Lotto Basics

Lotto is the UK National lottery game that was established in 1994. Players simply select 6 different numbers ranging from 1 to 49 at a cost of £1 per line. The Lotto is drawn twice each week every Wednesday and Saturday with 6 main numbers drawn plus a bonus number. To win players need to match at least 3 balls from the main 6 numbers drawn. The bonus ball only comes into play if you match 5 numbers.

Lotto Odds

• Odds of Matching 6 Numbers
• There are 49 numbers which range from 1 to 49 which equates to a odds for matching all 6 numbers of 1 in 13,983,816.

• Odds of Matching 5 Numbers Plus The Bonus Ball
• The odds of matching any 5 of the 6 numbers drawn plus the bonus ball are 1 in 2,330,636

• Odds of Matching 5 Numbers
• The odds of matching any 5 of the 6 numbers drawn are 1 in 55,492

• Odds of Matching 4 Numbers
• The odds of matching any 4 numbers from the 6 numbers drawn are 1 in 1,033

• Odds of Matching 3 Numbers
• The odds of matching 3 numbers from the 6 numbers drawn are 1 in 57.

Lotto Average Prizes

• Lotto Jackpot Average Prize

• The average jackpot prize for matching all 6 numbers is typically £2M to £3M although is substancially higher when there is a rollover.

• Lotto Match 5 Numbers  Plus The Bonus Ball Average Prize
• The average prize for matching any 5 numbers from the main 6 drawn plus the bonus ball is around £100,000.

• Lotto Match 5 Numbers Average Prize
• The average payout for matching 5 balls from the 6 main balls drawn is £1,500

• Lotto Match 4 Numbers Average Prize
• The average payout for matching 4 numbers from the 6 drawn is a mere £65.

• Lotto Match 3 Numbers Fixed Prize
• There is a fixed prize of £10 for matching any 3 of the main 6 numbers drawn.

Lotto Plus 5

The Lotto Plus 5 was released for the consumption of the general UK market in February of this year, and was designed to act as an expansion of, rather than an entirely autonomous entity to, the main Lotto draw. Therefore, for those of us who are experiencing the Lotto Plus 5 for the very first time, the fact that there is a degree of overlap between the Lotto Plus 5 and the Main Lotto is not an error, but rather, a deliberate design. Specifically, the Lotto Plus 5 relies upon and makes use of the same sections of the game that are utilised for the main Lotto draw. Beyond that however, the overlap ends.

The producers of the main Lotto draw identified that by virtue of the fact that the main Lotto draw is concluded on a Wednesday and Saturday night, this meant that there was a bit of a gap in the interim period between the two draws. With that in mind then, the Lotto Plus 5 was specifically designed with the mandate of ensuring that the gap was adequately filled and so it takes place on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

For those of us who are cynically minded and are sceptical about what could he uncharitably described and interpreted as being a cheap ploy to raise more money by forcing players to pay for each individual draw, the Lotto Plus 5 enables players the opportunity to participate in all 5 of the draws with a single flat fee paid.

Playing Lotto Plus 5

The purchase of Lotto Plus 5 tickets is very straightforward indeed as the player will simply be required to submit their numbers for the main Lotto game and then, upon paying an additional fee, they will be entitled to have their numbers entered into the subsequent Lotto Plus 5 draws.

Please note that the draws that the numbers chosen by the player (and by association then, the player themselves) will be entirely contingent upon whether the player chooses to play in the Lotto Plus 5 game either relying upon the Wednesday or the Saturday Lotto entry. Therefore, if the player should decide that they will enter into Wednesday’s Lotto game and then choose to wager in the Lotto Plus 5 games as well then this means that the numbers that they choose will be entered for the Lotto Plus 5 draws hosted on a: Thursday, Friday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

What if the player decides that they will enter into the Saturday Lotto game, and like the example outlined above, decides to enter into the Lotto Plus 5 games at the same time? In that case, the numbers they draw will be entered into the Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday Lotto Plus 5 draws.

Please note that each of the individual Lotto Plus 5 draws that are hosted will provide the player with the opportunity to win various prizes of fixed amounts. The value of 1st prize for the Lotto Plus 5 draw (where the player is able to correctly match all 6 digits) is set at £250,000! Whilst the more avaricious among us may turn our nose up at the “paltry” figure of £250,000 because it is much lower than the jackpot we would win with the main Lotto draw, it is still a very considerable amount of money indeed. When you factor in the actual cost levied for the Lotto Plus 5 draws it is fair to say that the player is onto a good thing indeed.

