Lotto
Lotto is the most popular lottery game played in the UK, with draws taking place every Wednesday and Saturday. You need to pick six numbers from a choice from 1 to 49. Seven balls are drawn in the twice weekly draw, with the seventh ball designated the Bonus Ball. Lotto players also have the chance to play Dream Number, using the same play slip.
Prizes
Match all six of the standard balls to win the jackpot, which is made up of 23.4% of the total ticket sales (52% of the prize fund), plus any rollover from the previous draw's unwon jackpot prize pool. The Saturday average for this jackpot is £8.9 million.
Other prizes can be won for matching the following:
- 5 balls plus the bonus ball
The total jackpot is 7.2% of the total ticket sales (15% of the prize fund), which is approximately £2.5 million for the Saturday draw. This works out to an average of £102,000 per person. - 5 balls
The total jackpot is 4.5% of the total ticket sales (10% of the prize fund), which is approximately £1.6 million for the Saturday draw. This works out to an average of £1,530 per person. - 4 balls
The total jackpot is 9.9% of the total ticket sales (22% of the prize fund), which is approximately £3.5 million for the Saturday draw. This works out to an average of £62 per person. - 3 balls
A standard £10 win.
If a single ticket could win more than one individual prize in a draw (for example, a 6-match jackpot ticket actually has six 5-matches, fifteen 4-matches and twenty 3-matches making a total of 42 prizes), then only the single highest individual prize is won. Any unclaimed prize is returned to Camelot after 180 days.
The top 5 least frequently drawn balls are:
1. 13 (11% frequency)
2. 41 (12% frequency)
3. 20 (12% frequency)
4. 16 (12% frequency)
5. 39 (13% frequency)
Buying Tickets
Buying a lottery ticket is simple, and they can be purchased at newsagents, supermarkets, garages, and even online.
1. Select six numbers from the available 49, and mark them on your Lotto payslip. You can make up to seven sets of selection per payslip, either by choosing your numbers, or by marking the 'Lucky Dip' box, which means the Lotto terminal will allocate you a set of 6 random numbers.
2. Choose which draw you wish to enter by marking the appropriate "Which Draw?" box on the new playslip. You can pick "Wed", "Sat" or "Both". Marking "Both" will mean that your selection of six numbers will be automatically entered in the next Saturday and Wednesday draws, with just one playslip.
3. On every playslip, you'll see a section called "No. of Weeks" which lets you use the same set of numbers for up to eight weeks, starting with the next selected draw.
4. When you've paid, the retailer will enter your selections into the terminal and give you a Lotto ticket. It will have your chosen numbers (including any Lucky Dip selections) and the draw date(s) printed on it. You must check that the numbers you have selected, the days you wish to play, the number of weeks and the draw date(s) are correct, that the barcoded serial number is clearly readable and that the "void" box on your ticket has not been marked.
5. Write your name and address on the back, and keep your ticket safe, you'll need it to check off your numbers in the draw. Don't lose it, as you'll need it to claim your prize - it is the only proof that you are a winner.
6. The winning numbers are shown in the live televised draw, and are printed in national newspapers and clearly displayed in all Lotto retailers. They are also available (as are winning numbers for previous draws) online.
