Best European Lotteries Online

Many people see Europe as a destination to visit to take in a wide variety of different cultures, arts, and fascinating sights. But there is something else great about the continent: the wide variety of great lottery games available.

The following are the best European lotteries online that we'll be covering in this article:

But before we get into the details, a bit of history first...

A Brief History of Lotteries in Europe

Originating on the continent during the time of the Roman Empire, lotteries were originally held as a form of entertainment at dinner parties held by the wealthy in society. These lotteries included prizes such as dinnerware and were structured in a way that ensured every person won something. In fact, they were held more as a way to distribute gifts than to award prizes.

In 1539, however, France was one of the first countries to host what we might recognize as a modern lottery. This was begun, as many lotteries, today are, in order to raise funds for the state government.

Today, Europe has many lotteries that offer fantastic prizes, great odds and affordable tickets. Some of these games, like UK Lotto and Austria Lotto, are national lotteries.

Others, like EuroMillions and Eurojackpot, are transnational lotteries that are officially available in quite a few countries-which is why their jackpots are so massive.

🇪🇺 Transnational

Although there aren't many of them, transnational lotteries are ones that are operated by and playable in multiple countries. Because there are available to so many people, their jackpots can grow to mind-boggling heights. We'll take a look at the three available in Europe below.

EuroMillions

Started in February of 2004, EuroMillions is a transnational lottery that is officially available in eight countries.

It was initially only available in France, Spain and the UK. However, due to its popularity, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland also soon came aboard.

Though a jackpot cap of €185 million was originally set in 2009, it gradually increased over the years and now stands at €220 million.

These jackpots aren’t quite as big as those offered by US Powerball and Mega Millions, but they are still among the biggest jackpots in the world.

Of course, as is standard for lotteries of this size, their odds are proportionally large as well. But if you’re going to play, you might as well play for the biggest win possible, right?

Why People Love It

• Biggest jackpots in all of Europe
• Two draws each week
• Readily available online
• Jackpot cap that increases each time it is won

How to Play

• Choose five numbers from 1-50 and two Lucky Stars from 1-12
• To win the jackpot, match all five main numbers and both Lucky Stars
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 139,838,160

Overall Odds: 1 in 13

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €210 million

Minimum Jackpot: €17 million

Prize Tiers: 13

Draw Times: Tuesdays and Fridays at 8:45 pm CET

Official Ticket Price: €2.50 per line

Eurojackpot

Eurojackpot is yet another transnational lottery that was initially launched in 2012 to compete with EuroMillions. As of 2017, 17 countries take part in the lottery. These are Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

The game has seen two major changes over the years: the removal of a rolldown clause and the addition of two numbers to the bonus number pool. However, its jackpot cap of €90 million has been consistent since it began.

Why People Love It

• Decent odds for the jackpot amount
• Available in most European countries
• Readily available online

How to Play

• Choose five main numbers from 1-50 and two supplementary numbers from 1-10
• To win the jackpot, match all seven main numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 95,344,200

Overall Odds: 1 in 26

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €90 million

Minimum Jackpot: €10 million

Prize Tiers: 12

Draw Time: Fridays at 9 pm EEST

Official Ticket Price: €2 per line

Viking Lotto

Started in 1993, Viking Lotto is known as the first transnational lottery in Europe. The lottery is currently run together by Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Iceland, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Slovenia and Belgium.

The game underwent no changes from its inception until 2017. At this time, the game formed the minimum jackpot amount of €3 million and also instituted a jackpot cap of €35 million. However, the game still uses the same format that it has used since it began.

In addition to normal play, this lottery also allows system play. This allows players to play multiple numbers in a variety of different combinations. System play is a great way to improve the odds of winning, although it can lead to significantly higher ticket prices.

Why People Love It

• Decent minimum jackpot
• Relatively cheap ticket price
• Played in multiple European countries

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-48 and one Viking number from 1-8
• To win the jackpot, match all seven numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 98,172,096

Overall Odds: 1 in 50

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €44.3 million

Minimum Jackpot: €3 million

Prize Tiers: 6

Draw Times: Wednesdays at 7 pm GMT

Official Ticket Price: Vary from €0.80 to €10 depending on the country

🇮🇹 Italy

Italy is a place that countless people visit each year. This is usually to experience the great architecture, fascinating cuisine and amazing scenery.

