If you've ever held a EuroMillions ticket and wondered how close a particular line was to a payout, this guide will make the picture clear. We explain exactly which combinations win, how prizes are tiered and what the odds look like for each level.
The aim here is straightforward: give you a clear, jargon-free account of how many main numbers and Lucky Stars you must match to get a prize, and what that means in practice. Read on to see the prize structure, the chances in each tier and how prize sharing works.
EuroMillions is played by choosing five main numbers and two Lucky Stars. Each draw selects five main numbers and two Lucky Stars; different combinations of matches correspond to different prize tiers, so even modest matches can still return money.
How EuroMillions Prizes Are Structured
Prizes are allocated across thirteen tiers according to how many main numbers and Lucky Stars a ticket matches. At the top is the jackpot, which requires five main numbers and both Lucky Stars. Lower tiers reward progressively fewer matches, down to the smallest prize for matching two main numbers.
When a draw takes place, the prize fund is divided between those tiers. The amount a winner receives in any tier depends on the total pool available for that draw and how many winners there are in that tier. This set-up means many players can win smaller sums in the same draw while a very small number might share the larger prizes. To see how this translates into specific chances and the relative difficulty of each tier, the next section breaks down the odds for every combination.
Tiers of EuroMillions Prizes
Each tier corresponds to a specific combination of main numbers and Lucky Stars and carries its own typical prize range. The jackpot is awarded for matching five main numbers plus two Lucky Stars. Below that, combinations requiring one or two Lucky Stars alongside varying counts of main numbers cover the remaining twelve tiers.
Although the highest-tier prizes are rare, the wider structure ensures there are many ways to win something. The presence of Lucky Stars expands the number of possible prize combinations, which in turn creates a spread of prize values across the tiers.
What Are Lucky Stars and Why Are They Important?
Lucky Stars are selected from a separate pool to the main numbers and are an integral part of the game. You pick two Lucky Stars alongside your five main numbers. Including Lucky Stars in a match changes which tier you qualify for and often increases the prize level compared with matching the same number of main numbers alone.
Because several mid-level and high-level tiers require one or both Lucky Stars, hitting them alongside main numbers materially affects the prize outcome. With that in mind, the next section gives the specific odds for each prize tier so you can see how the requirement for Lucky Stars influences the chances.
What Are the Odds of Winning Each Prize Tier?
Every prize tier has a fixed probability based on the required combination of main numbers and Lucky Stars. The jackpot is the least likely result, while the lowest tiers are far more commonly won. Below are the standard odds for each tier.
- Match 5 numbers + 2 Lucky Stars (jackpot): 1 in 139,838,160
- Match 5 numbers + 1 Lucky Star: 1 in 6,991,908
- Match 5 numbers: 1 in 3,107,515
- Match 4 numbers + 2 Lucky Stars: 1 in 621,503
- Match 4 numbers + 1 Lucky Star: 1 in 31,076
- Match 4 numbers: 1 in 13,812
- Match 3 numbers + 2 Lucky Stars: 1 in 14,126
- Match 3 numbers + 1 Lucky Star: 1 in 707
- Match 3 numbers: 1 in 314
- Match 2 numbers + 2 Lucky Stars: 1 in 986
- Match 2 numbers + 1 Lucky Star: 1 in 49
- Match 2 numbers: 1 in 22
- Match 1 number + 2 Lucky Stars: 1 in 188
These figures show how the inclusion of Lucky Stars changes the probabilities: some combinations that include them are far less common than the same count of main numbers alone. The lower tiers account for most payouts by frequency, while the jackpot remains exceptionally rare. With that statistical picture in place, the next section looks at whether increasing your entries changes those odds meaningfully.
Does Buying More Tickets Improve Your Chances?
Having more entries increases the number of chances in a single draw, so mathematically your total chance of winning something rises in proportion to the number of lines you play. However, each individual line still carries the same fixed odds shown above. That means two lines double your chance compared with one, but each line is still an independent entry with the same probability of success.
This remains true across all prize tiers: extra tickets increase overall exposure but do not change the likelihood per entry. It is also important to consider cost versus expected return, since buying more entries increases expenditure while the expected payout per line does not change. Next, we address a few common misunderstandings people have about these probabilities.
Common Myths About EuroMillions Odds
A frequent misunderstanding is that certain number patterns or playing strategies improve the odds. In truth, every valid combination is equally likely on the day of the draw. There is no numerical pattern, sequence or previous result that alters the mathematical probability of any single line.
Some people think that playing frequently or increasing the number of entries will eventually guarantee a win. While more entries over time raise the total number of attempts, every draw remains independent and no strategy ensures a win. Chasing losses by escalating expenditure is unwise because it changes the nature of play from entertainment into financial risk.
Keeping those points in mind helps maintain a sensible perspective on the game. To understand what happens when multiple winners claim the same prize tier, the next section explains how shared prizes are handled.
What Happens If There Are Multiple Winners?
If several tickets meet the same tier criteria in the same draw, the prize money allocated to that tier is divided equally among all winning tickets. This applies at every level, including the jackpot. Consequently, when more players win a given tier, the individual payout for each winner is reduced.
This equal division ensures every qualifying ticket receives its fair share. The mechanism applies regardless of where tickets are sold or who purchased them, providing a transparent and impartial pay-out system. With prize sharing explained, it helps to look at how the overall prize fund is distributed across the tiers.
EuroMillions Prize Distribution Explained
The prize pool is split across the thirteen tiers according to predefined rules. A portion is allocated to the jackpot, and the remainder is distributed across the other twelve tiers. The amount available to each tier depends on ticket sales for that draw and any capped or carried-over amounts specified in the rules.
When many tickets win a given tier, the money for that tier is spread over more winners, which reduces individual payouts. Conversely, fewer winners in a tier mean larger individual shares. These rules are applied consistently to ensure predictability and fairness in every draw. The next section sums up the practical points to take away.
Summary: Key Facts About EuroMillions Number Requirements and Odds
EuroMillions requires five main numbers and two Lucky Stars per line, and prizes are awarded across thirteen tiers based on how many of those you match. Odds vary widely by tier, with the jackpot being the rarest outcome and lower tiers occurring much more often.
Buying more tickets increases the number of entries but does not change the odds attached to each individual line. Prizes in a tier are shared equally when there are multiple winners, and the prize pool is allocated according to established distribution rules to keep outcomes transparent and fair.
Treating play as a form of entertainment and setting sensible limits helps keep participation safe and manageable.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.