As one of the biggest lottery games in the country, Hungary Otoslotto is a game that has been around for many years. And it continues to change people’s lives on a weekly basis.
In this guide, we will see what this lottery is all about and how you can buy Hungary Otoslotto tickets online.
We will also look at a few other specifics that will ensure you know how to take full advantage of what this lottery has to offer.
About Hungary Otoslotto
The first-ever Otoslotto draw took place in March of 1957. The game was initially run by the National Bank, who was the only operator of lotteries in the country at the time.
In 1991, a new lottery operator called Szerencsejáték was launched by the state. It became the operator of the, by then, iconic Hungarian lottery.
Also known as Lotto 5, the game remains incredibly popular. Today it estimated to be played by over 60% of the eligible population in the country.
The game has undergone a fair number of changes to its format since it first began.
The biggest of these changes was the introduction of the Joker, which made this already popular game even more of a crowd favourite.
Hungary Otoslotto Draws
Unlike many other large lotteries around the world, Hungary Otoslotto only holds a single draw each Saturday at 6:30 pm GMT. The draw takes place at the operator’s offices in Budapest.
The Joker draw happens right after the main draw, and the results for both draws are posted shortly afterwards.
How to Play Hungary Otoslotto
Using a simple single-matrix (5/90) format, the game is very easy to play.
All you have to do is choose five numbers from a pool that ranges from 1 to 90. There are no extra numbers that you have to worry about selecting.
Therefore, to win the jackpot you must match all five numbers that are drawn.
As with all modern lotteries, there is an option to play using a quick pick. Doing this will allow a random number generator to select numbers on your behalf.
A single ticket costs around HUF 240 (about US $0.80) in Hungary. That is unless you choose to play with the Joker add-on enabled.
Doing this will increase your ticket price by around HUF 216 (approximately US $0.72). Your total per ticket will then be around Ft 456 (US $1.52).
The Joker feature is an additional draw that takes place after the main draw (similar to the South Africa Powerball Plus feature). To win this draw, you need to match the numbers drawn in the order that they are drawn, making it rather tricky.
Hungary Otoslotto Prizes and Odds
The game features a minimum jackpot of HUF 60 million. This may sound like a massive amount but actually only equates to about just over US $100,000.
The upside to this is that the jackpot rolls over significantly each time it goes unclaimed. This rollover is allowed to continue until the jackpot is won or until a year has passed since the last jackpot win.
After a year, the jackpot rolls down to the other three prize tiers. This can result in some pretty great secondary prizes.
Your odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 43,949,268, which are rather shocking considering the rather pathetic minimum jackpot.
These are close to the odds of UK Lotto (1 in 45,057,620) and much worse than Austria Lotto (1 in 8,145,060), both of which feature MUCH better jackpots.
The game’s four prize tiers, which is much less than most lotteries, are listed below:
Numbers Matched | Odds of Winning | Prize (Estimated) |
5 of 5 | 1 in 43,949,268 | Jackpot (minimum of HUF 60 million) |
4 of 5 | 1 in 103,410 | HUF 2,337,780 |
3 of 5 | 1 in 1,231 | HUF 22,552 |
2 of 5 | 1 in 44 | HUF 1,835 |
Claiming Hungary Otoslotto Prizes
If you have won below HUF 200,000, you can claim your prize at any registered retailer. If you have won more than this, the process becomes slightly trickier.
To claim any amount larger than HUF 200,000, you will need to contact the lottery operator to arrange the collection of your prize.
All prizes, including jackpot wins, are paid out in cash lump sums.
It is also important to note that winners only have 90 days from the date of the draw in which to claim any winnings.
Notable Hungary Otoslotto Winners
The minimum jackpot may not be anything to get overly excited about, especially considering the odds.
However, the rolling jackpot has proven to reach some impressive amounts.
In 2003, the jackpot was claimed at HUF 5.09 billion (~US $16.97 million) after having rolled over for months on end.
Ten years later in 2013, another record jackpot of HUF 3.17 billion (~US $10.59 million) was claimed.
Hungary Otoslotto-Should You Play?
There is no denying that Hungary Otoslotto is a popular game amongst the many players that regularly buy lotto tickets in Hungary.
However, there is nothing overly great about it.
The jackpot is severely lacking considering the tough odds. In addition, there is only one chance to win each week.
So, while the Joker is a great add-on and the game is easy enough to play, there definitely are better lotteries available around the world.
Many of these would change your life in a much more meaningful way.
Deborah