However, there is reason to visit the country if you are a lottery fanatic as well. Italy is home to 15 different lottery games, including one of the most popular international lotteries.

Each of these offers unique gameplay and exciting draws. Even more reason to book your flight to the ‘boot of the world’!

Italy SuperEnalotto

Launched in 1997, Italy’s SuperEnalotto might not be a transnational lotto, but its incredible windfalls are why it’s played by people all over Europe and far beyond. Add to this the fact that there is no jackpot cap, and it’s easy to get excited.

Before you proceed, however, keep this in mind: SuperEnalotto has the most difficult odds of any lottery in the world. In fact, they are more than double the odds of the world’s second-most difficult game, Mega Millions.

While that shouldn’t stop you from trying, it’s definitely an important factoid to keep in mind.

Why People Love It

• SuperStar option adds additional prizes
• Three draws each week
• Readily available online

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-90
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 622,614,630

Overall Odds: 1 in 16

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €209.2 million

Minimum Jackpot: €2 million

Prize Tiers: 6

Draw Times: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 pm CET

Official Ticket Price: €1 per line

Italy MillionDAY

Launched in 2018, MillionDAY is the youngest lottery in Italy. However, the lottery has quickly become immensely popular throughout Italy and the world. It is also the only daily lottery draw in the country.

Part of the reason this lottery grew in popularity so quickly is thanks to the €1 million fixed jackpot that is won at least once per week on average. The fact that most other tiers also have fixed prizes also adds to the game’s popularity.

Another unique feature of the lottery is that it blocks too many lines that have the same number combination being played. No more than 200 lines that use the same number can be entered into a specific draw. Once this limit is reached, players will need to pick different numbers to play.

Why People Love It

• Excellent odds
• Daily draws
• Set jackpots
• Readily available online

How to Play

• Choose five numbers from 1-55
• To win the jackpot, match all five numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 3,478,761

Overall Odds: 1 in 17

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €1 million

Minimum Jackpot: €1 million

Prize Tiers: 4

Draw Times: Daily at 7 pm CET

Official Ticket Price: €1 per line

Italy Gioco Del Lotto

The Gioco Del Lotto is one of the most popular lotteries in Italy. It is also one of the most confusing in the world. This is because, unlike traditional lotteries, the game makes use of 11 different lottery wheels. In other words, 11 different draws take place during the draw session.

These wheels are named after Italian cities in order to make them easier to remember. They are Venice, Turin, Rome, Palermo, Naples, Milan, Genoa, Florence, Cagliari and Bari. The 11^th wheel is simply known as the national wheel.

When playing, you will need to choose which play type you would like to use, and which wheel or wheels you would like to bet on. There are currently seven different play types used by the game.

Why People Love It

• Interesting and unique gameplay
• Three draws each week
• You can choose the size of your bet

How to Play

• Estratto Semplice:Correctly guess one number from any of the 11 wheels
• Estratto Determinato: Correctly guess one number from a wheel that you specify before the draw
• Ambo: Correctly guess two numbers on a particular wheel
• Ambetto:Guess one number and the number that comes before or after it Explained another way, you can choose a single number, and the number that is one higher or lower could also be a win
• Terno:Correctly guess three numbers on a particular wheel
• Quarterna: Correctly guess four numbers on a particular wheel
• Cinquina: Correctly guess all five numbers on a particular wheel
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 43,949,268

Overall Odds: 1 in 18

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €3.1 million

Minimum Jackpot: Depends on bet size

Prize Tiers: 5

Draw Times: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 8 pm CET

Official Ticket Price: €1 per line

🇪🇸 Spain

As the second-largest country in the European Union, Spain is well known internationally for its siestas and feasts with music in the background. However, there is plenty more to this country.