The people responsible for the operation of the Lotto Plus 5 game have predicted that the game will help to generate an additional half a million new players. Indeed, one of the most exciting and commendable aspects of the Lotto Plus 5 is that every single day of the week is now filled with promises of excitement afoot, as every day provides the player with an opportunity to win a lot of money for little in return.

Lotto Hotpicks

The Lotto HotPicks is a game that is not neatly classed into one overarching category and so it can either be considered and labelled as an add on, expansion feature or a collection of five individual and separate lotto games combined into one convenient package.

For those of us who are not intimately familiar with the Lotto HotPicks, the reason that is often interpreted as an addendum is due to the fact that the results that will ultimately govern the course of the Lotto HotPicks are decided by virtue of the main Lotto draw. The main Lotto draw it is worth noting, takes place during Wednesday and Saturday.
However, using that single reason alone as the sole justification for the proper definition of Lotto HotPicks as an entirely independent entity is tenuous to say the least and as such, the fact that the player can play HotPicks without ever even having to place a wager on the main Lotto draw is the more compelling argument.

Earlier within the article, we had alluded to the fact that the Lotto HotPicks is also variously considered in some circles as an anthology of five individual and unique games and the reason for this is due to the fact that the player as the choice between five different so called “picks”.

Please note that the choice of pick that the player ultimately decides to rely upon will have a very important and significant impact on their ultimate chances of winning, in addition to the actual value of the jackpot. Therefore, the player who elects to use Pick 3 will need to choose a total of three numbers between 1-49, and then match each and every single one of these three numbers with the results determined in the main Lotto draw. If Pick 4 or 5 were chosen, then the player would choose 4 or 5 numbers between 1-49 respectively, and be required to ensure that they had chosen 4 or 5 numbers correctly.

Whenever a player purchases a Lotto HotPicks play slip they can choose up to a maximum of three numbers for the princely sum of £1 and it is at the discretion of the player as to whether they intend to wager on both Wednesday and Saturday’s draw or if they intend to rely upon just one.

Once the player is certain as to which game they intend to play, the next step is to then place a line through the relevant box to denote their preference of “pick”. Once this has been specified, they will need to choose the appropriate number of digits. It is important that the player chooses the correct amount of digits per playslip, as an error will automatically void the playslip entirely.

Be careful about making mistakes! The reason for this is that whilst you can simply specify that you have made an error by marking the strategically situated “void” box and then use another board, you are charged £1 per board used. With that in mind then, making errors can quickly turn out to be rather costly!

It is also possible for the player to place wagers and rely upon the same chosen range of numbers for a maximum duration of two months. In order to make use of this option, the player must ensure that they actually pay for each additional week for the future.

How To Check your Hotpicks Ticket

As soon as the correct amount of money has been paid by the customer using the HotPicks ticket, the retailer will then submit the numbers chosen by the player into the terminal upon which the HotPicks ticket will then be dispensed.

It is imperative that you verify the following pertinent details:

The numbers you informed the retailer you wished to place a wager on are reflected on the HotPicks ticket
The number of weeks and the draw date(s) you intend to rely upon are actually correct
The serial number is legible
That the void boxes featured on the ticket have not been marked in any way.

Once you are satisfied that your HotPicks ticket passes this quality inspection the next step is to then write your personal details (specifically, your name and the address you reside at) on the back of the ticket. Whatever you do: don’t lose the ticket because if you do you won’t be able to participate in the draw, nor will you be able to actually claim your prize money. You have been warned!

How To Win on HotPicks

Game You Match You win odds
HotPick 1 1 number £5 9:1
HotPick 2 2 numbers £40 79:1
HotPick 3 3 numbers £450 922:1
HotPick 4 4 numbers £7,000 14,126:1
HotPick 5 5 numbers £130,000 317,814:1

Please note that whilst the above values are specified as the current value of the prizes on offer, the operators of the HotPicks have the legal right to reduce the value of the prizes and the only information provided concerning this is “in exceptional circumstances.” The actual proper definition of this is yet to be determined.

In the event that the value of the prizes are reduced to less than the values specified in the above table then the new value of the prizes (which are to be determined) will be contingent upon the value and the volume of sales made during the course of the game.

Thunderball

The Thunderball Game Play slip contains a grand total of five boards within it and there is a total of ten boxes (two boxes per board).Although there are ten boxes in total, this is simply five pairs of two boxes which are the same across the boards and so the first box, which is labelled “SELECT FIVE” contains 1-39 from which the player will choose their intended digits.

