Ukraine Megalot is a national lotto game from Ukraine. Since its launch, it has become one of the biggest and most popular lotteries in the country.
It is a double-matrix game that offers a lot of prizes for a cheap price. In fact, one of the best features of this game is its impressive second-place prize.
It also has a unique feature that allows players to increase their odds of winning.
In this guide, we’ll tell you all the reasons why this is the most popular Ukrainian lotto game and show how you can buy Ukraine Megalot tickets online.
About Ukraine Megalot
Ukraine Megalot is a state-run lottery that is administered by Molodsportloto, also known as MSL.
MSL has been running lottery games for more than four decades. It joined the European State Lotteries and Totes Association in 1993 to ensure fair and transparent practices.
Ukraine Megalot was launched in 2001 and has remained unchanged since its first draw.
Like most other lotteries, profits from Ukraine Megalot are used to fund charity efforts by the state.
Ukraine Megalot Draws
Ukraine Megalot is a bi-weekly draw that takes place every Wednesday and Saturday at 8:50 p.m. EET.
A total of seven balls are randomly selected from two drums during each draw at the Molodsportloto headquarters in Kiev.
How to Play Ukraine Megalot
Ukraine Megalot is a double-matrix format lottery.
On a ticket, players must first choose six numbers from a range of 1 through 42. Then they must choose a bonus number called the Megaball. Players choose the Megaball from a range of 0 through 9.
A unique feature of Ukraine Megalot is that players can play up to 10 extra numbers on a single ticket. Each number comes at an additional cost but increases the odds of winning.
When purchased in Ukraine, one standard ticket costs only UAH 5, making it one of the cheaper games to play.
Each additional number costs UAH 1, which is a pretty good deal for getting a better chance at the jackpot.
Keep in mind, players who buy tickets online from independent websites may have to pay an additional fee.
Ukraine Megalot Prizes and Odds
Ukraine Megalot has a total of eight prize tiers, giving players many chances to win. To win a prize, players must match at least three main numbers.
To win the jackpot, players must match all six main numbers and the Megaball.
Players who only match the six main numbers also receive an impressive second-place prize called the Megapriz.
The jackpot varies each week and rolls over if there is no winner and has no cap. Though there is no available information on the average jackpot amount, the Megapriz averages about UAH 3.5 million.
Though that’s not an impressive amount compared to other international lotteries, the average annual salary in Ukraine is UAH 11,741. So, any of the top two prizes are certainly enough to be life-changing.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 52,457,860. Overall, these are pretty tough.
Though they’re better than many popular national games like US Powerball, the jackpots are much smaller than games with similar odds.
The breakdown of each prize tier is as follows:
Numbers Matched | Odds of Winning | Estimated Winnings |
6 + Megaball | 1 in 52,457,860 | Jackpot |
6 | 1 in 5,828,651 | Megapriz |
5 + Megaball | 1 in 242,860 | UAH 50,500 |
5 | 1 in 26,984 | UAH 10,650 |
4 + Megaball | 1 in 5,551 | UAH 360 |
4 | 1 in 616 | UAH 180 |
3 + Megaball | 1 in 367 | UAH 36 |
3 | 1 in 40 | UAH 18 |
Claiming Ukraine Megalot Prizes
All Ukraine Megalot prizes are awarded as one-time lump-sum payments.
Prizes of up to 3,000 UAH can by claimed at any official retailer. Prizes between UAH 3,001 and UAH 10,000 can be claimed at regional MSL offices. Any prizes larger than that must be claimed at MSL headquarters in Kiev.
Winners have 180 days from the date of the winning draw to claim their prizes.
Unfortunately, lotto prizes in Ukraine are subject to personal income taxes. The tax rate for this is 18%, plus an additional 1.5% deduction that goes toward the Ukrainian army. In total, that means a tax of 19.5%.
Winners who buy tickets from third-party lottery websites may be subject to the tax laws of their home country.
Notable Ukraine Megalot Winners
The rolling jackpot means that Ukraine Megalot jackpots can get pretty big.
The biggest jackpot in the game’s history was won on October 8, 2014.
The UAH 15 million prize was won by a single ticket holder from Berdychiv.
Ukraine Megalot-Should You Play?
Ukraine Megalot has a lot of features that make it a great choice for lotto players looking for something new.
Though it doesn’t have the best odds or biggest jackpots, it is cheap and has many prize tiers.
Add to that the unique feature of purchasing additional balls, and the boost in odds makes this a no-brainer.
Just don’t expect the jackpot to change your life forever.
Pawel