In fact, there are specifically 14 more things you should really be aware of. These are, of course, the 14 great lotteries held in the country. From large international lotteries to small and local, the Spanish lottery scene has something that should excite just about any lotto lover.  

Spanish La Primitiva

Originally introduced in 1763, the Spanish La Primitiva was cancelled in 1862. However, in 1985 the game returned under its current name and quickly became one of the most loved lotteries in Spain. The game has remained largely unchanged since its reappearance.

In fact, the only notable change was the introduction of the Reintegro ball that was first seen in June 1991. This added a new layer to the draw and allowed winners to win some truly staggering jackpots.

Why People Love It

• Massive jackpots
• Two draws each week
• Joker add-on game offers extra prizes

How to Play

• Choose six main numbers from 1-49 and an additional Reintegro number from 0-9
• To win the jackpot, match all six main numbers plus the Reintegro
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 139,838,160

Overall Odds: 1 in 10

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €101.7 million

Minimum Jackpot: €3 million

Prize Tiers: 7

Draw Times: Thursdays and Saturdays at 8:40 pm GMT

Official Ticket Price: €1 per line

Spain BonoLoto

Launched in 1988, BonoLoto is one of Spain’s most popular lotteries today. The game first started with just four draws each week. However, many years after its launch, this changed to six draws per week in 2015.

The game has retained its original format, with the exception of the Reintegro ball that was added in 1991. This is the same time that another Spanish lottery-La Primitiva-added the same feature.

Players who manage to match this number win their ticket price back. This is a great incentive to play and quickly helped surge the number of players who play the lotto.

Why People Love It

• Rollover jackpots
• Cheap tickets
• Six draws each week
• Readily available online

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-49
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers
• An additional Complementario number is drawn from the same pool and determines the second-place winner
• A Reintegro number (from 0-9) that is the last digit of the ticket code applies to the last prize tier
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 13,983,816

Overall Odds: 1 in 10

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €7.2 million

Minimum Jackpot: €400,000

Prize Tiers: 6

Draw Times: Mondays through Saturdays at 9:30 pm CEST

Official Ticket Price: €1 for two lines

Spain’s El Gordo lottery first appeared way back in 1993. The game stayed exactly the same until 2005 when it underwent a few rule and minor format changes. Since then, the game has remained constant and is played by hundreds of thousands of players around the world.

Aside from having no jackpot cap, the lottery also offers system play. This allows players to play multiple numbers in a wide variety of combinations, which is a great way to improve chances of winning.

Why People Love It

• Cheap ticket prices
• Decent minimum jackpot
• System play

How to Play

• Choose five numbers from 1-54 and one Superball from 0-9
• To win the jackpot, match all five numbers plus the Powerball
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 31,625,100

Overall Odds: 1 in 6.1

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €36.7 million

Minimum Jackpot: €5 million

Prize Tiers: 9

Draw Times: Sundays at 9:30 pm CEST

Official Ticket Price: €1 per line

🇵🇱 Poland

There are certain things that Poland is well known for. Cuisine, beautiful scenery, amazing architecture and friendly residents are just a few of the things that have put Poland on the international map.

However, another thing to love about Poland is the national lotteries held in the country. The five national lotto games are loved by citizens, and several are regularly played all around the world.

Polish Lotto

Polish Lotto has been in existence since 1957. However, before 2009, the lottery was known by two other names: Toto Lotek and Duzy Lotek. It was only in 2009 that the operators of the game decided to make things simpler and title the game simply as Lotto.

Aside from offering system play to improve your chances of winning, Polish Lotto also offers a secondary draw called Lotto Plus and no jackpot caps. All these things work together to make this lottery appealing to players across the world.

Why People Love It

• System play
• Secondary draw called Lotto Plus
• Readily available online

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-49
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 13,983,816

Overall Odds: 1 in 54

Biggest Jackpot Ever: PLN 36.7 million

Minimum Jackpot: PLN 2 million

Prize Tiers: 4

Draw Times: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 9:40 pm CEST

Official Ticket Price: PLN 3 per line

Polish Mini Lotto

Originally known as Express Lotek, Polish Mini Lotto began in 1976 and ran until 1998 when it was suspended. Thankfully, due to the backlash from the public who loved the game, it returned in its current format in 2000.

