming change. A EuroMillions reform has been announced for 2027, after the French regulator ANJ postponed it from autumn 2026 (decisions of 2 July 2026, as reported by tirage-gagnant.com; see also euro-millions.com/changes). The operators have not yet published the new price or prize tiers. Until then the current rules apply, and this comparison is based on them.

Best for: UK and Irish players, and anyone chasing the largest possible jackpot.

EuroJackpot in detail

What it is. EuroJackpot is a cooperation of European state lotteries. In Germany it is offered by the state lottery companies of the Deutscher Lotto- und Totoblock. Draws take place in Helsinki, Finland. The game started in 2012, according to Wikipedia.

Draws. Tuesday and Friday evenings. The eurojackpot.com FAQ still mentions Friday only, but LOTTO.de confirms both days.

Jackpot rules. The jackpot starts at €10 million and is capped at €120 million. Money above the cap goes into prize class 2 instead of growing the jackpot.

Prizes. 12 prize classes. The lowest, class 12, is 2 main numbers plus 1 Euro number, at 1 in 49.

Price. €2 per field in Germany, plus a processing fee per slip; 12.50 zł per bet in Poland (October 2026).

Best for: players who want EuroMillions-level jackpot odds at a lower line price and don't need a nine-figure jackpot.

Which should you choose? Verdict by situation

• You live in the UK or Ireland: EuroMillions. The National Lottery sells it in both countries, and the latest EuroMillions results are published twice a week.
• You want the biggest possible jackpot: EuroMillions, capped at €250 million against €120 million.
• You want the cheapest line at these odds: EuroJackpot, €2 in Germany against €2.50 for EuroMillions in Ireland and France.
• You care about small prizes: EuroMillions has one more tier and pays for 2 main numbers alone.
• You play both: each line keeps its own 1 in 139,838,160 chance in its own draw. Playing both doubles your chances and your spending; it does not change the odds of either game.

Both games have results, number statistics and AI Agent lines on LottaGo:

Since Sep 27, 2016, the most drawn EuroMillions main numbers are 42, 17, 29, 44, 10, and 23; since Mar 25, 2022, EuroJackpot's are 11, 17, 30, 21, 23, and 34. Those counts describe the past and give no edge in the next draw, as the backtest in our hot and cold numbers guide shows. For every game side by side, see the odds of all lotteries.

FAQ

Is EuroJackpot easier to win than EuroMillions?

Not for the jackpot: both have odds of 1 in 139,838,160 per line, because both use 5 numbers from 50 and 2 from 12. The odds of lower prizes differ because the prize tiers are set up differently. EuroMillions' lowest tier, 2 main numbers, is 1 in 22; EuroJackpot's lowest class, 2 + 1, is 1 in 49.

Which has the bigger jackpot?

EuroMillions. Its jackpot starts at €17 million and is capped at €250 million. EuroJackpot starts at €10 million and is capped at €120 million, with any excess paid into prize class 2. On LottaGo, the current EuroMillions jackpot is €37,000,000 and the EuroJackpot jackpot is €120,000,000.

Can I play EuroJackpot in the UK or Ireland?

LottaGo can't confirm that you can: the UK and Irish National Lottery pages we checked sell EuroMillions, not EuroJackpot. LottaGo lists EuroJackpot as on sale through its official partner, but the partner does not accept players from some countries, including the United Kingdom. Check the partner's terms for your country before buying; LottaGo earns a commission on tickets bought through the partner.

Are EuroMillions and EuroJackpot drawn on the same days?

Yes. Both are drawn on Tuesday and Friday evenings. EuroMillions is first shown in the UK at 8.45pm; EuroJackpot is drawn in Helsinki, Finland. Because the draws are separate, a line in one game has no effect on the other, and each keeps its own 1 in 139,838,160 jackpot odds.

What happens when the jackpot reaches its cap?

In EuroMillions, a jackpot at the €250 million cap can roll four times; if it is still not won at the fifth draw at the cap, the money rolls down to the next tier with a winner. In EuroJackpot, any money above the €120 million cap is added to prize class 2.

Which game is cheaper to play?

In the markets we checked, EuroJackpot: €2 per line in Germany (plus a slip fee) against €2.50 for EuroMillions in Ireland and France, and £2.50 in the UK. Prices vary by country, so check your local operator.

Lotteries are for adults (18+): set a budget, play for fun, and never chase losses.