p>EuroJackpot is a transnational European lottery where players select five numbers from 1 to 50 and two Euro Numbers from 1 to 10 to win a jackpot starting at €10 million. Draws take place every Tuesday and Friday evening in Helsinki, Finland, at 20:00 CET, offering twelve distinct prize tiers and a jackpot cap of €120 million.
Launched in 2012, EuroJackpot was designed to provide frequent jackpot wins and better overall winning odds compared to older multi-national lotteries. Today, the game is officially available in 18 European participating nations, including Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and Norway. This guide provides an authoritative breakdown of how the lottery works, how the prize tiers are structured, and how international players can legally participate from outside Europe.
What Is EuroJackpot?
EuroJackpot is an official joint lottery operated by the state lottery organizations of its participating countries. The draws are held twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays in Helsinki, while the winning tickets are verified in Germany and Denmark. Unlike single-country lotteries, EuroJackpot pools ticket sales across 18 nations to guarantee a minimum starting jackpot of €10 million. If no player matches all seven numbers, the jackpot rolls over to the next draw, up to a maximum limit of €120 million.
The participating countries where tickets are officially sold in local retail shops are:
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- Poland
- Netherlands
- Sweden
- Finland
- Denmark
- Norway
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- Estonia
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
For players who do not reside in these countries, online ticket purchasing services make it possible to participate legally. International players can purchase official entries through a secure online platform like theLotter, which uses local agents to buy physical tickets on the player’s behalf.
Step-by-Step Rules: How to Play EuroJackpot
Playing EuroJackpot is straightforward. The game uses a double-matrix system to determine winners. Follow these steps to fill out a standard entry:
- Select Main Numbers: Choose five numbers from a main pool of 1 to 50.
- Select Euro Numbers: Choose two extra numbers (known as Euro Numbers) from a pool of 1 to 10.
- Choose Play Style: You can select your numbers manually based on your preferences, or opt for a Quick Pick (random number generator) to select the numbers automatically.
- Purchase the Ticket: Official retail tickets cost €2 per line. If buying online, additional service fees may apply depending on the platform used.
To win the top prize (the jackpot), a player’s ticket must match all five main numbers and both Euro Numbers drawn. However, matching fewer numbers can still yield substantial cash rewards across the eleven lower prize divisions.
EuroJackpot vs. EuroMillions: Key Differences
Many international players confuse EuroJackpot with EuroMillions, Europe’s other major transnational lottery. While both games share a similar layout, they have fundamental structural differences that affect your chances of winning and the potential prize sizes.
The primary difference lies in the matrix size and the odds of winning. While both games require picking 5 main numbers from 1 to 50, EuroJackpot requires picking 2 Euro Numbers from a smaller pool of 1 to 10. In contrast, EuroMillions requires picking 2 Lucky Stars from a larger pool of 1 to 12. This smaller pool means EuroJackpot offers significantly better odds of winning the jackpot (1 in 95,344,200) compared to EuroMillions (1 in 139,838,160). You can analyze how these games compare to other major global lotteries by visiting this comprehensive lottery odds comparison.
Additionally, the jackpot caps differ. EuroJackpot has a hard cap of €120 million. When this cap is reached, any excess funds that would have normally increased the jackpot roll down to the second prize tier (matching 5 main numbers and 1 Euro Number), which can create multi-millionaires in the second tier. EuroMillions has a much higher maximum jackpot cap, which currently stands at €250 million. Non-European players looking to explore the mechanics of EuroMillions can refer to this detailed EuroMillions guide for non-Europeans.
EuroJackpot Prize Tiers and Winning Odds
EuroJackpot features 12 prize tiers. The overall odds of winning any prize on a single ticket are 1 in 26. The table below outlines the matches required, the odds of winning each tier, and the typical distribution of the prize pool.
| Prize Tier | Match Required | Odds of Winning (per entry) | Prize Pool Share (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Jackpot) | 5 Main + 2 Euro Numbers | 1 in 95,344,200 | 36.00% |
| 2 | 5 Main + 1 Euro Number | 1 in 5,959,013 | 8.60% |
| 3 | 5 Main + 0 Euro Numbers | 1 in 3,405,150 | 4.80% |
| 4 | 4 Main + 2 Euro Numbers | 1 in 423,752 | 0.80% |
| 5 | 4 Main + 1 Euro Number | 1 in 26,485 | 1.00% |
| 6 | 4 Main + 0 Euro Numbers | 1 in 15,134 | 1.10% |
| 7 | 3 Main + 2 Euro Numbers | 1 in 9,631 | 0.80% |
| 8 | 2 Main + 2 Euro Numbers | 1 in 672 | 5.10% |
| 9 | 3 Main + 1 Euro Number | 1 in 602 | 5.70% |
| 10 | 3 Main + 0 Euro Numbers | 1 in 344 | 15.20% |
| 11 | 1 Main + 2 Euro Numbers | 1 in 128 | 10.00% |
| 12 | 2 Main + 1 Euro Number | 1 in 42 | 12.90% |
Note: A further 9.00% of the prize fund is allocated to the Booster Fund, which ensures that the minimum €10 million jackpot can always be guaranteed for the next draw sequence.
How to Check Results and Claim Prizes
EuroJackpot drawings are conducted at 20:00 CET every Tuesday and Friday. The results are published immediately following the draw and are verified by independent auditors. To check if you have a winning ticket, or to study past winning combinations to spot historical trends, you can access the EuroJackpot results archive.
If you purchase a physical ticket in Europe, you must claim your prize in the same country where the ticket was bought. Each participating nation has its own claim period, which ranges from 30 days to several years depending on local legislation. For players who buy tickets online via a courier service, smaller prizes are typically credited directly to their online account. If you win a major prize or the jackpot, the courier service will assist you in obtaining the physical ticket so you can claim the prize in person from the official lottery operator.
Taxation on lottery winnings varies significantly across the 18 participating countries. For example, countries like Germany, Finland, and the United Kingdom do not tax lottery winnings, whereas Spain, Italy, and Poland impose local taxes on prizes exceeding certain thresholds. If you win a prize from outside of Europe, you should consult a certified tax advisor in your local jurisdiction to understand your tax obligations.
Play responsibly. Lottery games are for entertainment purposes only and should never be considered as a source of income or a financial investment. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, please seek help: US: 1-800-522-4700 | UK: begambleaware.org | AU: gamblinghelponline.org.au
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