When it restarted in 2000, the game was only held once a month. This slowly increased until 2015 when the draw was instituted as a daily draw. This, mixed with the system play option has made this lottery a household name in many places around the world.

Why People Love It

• Daily draws
• Cheap ticket price
• System play

How to Play

• Choose five numbers from 1-42
• To win the jackpot, match all five numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 850,668

Overall Odds: 1 in 124

Biggest Jackpot Ever: PLN 336,518

Minimum Jackpot: No minimum jackpot

Prize Tiers: 3

Draw Times: Mondays through Sundays at 9:40 pm CEST

Official Ticket Price: PLN 1.25 per line 

🇩🇪 Germany

While Germany may have a troubled past, the country in modern days is celebrated around the world for its engineering marvels and, of course, Oktoberfest. It also has amazing hiking and cycling tracks, fantastic recycling programs and clean, safe cities.

One other thing that Germany has is great lotteries. Unfortunately, if you exclude Eurojackpot, there is only one lottery in the country. However, depending on how much odds matter to you, it could certainly be a lottery to get excited about. Especially since lottery prizes are never taxed.

Germany Lotto

Known as one of the longest-running lotteries still in play today, Germany Lotto originally began in 1955. It held its format of choosing seven numbers from a pool of 1-38 for many years until 1986. At this point, the game adopted the 6/49 structure that has made it so popular in modern times.

The game also features two secondary draws titled Spiel 77 and Super 6. Both these games offer even more chances to win for a small additional fee.

These great add-ons, and the fact that there is no jackpot cap, have made this lottery one that is loved throughout Germany. However, its gameplay has attracted the attention of players from around the world as well.

Why People Love It

• Two secondary draws
• No jackpot cap
• Tax-free prizes
• Readily available online

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-49
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 139,838,160

Overall Odds: 1 in 31

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €45.4 million

Minimum Jackpot: €1 million for Wednesday draws and €3 million for Saturday draws

Prize Tiers: 9

Draw Times: Wednesdays at 6:25 PM CEST and Saturdays at 7:25 pm CEST

Official Ticket Price: €1 per line

🇦🇹 Austria

Austria is home to incredible scenery, amazing architecture and a rich culture. In fact, the country’s capital has been named ‘city with the best quality of life’ eight times in a row.

There is something else, however, great about this quaint country: the tax-free lottery games it offers. While only one is readily available online, it’s an awesome one.

Austria Lotto

Austria Lotto was originally planned and announced in June 1986. However, due to a few delays in the launch of the game, the first draw took place on September 7, 1986. Since then, the lottery has grown into a much-loved favourite of players in every corner of the country-and far beyond.

The game, which already has great jackpot odds, also offers two secondary draws titled Lotto Plus and The Joker. Both these draws give players a second and third chance at winning amazing prizes. These draws are one of the biggest reasons the lottery has grown to be the biggest and most popular lottery in the country.

Why People Love It

• Lotto Plus and The Joker secondary draws
• Great odds
• No jackpot or rollover cap
• Tax-free prizes
• System entry

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-45
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 8,145,060

Overall Odds: 1 in 12

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €14.9 million

Minimum Jackpot: €1.5 million

Prize Tiers: 8

Draw Times: Wednesdays and Sundays at 6:30 pm CEST

Official Ticket Price: €1.50 per line

🇺🇦 Ukraine

Ukraine became a country that almost everybody knew of after the Chernobyl disaster. However, there is much more to this small country than areas of nuclear fallout.

From amazing architecture located in diverse cities to a fascinating culture and interesting cuisine, Ukraine is a place that everybody should consider visiting at some point.

In addition to all this, the country also has another great feature: the different lottery games it offers.

Ukraine Megalot

Lotteries have existed in Ukraine since the 1970s. However, Megalot, easily the most popular and widely played lottery in the country, only began in 2001.

