Lotteries
Dreaming of winning millions in the lottery and hitting the jackpot? It’s not only possible but happens several days a week! The game of chance only requires six crosses to create millionaires, as the lottery numbers are drawn twice a week. 6 out of 49 is not only as significant as the Sunday Statort but also the most popular of all games of chance on the market. There is hardly anyone who has never tried their luck here.
Lotto Origins and Different Versions
While everyone has heard of Eurojackpot, PowerBall, and Mega Millions are also familiar to some players. In this article, we’ll explore the differences and what to look out for.
Lotto 6/49 Mechanics and Options
For those unfamiliar with the 6 out of 49 lotto, here’s a helpful explanation. As a player, you bet on which six numbers will be drawn randomly during the draw. You can choose from number fields from 1 to 49 on a ticket, marking the numbers you believe will be drawn with a cross.
To win the main prize in the draw, you must also get the super number right. This super number is found on the respective ticket. With online tickets, you can select the ticket number individually. If you buy a ticket from a physical retailer, the number is fixed.
If you correctly guess both the six numbers from the field of numbers 1 to 49 and the correct ticket number, you win the grand prize, also known as the jackpot, generally in the range of at least 1 million euros.
Cost of Filling a 6 out of 49 Lottery Field
Filling in one field, attempting your luck once in the 6 out of 49, costs one euro. To increase your chance of winning, you can fill in more fields or play additional games. Additional lotteries, including Game 77 and Super 6, are also available.
Playing Additional Lotteries: Spiel 77 and Super 6
Simply check the box on the 6 out of 49 ticket to select the additional lotteries, increasing your chances of winning. To win in Game 77 or Super 6, you only need to have the correct ticket number.
The more correct digits of the ticket number, the higher the prize. Unlike the constantly changing jackpot in the 6 out of 49 Lotto, the payout odds in supplementary lotteries are fixed. However, there are fees for the additional lotteries: Spiel 77 costs $2.50, and Super 6 costs $1.25.
The highest payout for Spiel 77 is at least $177,000. To achieve this payout, all seven numbers of the ticket number must match the draw. In Super 6, the highest prize is $100,000. Here, too, this payout is achieved if all six numbers on the ticket match the draw.
Probability of Winning Lotto 6 out of 49
The probability of hitting the Lotto 6 out of 49 jackpot is 1 in 139,838,160. For those interested, here are the probabilities for the two additional lotteries: In the case of Spiel 77, the probability of winning the main prize is 1 in 10,000,000, and in the case of Super 6, the probability is 1 in 1,000,000.
Other Lottery Types
Many other types of lotto can be played, differing not only in the cost of a ticket but also in the maximum possible winnings. The most popular forms of lotto are described here. There are specific lotteries played only in Europe, as well as those offered in the US. If you play online, you can participate in all lotteries!
Eurojackpot
To win the million-dollar jackpot, you must correctly guess seven numbers. Eurojackpot is structured differently from the classic 6 out of 49 lottery. A player has two fields to choose from. In Field A, you pick 5 numbers from a range of 1 to 50. Then, you choose two numbers from Field B, also known as Euro numbers, containing numbers 1 to 8. The odds of winning Eurojackpot are 1 in 95,344,200, requiring all seven numbers to be correct.
Euromillions
To win the jackpot, you must correctly guess all seven numbers, similar to Eurojackpot. Choose five numbers from the first field (1 to 50) and two “star” numbers from another field (1 to 12). The odds of winning Euromillions are 1 in 139,838,160, with all seven numbers needing to be correct.
Powerball
Powerball, the American representative, offers high winnings. To participate, select five numbers from the field (1 to 69) and one Powerball number from an extra field (1 to 26). The odds of winning Powerball are 1 in 292,201,338, requiring all six numbers to be correct for the jackpot.
Mega Millions
The American version of the European lottery, Mega Millions, offers incredibly high prizes. To participate, choose 5 numbers from 1 to 75 and one additional number from 1 to 15. The odds of winning Mega Millions are 1 in 258,890,850, with the jackpot won by matching all six numbers.
El Gordo
El Gordo is the Spanish Christmas lottery, played since 1812. There are no numbers to pick; to have a chance at the grand prize, buy a ticket. With 100,000 different ticket numbers, the probability of winning is 1 in 100,000 due to the limited number of tickets issued.
When was the First Lotto Played?
The first lotto-like bets date back to the 15th century. In an attempt to determine council members in Genoa, ninety names were written on slips of paper, and the five new council members were drawn from these slips. What was intended as a fair choice quickly turned into a betting frenzy. The first person to generate significant sales with Lotto was Benedetto Gentile, offering “5 out of 90” and yielding high profits, leading others to follow suit.
How Can You Increase Your Chances of Winning?
Numerous strategies can increase the likelihood of winning. Filling in as many fields on a lottery ticket as possible with different number sequences raises jackpot-winning chances, albeit at a higher ticket cost.
Pools are another effective strategy. All fields on a lottery ticket are filled in, and the ticket cost is divided among participants, making it more affordable. However, any potential winnings must be shared among all participants.
Betting when the jackpot is exceptionally high is also recommended. This allows you to skip participating in rounds with a comparatively low jackpot. If you use the money saved for high jackpots, the chance of hitting the jackpot increases.
Lottery Participation Throughout the Week
If you are registered with international providers, you have the opportunity to participate in lotteries throughout the week, excluding Mondays. Who likes Mondays anyway?
| Weekday | Lottery |
|---|---|
| Monday | PowerBall |
| Tuesday | Euromillions |
| Wednesday | MegaMillions |
| Thursday | PowerBall |
| Friday | EuroMillions and EuroJackpot |
| Saturday | MegaMillions |
| Sunday | PowerBall and ElGordo (for Christmas) |
