Eurojackpot vs EuroMillions

Same format, two separate lotteries

Eurojackpot and EuroMillions have had the same format since 2022 and 2016 respectively: 5 from 50 and 2 from 12 (Euro numbers or Lucky Stars). The jackpot odds are therefore identical: 1 in 139,838,160. But they are two completely separate draws with their own numbers, prize pools and countries. Eurojackpot is played in 19 countries including Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Italy, Spain and Scandinavia; EuroMillions in 9 countries including the UK, Ireland, France, Spain, Austria, Switzerland and Belgium. Spain is the only country that offers both.

Price and prize tiers

A Eurojackpot line costs 2.00 €; a EuroMillions line costs 2.50 € in euro countries (£2.50 in the UK). Eurojackpot has 12 prize tiers, EuroMillions 13 – the 13th tier (2 matches, no star) exists only in EuroMillions, which is why its odds of winning anything are slightly better (1 in 13 instead of 1 in 26). In return, the average prizes in the lower tiers are higher in Eurojackpot, because the pool is spread over fewer tiers.

Jackpots: cap of 120 vs 250 million

Eurojackpot starts at €10 million and is capped at 120 m €; EuroMillions starts at €17 million and can grow to 250 m €. The record Eurojackpot was 120 m €, the record EuroMillions jackpot 250 m €. Once the cap is reached, the surplus rolls down to the next tier. The jackpot is won in roughly one draw in six – in both games.

What is a line worth?

Adding up all tiers with their average prizes, and counting the jackpot at its current level with the estimated number of players, Eurojackpot is currently worth 34% of the stake and EuroMillions 35%. Both figures move with the jackpot: the higher it is, the more a line is worth – but the more people play and share it. The “Expected value” pages of both games show the calculation for every jackpot level.

Which lottery should you play?

In the UK and Ireland only EuroMillions is sold officially; in Germany only Eurojackpot. If you have the choice (in Spain, for instance): EuroMillions has the bigger jackpots and the better chance of a small win, Eurojackpot the cheaper line and higher mid-tier prizes. The choice makes no difference to the jackpot odds.