Unlike many other lotteries, the game doesn’t have a minimum jackpot. Instead, the minimum jackpot for each draw is determined by how many tickets are sold. Despite this, the jackpot, which has no rollover or amount cap, has reached impressive amounts.

To aid people in the quest for this jackpot, the game offers system play. This allows players to play multiple numbers in different combinations. This, in turn, improves the chances of winning.

Why People Love It

• System play
• No jackpot cap
• Two draws each week

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-42 and one Mega Ball from 1-9
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers plus the Mega Ball
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 52,457,860

Overall Odds: 1 in 34

Biggest Jackpot Ever: UAH 15 million

Minimum Jackpot: None

Prize Tiers: 8

Draw Times: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8:50 pm EEST

Official Ticket Price: UAH 5 per line

Ukraine Super Loto

Planned back in 1997, Super Loto officially launched in 2001. The game is run by the state and is one of the most popular lotteries in the country. It has also retained its original format since its inception.

The game offers system play, which allows the chance of improving the odds of winning by playing multiple numbers in different combinations. However, it is not this that makes the lottery so popular.

Its popularity comes, in part, thanks to the fact that there are no jackpot or rollover caps. With a minimum starting jackpot of UAH 3 million, this means that the lottery can sometimes reach quite impressive jackpots.

Why People Love It

• System play
• Two draws every week
• Decent minimum jackpot

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-52
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers plus the Powerball
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 20,358,520

Overall Odds: 1 in 7

Biggest Jackpot Ever: UAH 15.2 million

Minimum Jackpot: UAH 3 million

Prize Tiers: 5

Draw Times: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 10:50 pm EEST

Official Ticket Price: UAH 15 per line

Ukraine Loto Maxima

Loto Maxima first appeared on the lottery scene in late 2008. Since then, the game has retained its original format and hasn’t had any significant changes to the way it operates as a whole. It is clear then that the formula works, which explains why the game is as popular as it is.

The game offers system play of up to 12 numbers. These numbers are entered using a wide variety of combinations. This, in turn, improves the chances of winning the top-tier prize.

Why People Love It

• Three draws weekly
• System play
• Great odds of winning

How to Play

• Choose five numbers from 1-45
• To win the jackpot, match all five numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 1,221,759

Overall Odds: 1 in 11

Biggest Jackpot Ever: UAH 4 million

Minimum Jackpot: UAH 400,000

Prize Tiers: 4

Draw Times: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at 10:15 pm EEST

Official Ticket Price: UAH 5 per line

🇮🇪 Ireland

While often seen as part of the United Kingdom, Ireland is certainly a standout on its own. From seascapes to mountains and river valleys in between, Ireland seems to have something for everyone.

Aside from the amazing scenic landscapes, Ireland is home to a rich culture, fantastic cuisine and is known for its relatively cheap cost of living when compared to other countries.

It should come as no surprise, then, that the country is also home to some excellent lottery games. All of which do not charge any taxes on winnings!

Irish Lotto

First taking place in 1988, Irish Lotto originally only had a number pool of 36 balls. After a few changes, the current format of 47 balls was settled upon in 2015.

Aside from these changes, there was also the addition of two secondary draws that allow players the chance to win even more great prizes. The first of these, Lotto Plus, was added to the game in 2000. The second, Lotto Plus 2, began in 2002.

The game is easily the most popular in Ireland and is regularly played by people in the country and internationally.

Why People Love It

• Two secondary draws
• No jackpot or rollover cap
• Tax-free prizes
• Readily available online

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-47
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 10,737,573

Overall Odds: 1 in 29

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €18.96 million

Minimum Jackpot: €2 million

Prize Tiers: 8

Draw Times: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7:58 pm IST

Official Ticket Price: €1 per line

Irish Daily Million

Irish Daily Million was initially launched in 2012 as a replacement for two popular lotteries in the country, Monday Million and Daily All or Nothing. Even as a replacement, the game grew in popularity very quickly and is one of the favourite lotteries in Ireland.

The game offers two draws every day and has a generous set jackpot of €1 for each of these draws. There is also a secondary draw that can be added to any ticket that gives the player the chance to win up to €500,000.

