EuroMillions looks broadly similar to how it did in 2004, but the game has been adjusted several times over the past two decades. None of these changes happened all at once — they were introduced gradually, usually alongside the addition of new participating countries. Here’s a factual look at what actually changed, in order.
2004: the starting point
The first EuroMillions draw took place on 13 February 2004 in Paris, with three founding countries: France, Spain, and the UK. A second draw later that year, on 8 October 2004, brought in six more countries — Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Switzerland — bringing the total to the nine countries that still take part today. In this original format, draws were held only on Fridays, at a cost of €2 per line.
2011: a second weekly draw and a bigger prize table
In 2011, EuroMillions introduced its first major structural change. A second weekly draw was added on Tuesdays, alongside the existing Friday draw. The number of Lucky Stars on the ticket increased from 9 to 11, and a 13th prize tier was introduced, for tickets matching just two main numbers. Multiple-bet options were also expanded at this point.
2016: a new star range, a higher minimum jackpot, and new side games
September 2016 brought a wider set of changes. The Lucky Stars range grew again, from 11 to 12, which is the range still used today. The minimum guaranteed jackpot rose from €15 million to €17 million, and the price per line increased to €2.50. This update also introduced two features that didn’t exist before: the “Big Friday” special draw, with a significantly higher guaranteed jackpot than a standard draw, and “El Millón” (called the “Millionaire Maker” in some markets), a supplementary raffle-style prize built into every ticket at no extra cost.
2020: the jackpot cap rises in stages
By 2020, EuroMillions had reached its previous jackpot cap. Rule changes introduced that year set a new ceiling that could rise progressively over time, eventually reaching the €250 million cap currently in place, along with adjustments to how the prize fund is distributed across the 13 prize tiers.
What’s stayed the same
Despite all these adjustments, some elements of the game have never changed: the core two-drum drawing mechanism, the requirement to match both main numbers and Lucky Stars for the top prize, and the draw’s independent oversight in Paris. The changes made over the years have mainly affected how often the game is drawn, how the prize table is structured, and how large the guaranteed amounts can be — not the basic mechanics of how a draw is decided.
In summary
EuroMillions has changed its number ranges, its draw schedule, its ticket price, and its jackpot structure several times since 2004, almost always in step with the game’s international expansion. Each adjustment was introduced gradually rather than as one single redesign, which is part of why the game can look largely unchanged at a glance while having a genuinely different structure from the one that launched two decades ago.
