Picking a lottery to play in the UK can feel confusing when each game looks similar, but works differently. Every draw has its own rules, odds, and potential prize amounts, which means your chance of winning varies from game to game.
This guide explains how the main UK lotteries compare — including the Lotto, EuroMillions, Set For Life, Thunderball, the Health Lottery, and the People’s Postcode Lottery.
Understanding how each one is structured can help you see how likely certain prizes may be, what the numbers really mean, and why no result can ever be guaranteed.
What Do Lottery Odds Actually Mean?
When you buy a lottery ticket, the “odds” show how likely it is that your numbers will match the winning ones. Odds are usually written as something like “1 in 45 million,” which means there is one possible winning combination out of 45 million total combinations. It doesn’t mean someone will definitely win after that many tickets are sold — it simply shows how rare the outcome is.
For example, the UK Lotto jackpot odds are around 1 in 45,057,474, while the EuroMillions jackpot odds are about 1 in 139,838,160. The Thunderball, which has a smaller jackpot, offers shorter odds of roughly 1 in 8,060,598.
Each lottery game also has several possible prize tiers, meaning you can potentially win smaller amounts for matching fewer numbers. These lower-tier prizes tend to have better odds, but the payouts are smaller. It’s usually a good idea to check the official prize tables before you play, so you can better understand how many numbers need to match and what the prizes are for each level.
Lotteries are random games of chance. Every draw is independent, and past results don’t affect future ones. No system or strategy can guarantee a win.
Which Lottery Has the Best Odds in the UK?
When people talk about a lottery having “the best odds,” they usually mean the game where winning a prize is statistically more likely than in others.
Each UK lottery has its own format — including how many numbers you choose and how many are drawn — and this design directly affects both the jackpot odds and the overall chances of winning any prize. For example:
- Thunderball: Top prize £500,000. Jackpot odds 1 in 8,060,598. Overall odds for any prize 1 in 13.
- Lotto: Top prize varies. Jackpot odds 1 in 45,057,474. Overall odds 1 in 9.3.
- EuroMillions: Top prize starts around €17 million. Jackpot odds 1 in 139,838,160. Overall odds 1 in 13.
- Set For Life: Top prize £10,000 a month for 30 years. Jackpot odds 1 in 15,339,390. Overall odds 1 in 12.4.
- Health Lottery: Top prize £25,000. Jackpot odds 1 in 2,118,760.
- People’s Postcode Lottery: Odds depend on entries and eligible postcodes, but the operator reports that roughly one in five tickets wins a prize each month.
Games with shorter odds tend to offer smaller top prizes because the probability of a win is higher. In contrast, larger jackpots — like those in the EuroMillions or Lotto — come with much longer odds, meaning they are statistically far less likely to occur.
As lotteries are random games of chance, any winnings are never guaranteed.
National Lottery Odds Compared
The UK National Lottery includes several popular draw-based games, each with distinct number ranges and possible prize tiers:
- Lotto: Choose six numbers from 1 to 59. Match all six to win the jackpot (odds 1 in 45,057,474). Prizes are also awarded for matching two or more numbers — for example, matching three numbers offers odds of 1 in 97.
- EuroMillions: Choose five numbers from 1 to 50 plus two “Lucky Stars” from 1 to 12. Matching all seven numbers wins the jackpot (odds 1 in 139,838,160). Smaller prizes are available for matching as few as two main numbers (odds about 1 in 22).
- Thunderball: Pick five numbers from 1 to 39 plus one Thunderball from 1 to 14. The top prize of £500,000 comes with odds of 1 in 8,060,598. You can also win smaller prizes for matching fewer numbers, including the Thunderball alone.
- Set For Life: Pick five numbers from 1 to 47 and one “Life Ball” from 1 to 10. The top prize of £10,000 a month for 30 years has odds of 1 in 15,339,390, with overall odds of 1 in 12.4 for any prize.
These figures show how game design influences probability — the more numbers and combinations, the longer the odds.
EuroMillions Odds vs UK Lotto Odds
Both the EuroMillions and the Lotto are major UK draws, but they differ in format, scale, and potential payout.
In the EuroMillions, you must match five main numbers from 50 and two Lucky Stars from 12. This wide number range explains its jackpot odds of 1 in 139,838,160. Even possible lower-tier prizes, such as matching two main numbers, have odds of around 1 in 22.
The Lotto, on the other hand, uses six numbers from 59, giving jackpot odds of 1 in 45,057,474. Matching three numbers — a smaller potential win — carries odds of 1 in 97.
The difference in number pools shows why the EuroMillions offers higher jackpots, but makes winning them less likely. The Lotto jackpots are smaller, but drawn twice weekly, making it more consistent in frequency. No matter which game you might choose to play, winning is never guaranteed.
Are Smaller Lotteries Easier to Win?
Smaller lotteries generally have fewer possible number combinations, which makes winning their top prizes statistically more likely. However, their prize amounts are usually lower.
For example, the Health Lottery top prize of £25,000 has odds of 1 in 2,118,760, which is shorter than the Lotto or EuroMillions. The Thunderball, with a £500,000 top prize, also has relatively favourable jackpot odds at 1 in 8,060,598.
Because these games are designed with smaller number pools, they produce shorter odds. That doesn’t mean a win is likely — it simply means the top prize is less unlikely than in larger, multi-country draws.
Best Lottery to Play for Jackpot Chances
The “best” lottery depends on your personal preferences — whether that’s the biggest possible jackpot or the shortest odds.
If you’re interested in the largest jackpots, the EuroMillions leads the way, often rolling over to totals exceeding £180 million. Its transnational structure means entries come from several European countries, building a much larger prize fund.
The Lotto offers smaller starting jackpots — around £2 million on Wednesdays and about £3.8 million on Saturdays — but its jackpot odds are shorter than the EuroMillions, at 1 in 45,057,474.
The Thunderball and the Health Lottery offer smaller top prizes, but statistically better odds. Set For Life sits in between, offering a long-term payout rather than a single lump sum.
Best Lottery to Play for Regular Wins
If you prefer games that have the potential to award prizes more frequently — even if they’re smaller — it may be worth looking at the overall odds of winning any prize, rather than just the jackpot.
The Thunderball has overall odds of 1 in 13, meaning a small reward appears roughly once in every thirteen tickets on average. The top prize remains fixed at £500,000 and doesn’t roll over.
The Health Lottery claims overall odds of 1 in 9.7, one of the shortest among UK draws, though most of these prizes are modest.
Set For Life offers overall odds of 1 in 12.4, with its main prize paying £10,000 a month for 30 years.
Games that produce more frequent prizes tend to offer smaller top rewards. As every lottery is random, outcomes are unpredictable and winnings can never be guaranteed.
How to Choose the Right Lottery for You
Selecting a lottery comes down to your personal preferences and budget. If you enjoy aiming for a large jackpot, draws such as the EuroMillions or Lotto offer the biggest top prizes — though they come with the longest odds. If you prefer the potential for smaller prizes, the Thunderball or the Health Lottery may feel more suitable.
Each lottery has its own structure, costs, and prize tables, which are published on official websites. Reviewing these details before playing can help you understand what’s at stake and what the chances really are.
Lotteries are games of chance, so any outcome is completely random, and winnings can never be guaranteed. Play within a budget that feels comfortable for you and treat tickets as a form of entertainment, not an investment.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.