Why People Love It

• Two draws each day
• Great set jackpot
• Tax-free prizes
• Secondary draw
• Excellent odds

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-39
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 3,262,623

Overall Odds: 1 in 14

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €1 million

Minimum Jackpot: €1 million (fixed)

Prize Tiers: 7

Draw Times: Twice daily at 2 pm and 9 pm IST

Official Ticket Price: €1 per line

🇫🇷 France

Known for its amazing cities and for being the country of romance, France has a lot to offer. This includes being the largest country in the European Union, being the biggest tourist destination in the world, and having the famous Eifel Tower.

In terms of lotteries, however, France has just as much to offer. Aside from being the country where the world-famous EuroMillions draw takes place, the country also hosts fantastic lotteries of its own. One of these, luckily, is easy to play online-and all winnings are tax-free.

France Loto

France Loto is one of the older lotteries around today, being launched in 1976. It is no wonder, then, that it is easily the biggest and most popular lottery game in the country.

The game offers an impressive three secondary draws that take place after the main draw. These are titled the 2^nd Edition, Joker, and Joker+. Each of these comes with an additional fee when purchasing a ticket.

Even though the jackpot has a rollover cap of 34 draws, the fact that it doesn’t have a jackpot cap inspires players from all around the country to play in upcoming draws. In fact, the game is so popular that there are players around the world that regularly purchase a ticket.

Why People Love It

• Three secondary draws
• No jackpot cap
• Tax-free prizes
• Readily available online

How to Play

• Choose five numbers from 1-49 and one Chance number from 1-10
• To win the jackpot, match all five numbers plus the Chance number
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 19,068,840

Overall Odds: 1 in 6

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €24 million

Minimum Jackpot: €2 million

Prize Tiers: 9

Draw Times: Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8:35 pm CEST

Official Ticket Price: €2.20 per line

🇵🇹 Portugal

As one of the oldest countries in Europe, Portugal is one of the best places for tourists to discover. This is thanks to the amazing outdoor activities offered by the country, the beautiful scenery and the amazing roads that cross the country that are perfect for road trips.

Another thing that Portugal is well-known for amongst lottery fans worldwide is its great lottery game.

Portugal Totoloto

Started in 1983, Totoloto is run by a charity and not by the state. However, this doesn’t mean that the lottery goes unchecked. It is still overseen by the Portuguese government to ensure that it operates the way it is supposed to.

The game has three different ways to play. This, and the fact that there is no jackpot or rollover cap has made the lottery grow in popularity. It also helps that it is the only major lottery offered in the country aside from EuroMillions.

Regardless, the great gameplay offered by the lottery has made it a regular for lottery players around the country.

Why People Love It

• Two draws weekly
• Three ways to play
• No jackpot cap

How to Play

• Normal Play: Choose five numbers from 1-49 and one Lucky number from 1-13
• Multiple 6/11: Choose 6 or 11 numbers from 1-49 and one Lucky number from 1-13
• Multiple 4: Choose four numbers from 1-49 and one Lucky number from 1-13
• To win the jackpot, match all five numbers plus the Lucky number
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 24,789,492

Overall Odds: 1 in 7

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €19 million

Minimum Jackpot: €1 million

Prize Tiers: 6

Draw Times: Wednesdays and Saturdays at 7 pm PRT

Official Ticket Price: €0.90 per line

🇷🇴 Romania

Many people might think of vampires when thinking of Romania, but there is much more to the country than that. As home to the world’s heaviest building, the country has plenty to see for tourists. Especially considering the rich culture that the country has.

Aside from this all, however, the country also has a few pretty great lottery games that captures the attention of players from every corner of the land.

Romania Lotto 6/49

Even though lotteries in the country date back to the early 1900s, Romania Lotto 6/49 officially launched in 1993. It quickly became the largest lottery in the country and is actively played by plenty of lottery enthusiasts.

The lack of a rollover or jackpot cap means that the game’s jackpots can grow to rather impressive amounts. This, added to the fact that the odds of winning the jackpot are pretty decent, is what helped propel the popularity of this game.

