No tip can change the odds of a EuroMillions draw: every line has the same 1 in 139,838,160 chance of the jackpot. What you can control is everything around it: how much you spend, how you choose and check your numbers and how you play with other people. These tips keep EuroMillions what it should be, a bit of fun with a small chance of something life-changing.
1. Set your budget before you look at the jackpot
Decide how much you're happy to spend each week or month, an amount you could lose without it mattering, and stick to it whatever the jackpot is. Big rollovers are designed to be exciting; your budget shouldn't grow with them.
If you play online, your National Lottery account lets you set limits on what you spend, deposit and play, and send you reminders. Never borrow to play, and never use money meant for bills.
2. Know what you're buying
A £2.50 line buys a 1 in 139,838,160 chance of the jackpot and about a 1 in 13 chance of some prize, most often a few pounds. On average, around 44% of what players spend comes back as prizes. Knowing that makes it easier to treat EuroMillions as entertainment, not income. The figures are in EuroMillions odds.
3. Choose your numbers your way, but avoid the popular ones
Every combination has the same chance, so pick numbers in whatever way you enjoy. The only thing your choice can affect is how many people you might share a prize with. Many players choose birthdays (numbers from 1 to 31), runs such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, patterns on the play slip or numbers from the last draw. If those come up, the prize is split between far more winners.
A Lucky Dip, or the 'Avoid popular combinations' option in our number generator, helps you steer clear of them.
4. If you play regularly, keep it simple
If you like playing the same numbers, you can buy up to eight draws in advance or, online, set up repeat play by Direct Debit if you'd rather not buy a ticket each time. Review it every so often: it's easy to keep paying for something you no longer really want. And resist adding lines just because a jackpot has rolled over.
5. Check every ticket, every draw
Small prizes are easy to miss, and after 180 days they're gone. Check your tickets after every draw with our ticket checker, The National Lottery app or any National Lottery retailer, and keep paper tickets somewhere safe until the last draw they cover has taken place. Write your name and address on the back of a paper ticket: if it's lost, only the person named on it can claim. If you lose one, you need to tell Allwyn in writing within 30 days of the draw; see how to claim a EuroMillions prize.
6. Playing in a syndicate? Put it in writing
Syndicates are a sociable way to play more lines for the same money, with friends, family or colleagues. They can also cause arguments when a win comes in and nothing was agreed. Write down, and have everyone sign:
- Who's in the syndicate and how much each person pays, and when.
- Which numbers you play, which draws and for how long.
- Who buys the tickets and who keeps them, or whose online account they're in.
- How prizes will be split, including small ones.
- What happens if someone doesn't pay, wants to leave or joins later.
7. Don't chase losses or 'due' numbers
Playing more to win back what you've spent is how a hobby becomes a problem. So is believing a number is 'due' because it hasn't come up for a while: every draw is independent, and the balls have no memory. How to read EuroMillions statistics explains why.
8. Ignore anyone selling a system
No book, app, software or 'expert' can predict EuroMillions numbers. Anyone who says they can, or who asks for money to improve your chances or release a prize, is trying to scam you. The warning signs are in how to avoid EuroMillions scams.
9. Take a break when it stops being fun
If you're spending more than you planned, thinking about the lottery more than you'd like or feeling low after a draw, take a break. In your National Lottery account you can take a short break of one day to five months, a longer one of up to five years, or exclude yourself for good. Free, confidential support is available on the National Gambling Helpline, 0808 8020 133, day or night. There's more in responsible gambling.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a trick to winning EuroMillions?
No. Every combination has the same chance in every draw, and no system, app or statistic can change that.
Should I play the same numbers every week?
It makes no difference to your odds. Some people like the routine; if you do, set up your entry in advance so you don't worry about missing a draw.
Is a Lucky Dip better than choosing my own numbers?
It has exactly the same chance of winning. Random lines just tend to avoid the popular patterns people choose, so if they win, the prize is less likely to be shared.
Do syndicates improve my chances?
They give the group more lines, so a better chance of a win, but any prize is shared. Agree everything in writing before you start.
Should I buy more lines when the jackpot is big?
Only if it fits within the budget you set beforehand. A bigger jackpot doesn't improve your odds; it just attracts more players to share with.
Last reviewed: . Independent information: official results are published by the lottery that runs the game.