RULES GOVERNING THE EUROMILLIONS GAME.
In this section we provide information on the main EuroMillions rules, including how to place your bets, the methods available to play and the prize collection period.
General Rules
To play EuroMillions in the United Kingdom, you must be at least 18 years old. This age requirement applies across all participating countries. It is the player’s responsibility to ensure they meet the legal eligibility criteria to purchase tickets and claim prizes in their jurisdiction.
To participate, you must submit a minimum of one entry. Each entry consists of selecting five main numbers from 1 to 50, and two Lucky Star numbers from 1 to 12. Bets can be placed online or at authorised National Lottery retailers.
For full details on how to play, please visit the How to Play EuroMillions page.
Frequency of Draws
EuroMillions draws take place twice a week, on Tuesday and Friday evenings. The draws are conducted in Paris and include all participating countries.
Ticket sales for each draw typically close at 7:30 PM (UK time) on the night of the draw. Results are usually available shortly after the draw is completed, and winning numbers are published on the official National Lottery website and other verified platforms.
Players can choose to enter a single draw or select both draw days when purchasing their tickets. Multiple-week entries and subscriptions are also available, offering added convenience for regular players.
Types of draws
There are currently several types of Euromillions draws, which are summarised below:
- The so-called ‘cycle’, is the one that encompasses the set of any number of draws that are held successively until one of the following conditions is met:
- That there is a first category winner.
- That a Superdraw is held.
- The allocation cap or limit is reached.
- The so-called ‘Superdraw’, in which the participating lotteries agree in writing to offer a special guaranteed fund for the First Category of prizes. It should be noted that the holding of this type of draw will be either a cycle in itself or the end of the cycle that was running at the time.
- The so-called ‘Special Draw with Guaranteed Minimum Jackpot’, which, like the Superdraw, is preceded by a written agreement between the participating lotteries to offer a special guaranteed fund for the First Category.
The so-called Occasional Draw is the one that, after agreement between the participating lotteries, offers prizes agreed for those codes that are randomly selected from the total of the codes assigned to the bets placed for this draw.
You can find more information on the Euromillions draw types page.
Jackpot Cap (Allocation Limit)
The EuroMillions jackpot is subject to a maximum cap, known as the jackpot ceiling, which limits the total prize amount for the first-tier (Match 5 + 2 Lucky Stars) winners within a draw cycle.
As of the most recent update to the EuroMillions rules, the current cap is set at €250 million. Once the jackpot reaches this limit and there is no top-tier winner, it remains at that level for a maximum of four consecutive draws. If still not won, the full amount is then distributed among the winners of the next prize tier (Match 5 + 1 Lucky Star, or lower if necessary).
Previously, the cap began at €200 million and increased in €10 million increments each time it was reached, up to the current maximum of €250 million. The jackpot cap may be revised in the future by agreement among the participating national lottery operators.
Types of bets: single and multiple
Single bets are those that are predicted one in each block and multiple bets are those that have been predicted more than one in a single block, which must always be block 1 of the ticket.
To play a single bet, the participant must mark five predictions in the table of numbers and two predictions in the table of stars in block 1. If we want to place a second bet, we will repeat the same steps in block 2 of the ticket and so on, being able to place a maximum of five single bets per ticket.
To place multiple bets on a single ticket, the player must select five (provided he/she predicts more than two stars), six, seven, eight, nine, or ten predictions in the table of numbers and/or two (provided he/she predicts more than five numbers), three, four or five predictions in the table of stars, always in block one of the game ticket.
Prize Payment Terms – UK
Prizes won in the United Kingdom are paid by authorised National Lottery retailers or designated financial institutions, in accordance with the terms and procedures established by The National Lottery operator, Allwyn Entertainment Ltd.
Prize claims can be made starting from the first business day following the last EuroMillions draw in which the winning ticket was valid. Players must present a valid, undamaged ticket within the claim period defined by The National Lottery (typically 180 days from the draw date). After this period, unclaimed prizes may be forfeited.
For smaller prizes, payment is typically available directly at authorised retail locations. Larger prize amounts may require validation through official National Lottery channels or submission to a designated prize payment centre. Identification and completion of a prize claim form may be required, depending on the amount.
Additional terms and restrictions may apply. For full details, please refer to the official National Lottery rules at: National-Lottery
Time limit for forfeiture of the right to receive prizes
The right to claim EuroMillions prizes in the United Kingdom expires 180 days from the date of the relevant draw. This period begins on the day following the draw date in which the winning ticket participated. After this deadline, any unclaimed prizes will be forfeited and returned to the National Lottery Good Causes fund, as stipulated by UK lottery regulations.