Why People Love It

• Two weekly draws
• No jackpot or rollover cap
• Cheap ticket price

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-49
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 13,983,816

Overall Odds: 1 in 54

Biggest Jackpot Ever: LEU 48.9 million

Minimum Jackpot: LEU 1 million

Prize Tiers: 4

Draw Times: Thursdays at 7 pm EEST and Sundays at 4:45 pm EEST

Official Ticket Price: LEU 4.8

Romania Joker

Romania Joker was introduced in January 2001 and is the little brother to Romania Lotto 6/49. 

Like Lotto 6/49, it has bi-weekly draws and cheap tickets. And though it has generally smaller prizes, its eight prize tiers and good overall odds make it a game that's still worth playing.

Why People Love It

How to Play

• Choose six main numbers from 1-45 and one Joker number from 1-20
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 22,435,180

Overall Odds: 1 in 12.5

Biggest Jackpot Ever: LEU 20,573,472

Minimum Jackpot: LEU 200,000

Prize Tiers: 8

Draw Times: Thursdays and Sundays at 6:15 pm EEST

Official Ticket Price: LEU 4

🇭🇺 Hungary

Although it has amazing hot springs and stunning thermal spas, Hungary is one country that relatively few people think of travelling to. However, this is unfortunate considering the amazing cuisine and friendly locals that are ready to greet any tourist.

In addition to all these great things, it is also home to some lottery games that will certainly make you want to get to know the country more.

Hungary Hatoslotto

Also known as Lotto 6, Hungary Hatoslotto is one of the largest and most popular lottery games in the country. The game first appeared in 1988. It then added the Joker feature in 1993.

When launched, the game used a format that required players to match six numbers and a bonus number. However, in 2007, the game underwent changes that gave us the game we know today.

In addition to the Joker feature, which allows you a second chance to win, the game has no jackpot limits and has a rollover cap of a staggering 52 weeks (or one year).

This, combined with the cheap ticket price have all contributed to the quick rise in popularity of this lottery.

Why People Love It

• Cheap ticket prices
• Joker add-on
• Decent minimum jackpot
• No jackpot cap and generous rollover cap

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-45
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 8,145,060

Overall Odds: 1 in 42

Biggest Jackpot Ever: FT 3 billion

Minimum Jackpot: FT 60 million

Prize Tiers: 4

Draw Times: Sundays at 4:50 pm CEST

Official Ticket Price: FT 225 per line

Launched in 1957, Otoslotto is also known as Lotto 5. It is played by many players across the country and even around the world.

In addition to offering a Joker secondary draw that allows players a second chance to win with another draw that takes place straight after the main draw, the lottery offers cheap lottery tickets.

This, mixed with the fact there is no jackpot cap, has led this lottery to become one that lottery fanatics make sure that they don’t miss out on.

Why People Love It

• No jackpot cap
• Joker secondary draw
• Cheap ticket prices

How to Play

• Choose five numbers from 1-90
• To win the jackpot, match all five numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 43,949,268

Overall Odds: 1 in 43

Biggest Jackpot Ever: FT 5.2 billion

Minimum Jackpot: FT 60 million

Prize Tiers: 4

Draw Times: Saturdays at 7:30 pm CEST

Official Ticket Price: FT 225 per line

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

From medieval castles to modern architectural wonders, the United Kingdom seems like a place that exists both in the past and in the future. Add to this the royal family and some fish and chips, and it is hard to find a reason not to visit.

However, looking deeper, there are plenty more reasons to look at the UK. One of these reasons is the great lotteries available in the country. These include some of the most popular lotteries in the world-all of which are tax-free.

UK Lotto

Started in 1994, UK Lotto was originally known as the National Lottery. However, in 2002, the organisers of the game decided to simplify things and rebranded the game simply as Lotto. It was after this rebrand, in 2015, that the game underwent a massive change to the way it worked and gave us the structure we see today.

These changes, alongside the fact that there is no jackpot cap and a five-draw rollover cap, has caused this lottery to catapult into the minds of lottery players internationally.

