System bets: how much do 6 or 7 numbers really improve your odds, and what do they cost?
Picking 6 or 7 numbers instead of 5 feels like stacking the odds in your favour. For the jackpot it does, but in exactly the same proportion as the price. And for winning anything at all, a system bet does worse than the same number of separate lines. The numbers, game by game.
The principle: a system bet is many lines at once
A full system bet automatically plays every single line that can be formed from the numbers you pick. In EuroMillions you pick 5 numbers from 50: with 6 numbers you play the 6 possible 5-number lines, with 7 numbers 21 lines. The general rule is the binomial coefficient: with k numbers in a game where you pick K, you play C(k, K) lines. For 6-number games (German Lotto 6aus49, Swiss Lotto, EuroDreams), 7 numbers give 7 lines and 8 numbers 28 lines.
The price follows the same arithmetic: number of lines times the price of a line. In France, FDJ states that the price of a multiple EuroMillions entry is its number of combinations times €2.50: 6 numbers and 2 stars cost €15, 7 numbers €52.50.
The jackpot: better odds, but at the same price per chance
Every line in a system is a different combination, so your jackpot chance rises exactly by the number of lines. So does the price. The table gives the cost and jackpot odds with 1 or 2 extra numbers for the six big European games.
| Game | Single line | +1 number | +2 numbers |
|---|---|---|---|
| EuroMillions 5/50 + 2/12 | €2.50 1 in 139,838,160 | 6 → 6 lines, €15.00 1 in 23,306,360 | 7 → 21 lines, €52.50 1 in 6,658,960 |
| Eurojackpot 5/50 + 2/12 | €2.00 1 in 139,838,160 | 6 → 6 lines, €12.00 1 in 23,306,360 | 7 → 21 lines, €42.00 1 in 6,658,960 |
| French Loto 5/49 + 1/10 | €2.20 1 in 19,068,840 | 6 → 6 lines, €13.20 1 in 3,178,140 | 7 → 21 lines, €46.20 1 in 908,040 |
| German Lotto 6aus49 6/49 + Superzahl | €1.20 1 in 139,838,160 | 7 → 7 lines, €8.40 1 in 19,976,880 | 8 → 28 lines, €33.60 1 in 4,994,220 |
| Swiss Lotto 6/42 + 1/6 | 2.50 CHF 1 in 31,474,716 | 7 → 7 lines, 17.50 CHF 1 in 4,496,388 | 8 → 28 lines, 70.00 CHF 1 in 1,124,097 |
| EuroDreams 6/40 + 1/5 | €2.50 1 in 19,191,900 | 7 → 7 lines, €17.50 1 in 2,741,700 | 8 → 28 lines, €70.00 1 in 685,425 |
In EuroMillions, 7 numbers give 21 times the jackpot chance (1 in 6,658,960 instead of 1 in 139,838,160) for 21 times the price. The price of one chance does not change. A system does not make the game better value; it just plays many lines in one go.
The catch: for winning anything, a system does worse
The 21 lines of a 7-number system are very similar: they share almost all their numbers. When the draw goes badly, they all lose together; when it goes well, several lines win at once. Buying the same number of lines with different numbers spreads the risk instead. We calculated the exact probability of winning at least one prize (any tier) in both cases.
| Game | Any prize: single line | System +1 number | Same number of separate lines | System +2 numbers | Same number of separate lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EuroMillions | 7.7% | 10.9% | 38.2% | 14.4% | 81.4% |
| Eurojackpot | 3.1% | 4.5% | 17.4% | 6.1% | 48.8% |
| French Loto | 16.7% | 19.6% | 66.6% | 22.9% | 97.8% |
| German Lotto 6aus49 | 3.2% | 4.8% | 20.3% | 6.7% | 59.6% |
| Swiss Lotto | 2.9% | 4.8% | 18.7% | 7.2% | 56.2% |
| EuroDreams | 21.5% | 27.9% | 81.6% | 34.4% | 99.9% |
In EuroMillions, a 6-number system (€15) wins at least one prize in 10.9% of draws; 6 separate lines for the same money do so in 38.2% of draws. The long-run average return is identical: every line in the system earns on average as much as a single line. The system concentrates wins into fewer draws, with several prizes at once when it hits. That is a different shape of result, not an advantage.
Abbreviated (partial) systems play only some of the combinations. They cost less, and the jackpot chance drops in exactly the same proportion.
All games: number of lines and cost with 1 or 2 extra numbers
The same calculation for all 30 number lotteries covered by Lottochaos. The price is that of a single line in the game's home country, without add-ons or fees. Not every lottery sells system bets; the table then shows the equivalent in single lines. The jackpot odds of a system follow directly: the single-line odds divided by the number of lines.
