EuroMillions v Eurojackpot - Which is Better?

EuroMillions and Eurojackpot are both huge multinational lotteries which have been changing the lives of people across Europe for years. EuroMillions has been going for longer, having been launched in February 2004, while Eurojackpot has been played since March 2012. With millions up for grabs in both, which game should you play this week and why?

Which is played by more people?

Eurojackpot has more than twice as many participating countries as EuroMillions, after Greece joined to become the game’s 19th nation. EuroMillions has only nine participating countries, but often sells more tickets than Eurojackpot.

The number of entries for each game does vary and depends a lot on the size of the jackpot. On Friday 4th March 2022, for example, Eurojackpot recorded more entries than EuroMillions – 28.1 million to 27.4 million – despite having a smaller jackpot on the day.

However, when EuroMillions reaches a record amount, ticket sales are far higher. On 15th October 2021, when a EuroMillions jackpot of €220 million was won, there were 65.7 million entries into the draw. Eurojackpot had 24.6 million on the same day, with a top prize of €33 million on offer.

Which countries play both?

Spain is the only country where you can purchase both EuroMillions and Eurojackpot tickets from authorised retailers. However, the rise of online services means it is now possible to take part in either game from anywhere in the world, so you can win EuroMillions prizes in Germany or choose Eurojackpot numbers from the UK.

Jackpots

Both lotteries offer incredible jackpots. Eurojackpot’s minimum jackpot is €10 million, while EuroMillions has a guaranteed top prize of at least €17 million. Both jackpots increase quickly due to the amount of players taking part, sometimes by more than €10 million between draws. The increases become larger as the jackpots approach their respective maximum amounts. The Eurojackpot cap is €120 million, while the EuroMillions ceiling currently sits at €250 million. 

Winners

There were 23 EuroMillions jackpot winners in 2023, compared to 16 in Eurojackpot. The largest EuroMillions prize of the year (and in the history of the game) was won by an Austrian player on 8th December 2023. 

Germany has been the dominant country in Eurojackpot, winning approximately half of all jackpots. Historically it has not had as many jackpot winners each year as EuroMillions, but following a rule change in March 2022 there are now two draws a week in Eurojackpot as well – on Tuesdays and Fridays. Eurojackpot draws had previously only been held on Friday nights.

Prizes & Odds

Both games give their players a large number of ways to win. There are 12 prize tiers in Eurojackpot and 13 in EuroMillions, making it possible to pick up rewards just for matching two main numbers. The odds of winning the jackpot are the same in both games - 1 in 139,838,160, but the overall odds of winning a prize are better for EuroMillions players at 1 in 13 rather than 1 in 26 for Eurojackpot.

The deadline for claiming prizes varies from country to country in both games. EuroMillions players in France and Luxembourg, for example, must come forward within 60 days, but anyone who buys a ticket in Austria has three years to claim their money. German Eurojackpot players also have a claim period of up to three years, whereas ticket holders in Spain and Latvia must get in touch with lottery officials within 30 days of the draw.

Extras

Many of the participating countries in both games offer additional draws, for example the Millionaire Maker in the UK or the Finland Friday Joker. EuroMillions also offers a number of special promotions at various times throughout the year, most notably Superdraws. A Superdraw offers a guaranteed giant jackpot, regardless of whether or not it was won in the preceding draw. The jackpot is usually raised to €130 million and it can roll on from this point to quickly hit its jackpot cap just a few draws later.

Cost

The cost of a EuroMillions ticket is €2.50 for a standard entry, and there may then be an additional charge if you wish to add a supplementary game. The price of a Eurojackpot ticket in Germany is also €2.50.

Which is Better?

There are plenty of positives for both games. The EuroMillions jackpot can grow even higher than the top prize in Eurojackpot, but it is well worth keeping an eye on the respective jackpots to see where you could win the most money. Whichever wins as your European lottery of choice, you can give yourself a chance of winning from anywhere by choosing numbers online. Good luck!