Set For Life: Official Guide, Rules, Odds & How to Play
What is Set For Life?
Set For Life is a revolutionary lottery game where you can win £3,600,000 - paid in £10,000 monthly payments spread over 30 years. Launched in 2019, it offers a unique prize structure that provides long-term financial security.
Unlike most lottery games where the top prize is paid as a lump sum, Set For Life's top prize is paid monthly, giving winners financial stability for decades.
All Set For Life prizes are paid as tax-free payments. Of every £1 spent on Set For Life tickets:
Did You Know?
Set For Life was launched in March 2019 as the first UK lottery game to offer annuity-style payments. The top prize provides £10,000 every month for 30 years - that's £120,000 per year! Even the second prize offers £10,000 monthly for a full year. This unique structure helps prevent winners from spending their winnings too quickly.
How to play Set For Life?
Players select five main numbers from 1 to 47 and one Life Ball number from 1 to 10. To win the jackpot, you need to match all five main numbers plus the Life Ball.
The Life Ball enhances your winnings - matching it with main numbers can significantly increase your prize amount.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Choose 5 main numbers from 1 to 47
- Select 1 Life Ball from 1 to 10
- Wait for the draw on Monday or Thursday
- Check your numbers - match at least 2 main numbers to win
- Claim your prize - receive monthly payments for life-changing wins!
You can play Set For Life online here.
Odds to win Set For Life prizes
Set For Life offers excellent overall odds with 1 in 12.4 chance to win any prize!
| Main Numbers | Life Ball | Odds | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | 1 | 1 in 15,339,390 | £10,000 every month for 30 years |
| 5 | 0 | 1 in 1,704,377 | £10,000 every month for 1 year |
| 4 | 1 | 1 in 73,045 | £250 |
| 4 | 0 | 1 in 8,116 | £50 |
| 3 | 1 | 1 in 1,782 | £30 |
| 3 | 0 | 1 in 198 | £20 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 in 134 | £10 |
| 2 | 0 | 1 in 15 | £5 |
Overall odds of winning any prize: 1 in 12.4
Winning vs Losing Combinations
After each Set For Life draw, the distribution of combinations is:
Winning Probability Calculations
In Set For Life, you pick 5 numbers from 1 to 47 and 1 Life Ball from 1 to 10. You win a prize by matching at least 2 main numbers. The number of combinations that win any prize is calculated as follows:
Total Number of Combinations
The total number of ways to choose 5 numbers from 47 and 1 Life Ball from 10 is:
Winning Combinations Breakdown
Let's calculate all the winning combinations for each prize tier:
| Prize Tier | Winning Combinations | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Match 2 + 0 Life Ball | 1,119,300 | \( \binom{5}{2} \times \binom{42}{3} \times \binom{1}{0} \times \binom{9}{1} \) |
| Match 2 + Life Ball | 111,930 | \( \binom{5}{2} \times \binom{42}{3} \times \binom{1}{1} \times \binom{9}{0} \) |
| Match 3 + 0 Life Ball | 3,366 | \( \binom{5}{3} \times \binom{42}{2} \times \binom{1}{0} \times \binom{9}{1} \) |
| Match 3 + Life Ball | 374 | \( \binom{5}{3} \times \binom{42}{2} \times \binom{1}{1} \times \binom{9}{0} \) |
| Match 4 + 0 Life Ball | 1,890 | \( \binom{5}{4} \times \binom{42}{1} \times \binom{1}{0} \times \binom{9}{1} \) |
| Match 4 + Life Ball | 210 | \( \binom{5}{4} \times \binom{42}{1} \times \binom{1}{1} \times \binom{9}{0} \) |
| Match 5 + 0 Life Ball | 9 | \( \binom{5}{5} \times \binom{42}{0} \times \binom{1}{0} \times \binom{9}{1} \) |
| Match 5 + Life Ball | 1 | \( \binom{5}{5} \times \binom{42}{0} \times \binom{1}{1} \times \binom{9}{0} \) |
| Total Winning Combinations | 1,236,210 |
Non-Winning Combinations
Combinations that don't win any prize (match 0 or 1 main numbers):
Match 1: \( \binom{5}{1} \times \binom{42}{4} \times \binom{10}{1} = 5 \times 111,930 \times 10 = 5,596,500 \)
Total losing: 8,506,680 + 5,596,500 = 14,103,180
Conclusion
Therefore, there are 1,236,210 combinations (8%) that win any prize in each Set For Life drawing, while 14,103,180 combinations (92%) win nothing.
Strategic Advantage
With our system, you can focus on playing the winning 8% of Set For Life combinations, significantly improving your chances of regular wins! The majority of winning combinations come from matching exactly 2 main numbers, showing that even small matches can lead to regular prizes.
Ready to Get Set For Life?
Use our advanced tools and strategies to maximize your chances of winning life-changing monthly payments!
Explore Winning StrategiesHistorical Changes & Evolution
Set For Life launched as UK's first annuity-style lottery:
- Innovative Format: First UK lottery with monthly payment prizes
- Initial Format: 5/47 main numbers + 1/10 Life Ball
- Launch Draws: Monday and Thursday schedule established
- Revolutionary Prizes: £10,000 monthly payments for 30 years
- Unique Concept: Designed for long-term financial security
Unique Set For Life Features
Set For Life offers several unique advantages over traditional lottery games:
Monthly Payment Jackpot
Top prize winners receive £10,000 every month for 30 years - providing long-term financial security rather than a single lump sum.
Two Annuity Prizes
Both top prizes are paid as monthly installments - 30 years for the jackpot and 1 year for the second prize.
Better Odds for Big Wins
With 1 in 15 million odds for the jackpot, Set For Life offers better chances than EuroMillions for life-changing wins.
Source: National Lottery Set For Life