| Game | Format | Price per line | Jackpot, single line | +1 number | +2 numbers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash Five | 5/35 | $1.00 | 1 in 324,632 | 6 lines · $6.00 | 21 lines · $21.00 |
| Daily Lotto | 5/36 | 3.00 R | 1 in 376,992 | 6 lines · 18.00 R | 21 lines · 63.00 R |
| EuroDreams | 6/40 + 1/5 | €2.50 | 1 in 19,191,900 | 7 lines · €17.50 | 28 lines · €70.00 |
| Eurojackpot | 5/50 + 2/12 | €2.00 | 1 in 139,838,160 | 6 lines · €12.00 | 21 lines · €42.00 |
| EuroMillions | 5/50 + 2/12 | €2.50 | 1 in 139,838,160 | 6 lines · €15.00 | 21 lines · €52.50 |
| Korea Lotto 6/45 | 6/45 + bonus ball | 1,000 ₩ | 1 in 8,145,060 | 7 lines · 7,000 ₩ | 28 lines · 28,000 ₩ |
| French Loto | 5/49 + 1/10 | €2.20 | 1 in 19,068,840 | 6 lines · €13.20 | 21 lines · €46.20 |
| Lotto 6 aus 45 | 6/45 + bonus ball | €1.50 | 1 in 8,145,060 | 7 lines · €10.50 | 28 lines · €42.00 |
| Lotto 6/49 | 6/49 + bonus ball | $3.00 | 1 in 13,983,816 | 7 lines · $21.00 | 28 lines · $84.00 |
| German Lotto 6aus49 | 6/49 + Superzahl | €1.20 | 1 in 139,838,160 | 7 lines · €8.40 | 28 lines · €33.60 |
| Lotto Belgique | 6/45 + bonus ball | €1.50 | 1 in 8,145,060 | 7 lines · €10.50 | 28 lines · €42.00 |
| Lotto Max | 7/52 + bonus ball | $1.50 | 1 in 133,784,560 | 8 lines · $12.00 | 36 lines · $54.00 |
| Lotto Plus 1 | 6/52 + bonus ball | 2.50 R | 1 in 20,358,520 | 7 lines · 17.50 R | 28 lines · 70.00 R |
| Lotto Texas | 6/54 | $1.00 | 1 in 25,827,165 | 7 lines · $7.00 | 28 lines · $28.00 |
| Mega Millions | 5/70 + 1/24 | $5.00 | 1 in 290,472,336 | 6 lines · $30.00 | 21 lines · $105.00 |
| Millionaire for Life | 5/58 + 1/5 | $5.00 | 1 in 22,910,580 | 6 lines · $30.00 | 21 lines · $105.00 |
| MillionDAY | 5/55 | €1.00 | 1 in 3,478,761 | 6 lines · €6.00 | 21 lines · €21.00 |
| New York Lotto | 6/59 + bonus ball | $0.50 | 1 in 45,057,474 | 7 lines · $3.50 | 28 lines · $14.00 |
| Powerball | 5/69 + 1/26 | $2.00 | 1 in 292,201,338 | 6 lines · $12.00 | 21 lines · $42.00 |
| PowerBall XTRA | 5/50 + 1/16 | 5.00 R | 1 in 33,900,160 | 6 lines · 30.00 R | 21 lines · 105.00 R |
| Québec 49 | 6/49 + bonus ball | $1.00 | 1 in 13,983,816 | 7 lines · $7.00 | 28 lines · $28.00 |
| SA Lotto | 6/52 + bonus ball | 5.00 R | 1 in 20,358,520 | 7 lines · 35.00 R | 28 lines · 140.00 R |
| SA PowerBall | 5/50 + 1/16 | 10.00 R | 1 in 33,900,160 | 6 lines · 60.00 R | 21 lines · 210.00 R |
| Set For Life | 5/47 + 1/10 | £1.50 | 1 in 15,339,390 | 6 lines · £9.00 | 21 lines · £31.50 |
| SuperEnalotto | 6/90 + bonus ball | €1.00 | 1 in 622,614,630 | 7 lines · €7.00 | 28 lines · €28.00 |
| Swiss Lotto | 6/42 + 1/6 | 2.50 CHF | 1 in 31,474,716 | 7 lines · 17.50 CHF | 28 lines · 70.00 CHF |
| Texas Two Step | 4/35 + 1/35 | $1.50 | 1 in 1,832,600 | 5 lines · $7.50 | 15 lines · $22.50 |
| Thunderball | 5/39 + 1/14 | £1.00 | 1 in 8,060,598 | 6 lines · £6.00 | 21 lines · £21.00 |
| TOTO | 6/49 + bonus ball | 1.00 S$ | 1 in 13,983,816 | 7 lines · 7.00 S$ | 28 lines · 28.00 S$ |
| UK Lotto | 6/59 + bonus ball | £2.00 | 1 in 45,057,474 | 7 lines · £14.00 | 28 lines · £56.00 |
The bottom line
A system bet improves neither the price-to-chance ratio nor the average return: you simply play more lines, each at the normal price. It raises the jackpot chance exactly as much as the stake. For the chance of winning anything, it is worse than the same number of different lines. Its only benefit is practical: one entry instead of filling in 21 lines, and several prizes at once when your numbers come up.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a 7-number EuroMillions entry cost?
7 numbers and 2 stars play 21 combinations, i.e. 21 × €2.50 = €52.50 in France. 6 numbers play 6 combinations, i.e. €15.
Does a system bet improve my odds?
Yes, but exactly in proportion to the stake: 21 lines give 21 times the jackpot chance for 21 times the price. The price of one chance stays the same.
Is a system bet better than several single lines?
For the jackpot, it is the same for the same number of lines. For winning at least one prize, different single lines do better: in EuroMillions 38.2% versus 10.9% for 6 lines. The average return is the same either way.
How many lines do 6, 7 or 8 numbers play?
In 5-number games (EuroMillions, Eurojackpot, French Loto): 6 numbers = 6 lines, 7 numbers = 21 lines. In 6-number games (Lotto 6aus49, Swiss Lotto, EuroDreams): 7 numbers = 7 lines, 8 numbers = 28 lines.
Are abbreviated wheeling systems better value?
No. They play fewer combinations for less money, and the jackpot chance drops in the same proportion. No system changes the price of a chance.
A system bet means many lines at once, at the normal price. If you play one, set the budget first: 7 numbers in EuroMillions cost €52.50 per draw. Our EuroMillions system ticket works out every combination and what it would have won in past draws.
Can you predict lottery numbers?EuroMillions expected value
Our calculation: exact odds from the hypergeometric distribution, using each game's rules and prize tiers (Lottochaos game pages); "at least one prize": full system with the bonus numbers of a single line, compared with the same number of independently chosen single lines. Price of a single line without add-ons or fees (November 2026).