How to Play

The UK Lotto draw takes place every Wednesday and Saturday. Tickets cost £2 each.To take part, players must pick six numbers between 1 and 59. During the game six numbers are drawn, and one bonus ball. The bonus ball is only relevant to players who match five numbers.

Players can choose their own numbers or use a Lucky Dip random number selector.Prizes are awarded to players who match 3, 4, 5 or 6 numbers, or 5 numbers and the bonus ball.

The chances of winning the jackpot, which is split between any players who match all 6 numbers, is 1 in 45,057,474. If no players match all six numbers, a ‘Rollover’ occurs and the jackpot is added to the next Lotto draw. 

License and Operation

The National Lottery in the UK is state-franchised and is operated by the Camelot Group, to whom the license was granted in 1994, 2001 and 2007. All prizes are paid out tax free in a lump sum.  28% of the money spent on National Lottery games is paid to “good causes”.

In the UK, four lottery games are operated under the National Lottery brand: Lotto, Lotto Hotpicks, Thunderball and Euromillions.

Interesting Facts

The first English state lottery was launched in 1694 by Master of the Royal Mint, Thomas Neale, with the aim of raising money for the Exchequer to fund English participation in the Nine Years War against France.  100,000 tickets costing £10 each were offered for sale.