Because of this, the draw is often enjoyed by players all over the world.

Why People Love It

• Rolldown clause after the fifth non-win draw
• Decent starting jackpot
• Readily available online
• Tax-free prizes

How to Play

• Choose six numbers from 1-59
• To win the jackpot, match all six numbers
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 45,057,474

Overall Odds: 1 in 9

Biggest Jackpot Ever: £66 million

Minimum Jackpot: £2 million on Wednesdays / £3.8 million on Saturdays

Prize Tiers: 6

Draw Times: Wednesdays at 8 pm BST and Saturdays at 9 pm BST

Official Ticket Price: £2 per line

UK Thunderball

Launched in 1999, UK Thunderball was initially used as a secondary draw for the main UK Lotto draw. This soon changed and the draw became its own game. In 2010, this game underwent major changes including the introduction of a Friday draw, the increase of the jackpot to £500,000 and the addition of five numbers to the number pool. In 2018, a Tuesday draw was also added.

With four draws a week, this lottery is now one of the largest in the UK. This is helped by the fact that there are nine prize tiers to win from and decent odds of winning. It also explains why this lottery is often played by players from all around the world.

Why People Love It

• Four draws per week
• Decent odds of winning
• Readily available online
• Tax-free prizes

How to Play

• Choose five numbers from 1-39 and one Thunderball from 1-14
• To win the jackpot, match all five numbers plus the Thunderball
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 8,060,598

Overall Odds: 1 in 13

Biggest Jackpot Ever: £500,000

Minimum Jackpot: £500,000

Prize Tiers: 9

Draw Times: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:15 pm BST

Official Ticket Price: £1 per line

UK Set for Life

Set for Life is among the youngest lotteries in the world. It was launched in 2019 but quickly became one of the more popular lotteries in the UK, often being played by players from other countries as well.

The reason for the game’s almost instant popularity is thanks to the amazing jackpot offered by the game. This jackpot pays out for 30 years and will ensure that winners will always have a steady flow of capital.

Why People Love It

• Payouts over 30 years
• Two draws each week
• Acceptable odds of winning
• Tax-free prizes

How to Play

• Choose five numbers from 1-47 and one Life number from 1-10
• To win the jackpot, match all five numbers plus the Life ball
• Must be 18 years of age to buy tickets

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 15,339,390

Overall Odds: 1 in 12

Biggest Jackpot Ever: £10,000 a month for 30 years

Minimum Jackpot: £10,000 a month for 30 years

Prize Tiers: 8

Draw Times: Mondays and Thursdays at 8 pm BST

Official Ticket Price: £1.50 per line

Finland

While not known for many things, Finland certainly has things that would interest most people. These include stunning forests, an amazing food scene, and a rating as the best place from which to view the Northern Lights.

If, however, you aren’t looking for great ski slopes and a choice of over three million saunas, there may be something else that the country has to interest you. This is the tax-free national lottery draw.

🇫🇮 Finland Lotto

While lotteries have existed in the country since the 1940s, Finland Lotto was launched in 1971. However, unlike some other lotteries, this great game has retained the same game format since it was first played.

The game offers a Joker secondary draw that allows players a second chance to win amazing prizes. In addition, the game offers ‘System and Rake’. This allows you players to choose up to 18 numbers and play them in a variety of combinations. This greatly improves the chances of winning.

If this wasn’t enough, the game also offers an add-on called Plus. This adds a multiplier to any of the prize tiers-with the exception of the jackpot.

Why People Love It

• No jackpot cap
• Tax-free prizes
• System and Rake play
• Plus and Joker add-ons

How to Play

• Choose seven numbers from 1-40
• To win the jackpot, match all seven numbers
• Must be 15 years of age to buy tickets in person or 18 years of age to buy tickets online

Jackpot Odds: 1 in 18,643,560

Overall Odds: 1 in 50

Biggest Jackpot Ever: €14.5 million

Minimum Jackpot: €700,000

Prize Tiers: 7

Draw Times: Saturdays at 10:10 pm EEST

Official Ticket Price: €1 per line