The remaining box which is labelled “SELECT ONE” is the box that features the Thunderball digits 1-14, and so as the label will indicate, the player will need to choose only a single digit.

Please note that if you are uncertain as to what numbers you wish to choose and therefore would like the choice to be randomized then this is easily achieved by means of ticking the “Lucky Dip” box which is contained within the boards. Alternatively, the player can have the numbers randomized by asking the retailer from whom they purchased the play slips, to give them a Lucky Dip.

If you decide that you would like to make use of another Thunderball selection then you will need to choose another board, although it is essential that each additional board you choose will cost an additional £1. If you find that you have made an error then the best way to remedy this is to ensure that you mark the handily placed “void” box and then use another board.

If you take a look at your Thunderball Play Slip you will notice that there is a section of it which is labelled “No. of WEEKS” and this will allow you make use of the same sequence of numbers for a maximum period of two months. The deadline for this will start ticking on the next draw. Please note that if you decide to play numbers in advance you will be required to pay in advance as well. There are no extra fees/penalties charged for players who decide to make use of the “playing in advance” feature.

How To Check Your Thunderball Ticket

As soon as you hand over your money for the play slip, the retailer will then submit the numbers you have chosen into the terminal and then from there, print off a hard copy of the ticket in question. Please ensure that you verify that the numbers that are included on your ticket are indeed the numbers you chose. In addition, take the time to check that the serial number on the ticket is plainly visible and that the void box included on it has not been ticked.
If satisfied that the ticket passes the inherent quality check, the next step is to then write both your name and your address on the back of the ticket. Whatever you do, don’t lose the ticket because if you do, you will have no means of actually claiming your prize money! The reason for this is that the organisers of the Thunderball game rely upon the ticket as the proof that you are genuinely entitled to the prize money.

How To Win At Thunderball

One of the most exciting things about the THUNDERBALL DRAW is that the player will only require a single digit in order to win a prize although it is worth noting that the more numbers the player matches, the bigger the value of the prize that they win.

Winning Numbers

• Match 5 numbers and the THUNDERBALL £500,000
• Match 5 Numbers £5,000
• Match 4 numbers and the THUNDERBALL £250
• Match 4 numbers £100
• Match 3 numbers and the THUNDERBALL £20
• Match 3 numbers £10
• Match 2 numbers and the THUNDERBALL £10
• Match 1 numbers and the THUNDERBALL £5
• Match the THUNDERBALL £3

Claiming Your Thunderball Winnings

Players who have prize winnings up to the value of £75 will be able to claim such prizes from the National Lottery On-Line retailer. The process that is involved with the collection/redemption process is very straightforward indeed as the player will simply present the winning ticket to the retailer who will then verify it against the numbers specified. Once this has been confirmed, the terminal will print off a validation ticket which will specify the actual value of your prize.

This is not a mere formality, it is intended to ensure that the figure is correct i.e. that the player will receive the money that they are actually entitled to. It is worth noting that there are differences in the maximum amount of money that can be paid by retailers. Some are able to only pay a maximum of £200, whereas others have the power to grant £500. On the other hand, National Lottery Post Offices will pay out prizes of up to £10,000, although if the value of the prize on offer should exceed £500 then the payment will be awarded by means of cheque.

If you are fortunate enough to have won anything over the value of £10,000 then congratulations! The rules for the redemption prize are a little different here, for players in this fortunate position will need to make the collection in person, National Lottery Regional Centre. In the interests of safety, the prize money that is due to the collected will be dispersed only in cheque form.

If the value of your prize is over £500 then you will need to ensure that you fill out a Prize Claim Form which can be collected from any of the licensed National Lottery retailers, or by means of phoning the National Lottery line directly and providing proof of your identity. Please note that additional checks maybe required to verify your identity at the discretion of the retailers.

Another restriction to be aware of is that there is a deadline of 180 days from the date of the winning draw within which the prize MUST be collected otherwise the winner will forfeit the prize in its entirety. It is possible to claim winnings up to the value of £10,000 by means of post but to be honest, this is a fairly risky approach and loss of the winnings in the post will not result in legal liability on the part of the National Lottery co-ordinators.

Thunderball Changes

Further amendments were made to the world of Thunderball last year, on May 9th. Specifically, the value of the jackpot was doubled, but the odds of actually winning the jackpot were reduced by more than 50%.

