EuroJackpot vs EuroMillions

EuroJackpot
EuroMillions
2024-04-29

If you’re familiar with lotto games, you may have heard of EuroMillions and EuroJackpot, the world’s most famous Euro games. Both may seem similar at first glance, but there’s a lot more than meets the eye. Here’s what you should know:

Euro Lottery Comparison: EuroMillions vs. EuroJackpot

EuroMillions

The first EuroMillions lottery draw took place on February 13, 2004, in Paris, France. Since it began, EuroMillions has expanded beyond its original organisers in the UK, France, and Spain to include additional countries like Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Switzerland, making it an even more exciting and wide-reaching game.

EuroJackpot

EuroJackpot is a popular lottery game played by millions across Europe. It started with six countries in the first draw in March 2012. Due to its popularity, more countries joined, and now 19 nations participate.

With Lotto247.co.za South Africa, South African residents (18+) can now bet on the outcome of these lucrative European lotto games.

When it comes to the format and rules, both EuroJackpot and EuroMillions have some similarities;

Number Matrix

EuroMillions

  • Select 5 main numbers between 1 and 50
  • along with 2 Lucky Stars from 1 to 12.

EuroJackpot

  • Select 5 main numbers between 1 and 50
  • along with 2 Euro numbers from 1 to 12.

Minimum and Maximum jackpots

EuroMillions

  • Record Jackpot: €250 Million (Approximately R5 billion)
  • Minimum Starting Jackpot: €17 Million (Approximately R340 million)
  • Jackpot Cap: €250 Million (current)

EuroJackpot

  • Record Jackpot: €120 Million (Approximately R2.4 billion)
  • Minimum Starting Jackpot: €10 Million (Approximately R20 million)
  • Jackpot Cap: €120 Million

The EuroMillions Jackpot Cap

  • The jackpot cap is currently set at €250 Million (Approximately R5 billion).
  • After the cap is hit, further funds from sales go to the Match 5+1 prize
  • The jackpot must be won if it remains at its cap for five draws

The EuroJackpot Cap

  • The EuroJackpot is capped at €120 Million (Approximately R2.4 billion).
  • When the jackpot reaches €120 million, it stays there until it’s won.
  • The jackpot can stay at €120 million indefinitely until someone wins by matching all the numbers.
  • When the jackpot is capped at €120 million, the second-tier prize can grow to more than €10 million or €15 million, based on sales. This means you could win a significantly larger prize than usual.

Odds of Winning

EuroMillions

  • Overall Odds of Winning: 1 in 13
  • Jackpot Odds: in 139,838,160

EuroJackpot

  • Overall Odds of Winning: 1 in 32
  • Jackpot Odds: 1 in 139,838,160

Draw Days

EuroMillions

Draws take place every Tuesday and Friday.

EuroJackpot

Draws take place every Tuesday and Friday.

Decision Time: So Which Euro Lottery Should I bet on?

Choosing between EuroMillions and EuroJackpot boils down to personal preference as both offer similar odds of winning. However, EuroMillions offers a bigger jackpot cap. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which game suits your betting style and preference.

For those interested in placing bets on the outcome of the EuroMillions from South Africa, you might find our previous article, “How To Place EuroMillions Bets Online in South Africa,” particularly useful.