UK Lottery
The UK National Lottery was launched in 1994, with its first draw taking place on 19 November 1994. More than 24 million people took part in the first draw, marking the beginning of what would become one of the UK's best-known lottery games.
Since its launch, The National Lottery has awarded billions of pounds in prizes while also raising over £53 billion for Good Causes throughout the UK, supporting projects in communities, sport, arts, heritage, health, education and the environment.
| Quick Facts: UK LOTTO 6/59 | |
|---|---|
| First Draw | 19 November 1994 |
| Number Selection | 6 numbers from 1 to 59 |
| Draw Schedule | Wednesdays and Saturdays |
| Draw Format | 2 seperate rounds per draw |
| Minimum Match to Win | 2 numbers |
| Overall Odds of Winning | Approximately 1 in 4.9 |
| Biggest Jackpot | £66,070,646 which won on 9th January 2016 |
The New UK Lotto – Two Chances to Win
UK Lotto introduced a major new format in June 2026, giving players two chances to win with every line played.
Players still choose 6 numbers from 1 to 59, but those same six numbers are now automatically entered into two separate draw rounds every Wednesday and Saturday
Each round has its own six Main Numbers and Bonus Ball, so your selected numbers can win in the first round, second round, or potentially both.
Winning numbers from the two rounds cannot be combined – the required numbers must be matched within the same round to win a prize.
The new format has also improved the overall chance of winning any Lotto prize from approximately 1 in 9.3 to 1 in 4.9.
6 Ways To Win
There are six ways to win UK Lotto, starting from matching just 2 Main Numbers.
| Prize Division | Matching Numbers | Prize (£) | Odds of Winnings* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Division 1 (JACKPOT) |
6 of 6 | Jackpot | 1 in 22,528,738 |
| Division 2 | 5 of 6 + Bonus Ball | £1,000,000 | 1 in 3,754,790 |
| Division 3 | 5 of 6 | £1,000 | 1 in 72,208 |
| Division 4 | 4 of 6 | £50 | 1 in 1,091 |
| Division 5 | 3 of 6 | £10 | 1 in 48.4 |
| Division 6 | 2 of 6 | £1 | 1 in 5.4 |
Must Be Won Draws
After five consecutive draws without a jackpot winner, the next draw becomes a Must Be Won draw.
If no one matches all 6 Main Numbers in either round, the jackpot rolls down to boost lower-tier prizes. Match 2 increases from £1 to £5, while remaining rolldown funds are added to the Match 3 prize. If the jackpot is won, the standard prize amounts apply.