Playing EuroMillions comes down to choosing 5 main numbers from 1 to 50 and 2 Lucky Stars from 1 to 12 for each line, deciding which draws to enter and buying your ticket before sales close at 7.30pm on the day of the draw. In the UK every line costs £2.50, and that price includes an entry into the UK Millionaire Maker. Here's how it works, step by step.
Step 1: choose 5 numbers and 2 Lucky Stars
Every EuroMillions line is made up of seven numbers: five main numbers from 1 to 50 and two Lucky Stars from 1 to 12. The Lucky Stars are drawn from a separate machine, so the same number can appear in both parts of your line: a 7 among your main numbers and a 7 as a Lucky Star, for example.
If you'd rather not choose, ask for a Lucky Dip and the system picks all seven numbers for you at random. Every combination has exactly the same chance of coming up, so there's no right or wrong way to pick. For inspiration, the number generator suggests lines based on past draws and our statistics show how often each number has been drawn. Neither changes your odds, and how to read EuroMillions statistics explains why.
Step 2: decide how many lines to play
Each line is a separate entry and costs £2.50. You can play one line or several on the same ticket: online, the play slip starts with four lines and you can add or remove as many as you like; in a shop, you mark each line you want to play on the play slip, and you can use more than one slip. More lines give you more chances, but the cost rises in exactly the same proportion, so your odds per pound spent don't change.
There are no 'system' entries in the UK. You can't mark six or seven numbers on one line to cover several combinations at once, as players can in some other EuroMillions countries: every UK line is five main numbers and two Lucky Stars.
Step 3: choose your draw days and how many weeks
EuroMillions is drawn every Tuesday and Friday. You can enter one of those draws or both, and you can play the same numbers for several weeks in a row: up to four weeks in advance, which is eight draws. Online, you can also set up repeat play by Direct Debit, so your numbers are entered automatically until you decide to stop.
| What you play | Draws entered | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| 1 line, one draw | 1 | £2.50 |
| 1 line, Tuesday and Friday | 2 | £5 |
| 1 line, both draws for 4 weeks | 8 | £20 |
| 4 lines, one draw | 1 | £10 |
| 4 lines, both draws for 4 weeks | 8 | £80 |
The sum is always the same: number of lines × number of draws × £2.50. If you play several draws with one ticket, keep it until the last of them has taken place.
Step 4: buy before 7.30pm on draw day
You can buy tickets online every day, but to play in that evening's draw you need to buy before 7.30pm on the Tuesday or Friday. Anything bought after that goes into the next draw. Shops keep their own opening hours, so don't leave it until the last minute; the options are covered in where to play EuroMillions.
Before you leave the shop, check your ticket: the numbers, the draw dates and the price. Online, your entry appears in your account as soon as you confirm the play slip, and it can't be cancelled after that.
Step 5: your UK Millionaire Maker code comes with every line
Every line you buy in the UK also gets a UK Millionaire Maker code: four letters and five numbers, printed on your ticket or shown in your account. One code wins £1 million in every draw, and you don't need to match a single number to win it.
It isn't an optional extra: of the £2.50, £1.74 pays for EuroMillions and 76p for the UK Millionaire Maker, and the two games can't be played separately. How the code works, and the odds of winning with it, are in UK Millionaire Maker.
Step 6: watch the draw and check your numbers
The National Lottery shows every EuroMillions draw at 8.45pm (the balls are drawn in Paris shortly before) and publishes the full results on its website from around 9.30pm. On our results page you'll find the winning numbers, the Lucky Stars and the UK Millionaire Maker code for each draw, together with the prize breakdown once every country has counted its winners.
To see whether you've won, enter your lines in the ticket checker: choose the draw date, or a date range if you played for several weeks, and it shows your matches and prize tier line by line. You win something from two main numbers upwards, and each line wins only one prize: the highest tier it reaches. All the tiers are in EuroMillions prizes.
Step 7: claim within 180 days
You have 180 days from the draw to claim a prize. Small wins are paid in shops (any National Lottery retailer pays up to £100, and some pay up to £500) or straight into your account if you played online; bigger ones are claimed through The National Lottery. Every step is in how to claim a EuroMillions prize.
What you need to play
- To be 18 or over. The minimum age for every National Lottery game has been 18 since April 2021.
- To be in the UK or the Isle of Man when you buy. Allwyn, which runs The National Lottery, only pays prizes on entries bought there.
- £2.50 per line, per draw, with the UK Millionaire Maker included.
- To buy before 7.30pm on the day of the draw.
- To keep your ticket safe if you play in a shop: it's your only proof of entry.
- A budget you're comfortable with: you can set spending limits in your National Lottery account.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to play EuroMillions in the UK?
£2.50 a line for each draw. That covers EuroMillions (£1.74) and the UK Millionaire Maker (76p), which are always played together.
What time do EuroMillions ticket sales close?
At 7.30pm on Tuesday and Friday. Tickets bought after that are entered into the next draw.
How many numbers do I need to match to win?
Two main numbers are enough for the lowest prize tier. Lucky Stars only count alongside main numbers: the lowest tier with Lucky Stars is 1 main number plus 2 Lucky Stars. The full list is in EuroMillions prizes.
Can I play the same numbers every week?
Yes. You can buy up to four weeks (eight draws) in advance, and online you can set up repeat play by Direct Debit so your numbers are entered until you stop.
What is a Lucky Dip?
A random set of five main numbers and two Lucky Stars chosen for you by the system. It has exactly the same chance of winning as numbers you pick yourself.
Can I play with The National Lottery from outside the UK?
No. You have to be in the UK or the Isle of Man when you buy, and Allwyn won't pay prizes on entries bought from anywhere else. In the other eight EuroMillions countries you can play through that country's own lottery.
Last reviewed: . Independent information: official results are published by the lottery that runs the game.