Finland Lotto, also known as Veikkaus National Lottery, is very popular within Finland's borders but also far beyond them. Known for its great prizes, cheap tickets, decent odds and seven prize tiers, this is a well-balanced lottery.
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Tax-free prizes
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Finland Lotto is a popular national lottery game. Also called Veikkaus National Lottery, it is played by about 25% of Finnish people.
This game is best known for its unique 7/40 format and multiple add-ons. Its popularity is in part due to its long history and great reputation.
In this guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about this exciting game and explain how you can buy Finland Lotto tickets online.
About Finland Lotto
Finland Lotto was announced in 1970. The first draw was held on January 3rd, 1971. The game is run by Veikkaus Oy, which is owned by the Finnish government.
The proceeds earned by ticket sales for Finland Lotto are split according to the law.
It is estimated that, in total, the lottery in Finland earns about €1.1 million every day.
Of the proceeds, 53% goes to the Ministry of Education and Culture, 43% goes to the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health, and 4% goes to the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry.
Finland Lotto Draws
This is a weekly lotto game. Each week, a draw takes places at 9 pm CET on Saturday. The draws are held in Helsinki and broadcast live.
During the draw, seven numbers are drawn from a drum of 40 numbers. One additional ball is selected from this drum to act as a bonus number for two of the prize tiers.
One more additional ball is drawn from a drum of 30 balls, which acts as the Plus number. Matching the Plus number doubles the prize for all tiers except the jackpot.
How to Play Finland Lotto
Finland Lotto uses a 7/40 game format. This means players choose seven numbers from a range of 1 through 40.
One standard line of play costs €1 when purchased within Finland.
Players can choose to add a Plus number for an additional €0.50. The Plus number is chosen from numbers 1 through 30. If matched, the Plus number doubles any prize (excluding the Jackpot) the player wins.
There is also an add-on game that players can purchase with every ticket, called Joker. The add-on costs €2 and has a €1 million prize. The game consists of seven numbers from 0 through 9. Players can choose one number more than once.
Players can try to double their Joker prizes by playing Double Joker. This feature is an additional €1.
Finland Lotto Prizes and Odds
Finland Lotto has a guaranteed jackpot of €700,000.
If there is no winner during a draw, the jackpot rolls over to the following week’s draw. As there is only one draw a week, jackpots can grow quickly.
There are a total of seven prize tiers, including a tier for the Plus number.
To win the jackpot, players must match all seven regular numbers.
A bonus number applies to the second and sixth prize tiers. The lowest prize tier, aside from the Plus number, requires three regular numbers and the bonus number.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 18,643,560.
The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 50 without the Plus number. Adding the Plus number improves the overall odds to 1 in 19.
The odds for each prize tier and estimated prizes are as follows:
Numbers Matched
Odds of Winning
Estimated Winnings
7
1 in 18,643,560
Jackpot
6 + 1
1 in 2,663,365
€100,000
6
1 in 83,320
€2,000
5
1 in 681
€50
4
1 in 97
€10
3 + 1
1 in 107
€2
Plus Number
1 in 30
€5
Claiming Finland Lotto Prizes
All Finland Lotto prizes are awarded as a lump sum and not subject to tax.
However, foreign players who purchase tickets online may be subject to the tax laws of their country of residence.
The process for claiming a prize varies by amount won. Prizes under €1,000 can be claimed at any official retailer.
Prizes between €1,000 and €20,000 must be claimed through Veikkaus headquarters with proof of identity.
Prizes over €20,000 may take up to three weeks from the date claimed to be awarded by Veikkaus.
Winners have 90 days from the draw date to claim their prize.
Notable Finland Lotto Winners
The largest prize won by a single ticket holder occurred on February 1, 2019. The lucky player won an amazing €15.6 million.
The winner was from the city of Uusimaa, and since Finland Lotto does not take any tax, they were awarded the entire prize.
The largest jackpot ever was €27.8 million. It was awarded in February 2015 and split between two tickets.
Finland Lotto-Should You Play?
Finland Lotto has a lot of great features that make it a fun game to try.
With a guaranteed jackpot and rollover prizes, players can look forward to some large payoffs.
Tickets are relatively cheap, with decent odds and multiple add-ons to help improve chances of winning.
Finally, the lump-sum, tax-free payouts make this a lotto game you don’t want to miss.
Although not all of our favourite lotto websites offer it on their platforms, it's a solid game to play on those that do.
A standard line for Finland Lotto costs €1 when purchased within the country. However, there are multiple add-ons that players can choose, which can increase the cost to €4.50 in total.
Are Finland Lotto prizes taxed?
No, Finland Lotto prizes are not subject to tax within Finland. All prizes are awarded as lump sums.
When do Finland Lotto draws take place?
Finland Lotto has weekly draws every Saturday at 9 PM CET.
Is there a minimum jackpot for Finland Lotto?
Yes, there is a €700,000 minimum jackpot guarantee for each draw. If the jackpot is not won, the prize rolls over.
What is the deadline to purchasing Finland Lotto tickets?
We could not find a specified deadline for purchasing tickets for Finland Lotto. We recommend purchasing your tickets a minimum of several hours before the draw, to be safe.
Comments
Lisa
Seems like a pretty neat lottery. Will give it a try!
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Lisa