UK Lotto: Official Guide, Rules, Odds & How to Play
What is UK Lotto?
UK Lotto is the oldest and biggest national lottery in the United Kingdom, now operated by Allwyn (formerly Camelot). Since its launch in 1994, it has become a national institution, creating thousands of millionaires and raising billions for good causes across the UK.
All Lotto prizes are paid as tax-free lump sums. Of every £1 spent on Lottery games:
Did You Know?
UK Lotto was the first National Lottery game in the UK when it launched in 1994. In 2024, operation transferred from Camelot to Allwyn after 30 years. Players must be at least 16 years old to participate, making it one of the most accessible lottery games in the country!
How to play UK Lotto?
Players select six numbers from 1 to 59. Six main numbers are drawn, along with one bonus number. You win the jackpot by matching all six main numbers.
The bonus number is only relevant when you match five main numbers - it then determines whether you win the second or third prize tier.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Choose 6 main numbers from 1 to 59
- Remember the bonus ball affects 5-number matches
- Wait for the draw on Wednesday or Saturday
- Check your numbers - match at least 2 to win
- Claim your prize - all prizes are tax-free!
You can play UK Lotto online here.
Odds to win UK Lotto prizes
UK Lotto offers excellent overall odds with 1 in 9.3 chance to win any prize!
| Winning Selections | Odds | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Match 6 numbers | 1 in 45,057,474 | Jackpot! |
| Match 5 numbers + bonus | 1 in 7,509,579 | £1,000,000 |
| Match 5 numbers | 1 in 144,415 | £1,750 |
| Match 4 numbers | 1 in 2,180 | £140 |
| Match 3 numbers | 1 in 96.2 | £30 |
| Match 2 numbers | 1 in 10.3 | One Lucky Dip (value £2) |
Overall odds of winning any prize: 1 in 9.3
Historical Prize Breakdown
History since 19 October 1994:
| Winning Selections | MAX Prize | AVG Prize | MIN Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 6 numbers | £52,964,701 | £5,121,444 | £122,510 |
| Match 5 numbers + bonus | £26,410,895 | £322,048 | £3,848 |
| Match 5 numbers | £18,777 | £1,866 | £2 |
| Match 4 numbers | £863 | £97 | £12 |
| Match 3 numbers | £157 | £19 | £10 |
| Match 2 numbers | £2 | £2 | £2 |
Winning vs Losing Combinations
After each UK Lotto draw, the distribution of combinations is:
Winning Probability Calculations
In UK Lotto, you pick 6 numbers from 1 to 59. You need to match at least 2 numbers to win a prize. The number of combinations that win any prize after each draw is calculated as follows:
Total Number of Combinations
The total number of ways to choose 6 numbers from 59 is given by:
Winning Combinations Breakdown
Let's calculate all the winning combinations for each prize tier:
| Prize Tier | Winning Combinations | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Match 2 numbers | 4,655,775 | \( \binom{6}{2} \times \binom{53}{4} = 15 \times 292,825 = 4,392,375 \) |
| Match 3 numbers | 222,600 | \( \binom{6}{3} \times \binom{53}{3} = 20 \times 23,426 = 468,520 \) |
| Match 4 numbers | 14,190 | \( \binom{6}{4} \times \binom{53}{2} = 15 \times 1,378 = 20,670 \) |
| Match 5 numbers | 318 | \( \binom{6}{5} \times \binom{53}{1} = 6 \times 53 = 318 \) |
| Match 5 numbers + bonus | 252 | \( \binom{6}{5} \times \binom{1}{1} \times \binom{52}{1} = 6 \times 1 \times 52 = 312 \) |
| Match 6 numbers | 1 | \( \binom{6}{6} = 1 \) |
| Total Winning Combinations | 4,881,884 |
Non-Winning Combinations
Combinations that match 0 or 1 number win nothing:
Match 1: \( \binom{6}{1} \times \binom{53}{5} = 6 \times 2,869,685 = 17,218,110 \)
Total losing: 22,957,480 + 17,218,110 = 40,175,590
Conclusion
Therefore, there are 4,881,884 combinations (11%) that win any prize in each UK Lotto drawing, while 40,175,590 combinations (89%) win nothing.
Strategic Advantage
With our system, you can focus on playing the winning 11% of UK Lotto combinations, significantly improving your chances of regular wins! The majority of winning combinations come from matching just 2 numbers, showing that even small matches can lead to prizes.
Ready to Play Britain's Favourite Lottery?
Use our advanced tools and strategies to maximize your chances of winning!
Explore Winning StrategiesHistorical Changes & Evolution
Major operator change with controversial transition:
- New Operator: Allwyn Entertainment replaced Camelot after 30 years
- Controversial Transition: Camelot challenged the decision but ultimately lost
- Digital Focus: Allwyn promised enhanced digital experience and innovation
- Continuity Assured: Game rules and ticket prices remained unchanged
Source: Allwyn UK Official Site
Significant changes introduced fixed prize amounts:
- Fixed Prizes: All prize levels from "match 4" and above became fixed amounts
- Raffle Discontinued: Lotto Millionaire raffle ended
- Rollover Limit: Maximum of five rollovers
- Jackpot Rolldown: Unwon jackpots shared among all prize winners
Major overhaul of the game format:
- Expanded Pool: Number pool increased from 49 to 59
- New Prize Tier: Added "match 2" prize (free Lucky Dip)
- Rollover Changes: Removed rollover limitations
- Millionaire Raffle: Introduced with 20 winners of £20,000 and one £1 million winner
Ticket price doubled with prize restructuring:
- Price Increase: Ticket price doubled from £1 to £2
- Larger Jackpots: Average jackpots increased significantly
- Prize Changes: Bonuses for matching 3-4 numbers, reductions for 5+ matches
- New Raffle: Lotto Raffle introduced with 50 winners of £20,000
UK Lotto launched as Britain's first National Lottery:
- Historic Launch: First National Lottery game in the UK
- Initial Format: 6/49 matrix with bonus ball
- National Phenomenon: Quickly became cultural institution
- Good Causes: Established funding for charitable projects
Special Draws
UK Lotto has held several special bonus draws throughout its history:
May 2002 - Name Change Celebration
Three additional draws with £4 million jackpots each to celebrate the name change to "Lotto".
November 2004 - 10th Anniversary
Special 6/49 draw with £10 million jackpot to celebrate 10 years of UK Lotto.
April 2006 - Rival Launch Response
Additional £5 million jackpot draw coinciding with rival lottery launch.
Source: National Lottery Official Site