EuroMillions Draw History

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Euromillions 25th November – Millionaires Raffle

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The EuroMillions lottery was designed to ensure maximum ease of use for the players, and the designers of it have managed to accomplish this objective very competently. Each individual play slip for the EuroMillions lottery contains several different sections, and each of these sections contain a couple of number boards.

The main number board will contain a list of numbers starting from 1 and going up to 50 whilst the second board has a much smaller range of numbers that spans from 1-9. The player will then be required to ensure that they choose a total of five digits from the main board, as well as an additional two digits from the secondary board.

One curious design quirk of the EuroMillions lottery is that the player has the ability to actually have their numbers chosen for them. All the player has to do is intimate this preference by means of marking the Lucky Dip option that is featured on the play slip.

The EuroMillions Lottery is hosted on Friday evenings, but for those of us who are busy never fear: you can always find the results of the draw on the official website only minutes after the balls have been dropped from the machine.
If you like to make your lottery wagers based on previous and current patterns in the numbers that have appeared then your best bet is to take a look at the full list of the various Euromillions statistics. That list will outline the numbers which have the highest and lowest chances of being picked, alongside with the number of times that a particular digit has actually been pushed out from the machine.

If you happen to reside in the UK and wish to actually purchase your EuroMillions Lottery play slips via the internet then all you need to do is click on the button labelled “Uk residents”. Please note that if you do intend to make use of this option then you will need to not only open an account, but you will also be required to deposit a minimum balance of £5 using a debit card.

Another important facet of the process to be aware is that all winnings earned in the EuroMillions Lottery up to the value of £500 will be deposited into the account of the winner.

If you manage to earn a prize that exceeds the £500 threshold but which is no more than £5000 then the full value of the prize will be deposited to your debit card that you used to create the account in the first place. Finally, for prizes that exceed the £5000 threshold can only be competently redeemed by means of getting in touch with the Customer Care Team. Once the verification process has been completed, the final balance will be made by cheque.

How to Play Euromillions Online (Outside UK)

If you currently reside outwith the jurisdiction of the UK, and are eager to play the EuroMillions lottery via the internet then all you need to do is click on the “outside UK” button which is featured above. Don’t worry about the credentials or trustworthiness of the retailer in question, as they are very reliable indeed and pride themselves on their speedy delivery of all winnings rightfully earned.

All purchases of tickets will be made via credit card payment and the benefit here is that by virtue of the fact that the tickets are sent via email, this means that the player won’t lose or damage them. The EuroMillotter will check the numbers chosen by the player and in the event that the numbers match, will provide payment.

As with UK residents who decide to place a wager, the procedures for the release of prize money will differ, contingent upon the value of the prize won. Specifically, winnings up to the value of $500 will be deposited in the bank account of the player, whilst winnings that exceed this value will be transmitted to the player by means of a Bank Draft.

EuroMillions News

EuroMillions News is so much more than a convenient location within which you can get all the latest information concerning the results from the draw: it also contains motivational stories concerning those lucky few who have managed to earn themselves a jackpot.

A 30 Second History of EuroMillions

The EuroMillions Lottery first came into existence roughly a decade ago, but was not actually released for the benefit of the general public until Friday 13th 2004, and it received a fairly lukewarm reception as it was released in only three countries which were the UK, France and Spain. Since then however, the game has snowballed in the level of interest it has attracted and so to date, there is now a grand total of nine countries that feature the game.

Euromillions Raffle

A newly introduced gaming concept has been the Millionaire Raffle, and this is so named because the plan is to generate a new millionaire in the UK no matter what numbers happen to be chosen.

The Health Lottery

The Health Lottery is a brand new lotto game created to raise funds for one single cause, which is of course health. For each Health Lottery ticket sold, at a cost of £1, 20p is guaranteed to go to support health related causes. The good cause fund actually goes to the People’s Health Trust, also known as the PHT. The PHT is a renowned independent charity which works extremely closely with local communities throughout the UK. The PHT have specified that their main aim is support health related causes, throughout the UK, to make a difference in the long term for UK local communities.

Health Lottery – How To Play

The Health Lottery is extremely easy to play and in effect plays in a similar manner to UK lotto games such as the National Lottery and Euromillions. Players simply pick 5 difference numbers (1 to 50), then check their tickets each Saturday night when the draw is made.

Health Lottery Prizes

Unlike other Lotto games, the Health Lottery has fixed prices depending on how many numbers you may be lucky enough to match. The pay outs are as below:

Match 3 Numbers – You Win – £50
Match 4 Numbers – You Win – £500
Match 5 Numbers – You Win £100,000