UK Lotto: Official Guide, Rules, Odds & How to Play
The UK's flagship national lottery — jackpots from £2M+, drawn every Wednesday & Saturday
Draws every Wednesday & Saturday at 7:45 PM GMT — results live on BBC One and via SmartLotto within minutes
UK Lotto (officially Lotto) is the United Kingdom's flagship national lottery, launched on 19 November 1994 and operated under the National Lottery licence. It is one of the world's most-played lotteries with an estimated 45 million tickets sold per draw across Great Britain.
Players choose 6 main numbers from 1–59. Six balls are drawn plus one Bonus Ball from the remaining 53 — the Bonus Ball applies only to players who match exactly 5 main numbers. A Must-Be-Won draw triggers after 5 consecutive rollovers with no jackpot winner, causing the jackpot to cascade to lower divisions.
Choose Your 6 Numbers
Select 6 numbers from 1 to 59. All numbers are equally likely. Use your favourites, choose Lucky Dip for a random selection, or use SmartLotto's AI-powered Cherry Pick Engine for data-backed picks.
Select Lines & Draws
Play a single line or multiple lines. Choose a single draw or set up a subscription to automatically play every week so you never miss a draw.
Purchase Your Entry
Buy in person at UK lottery retailers, online at national-lottery.co.uk, or via the official app. Australians can participate via authorised lottery concierge services.
Watch the Draw — Wednesday & Saturday
Draws take place at 7:45 PM GMT every Wednesday and Saturday, broadcast live on BBC One. Results are published online and via SmartLotto within minutes.
Check Your Numbers
Match 2 for a free Lucky Dip. Match 3 for £30 fixed. Match 4, 5, 5+Bonus, or 6 for escalating prizes. SmartLotto's results checker compares any numbers against every draw instantly.
Claim Your Prize
Prizes up to £500 from any retailer. Prizes up to £50,000 via bank transfer from the National Lottery. Prizes above £50,000 require a claim at a National Lottery Regional Centre.
The Bonus Ball is drawn from the remaining 53 balls after the main 6 have been selected. It applies only to Division 2 — players who match exactly 5 main numbers plus the Bonus Ball win Division 2. It cannot be selected by players; it is drawn automatically after the main six balls.
Must-Be-Won Draws: If the jackpot rolls over 5 times without a winner, the next draw is declared Must-Be-Won. If nobody matches all 6 main numbers, the jackpot cascades to the next winning division — potentially distributing millions across thousands of players who matched 5 numbers.
UK Lotto has 6 prize divisions. The jackpot rolls over when not won. Division 5 (match 3) pays a fixed £30 cash prize. Division 6 (match 2) awards a free Lucky Dip entry.
| Division | Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🏆 Div 1 | 6 main numbers | Jackpot (shared) | 1 in 45,057,474 |
| Div 2 | 5 + Bonus Ball | ~£1M+ (shared) | 1 in 7,509,579 |
| Div 3 | 5 main numbers | ~£1,750 (shared) | 1 in 144,415 |
| Div 4 | 4 main numbers | ~£140 (shared) | 1 in 2,180 |
| Div 5 | 3 main numbers | £30 fixed | 1 in 97 |
| Div 6 | 2 main numbers | Free Lucky Dip | 1 in 10.3 |
📊 Jackpot Scale
- Jackpot starts at a guaranteed minimum of £2 million per draw
- No jackpot cap — rolls over until won or Must-Be-Won is triggered
- After 5 consecutive rollovers without a jackpot winner, a Must-Be-Won draw is declared
- In Must-Be-Won draws, if nobody matches 6 balls, jackpot cascades down to Division 2
- All UK Lotto prizes are paid as a tax-free lump sum in the UK
- Australian winners receive prizes in AUD via their authorised concierge provider
Millionaire Raffle — Guaranteed £1M Prize Every Draw
Every UK Lotto ticket automatically includes a unique Millionaire Raffle code. In every Wednesday and Saturday draw, at least one Raffle winner receives £1,000,000 — completely separate from the main jackpot and the Bonus Ball.
- Millionaire Raffle is included free with every standard Lotto ticket
- At least 1 guaranteed millionaire per draw from the Raffle alone
- Special draws on New Year's Day and Christmas feature up to 50 Raffle millionaires
- Raffle prizes are paid as a tax-free lump sum in the UK
- SmartLotto subscribers receive Millionaire Raffle draw alerts automatically
Fully random computer-generated selection of 6 numbers from 1–59. Statistically identical odds to manual selection — and responsible for many major jackpot wins.
Choose your own 6 favourite numbers. Most popular method among regular players. SmartLotto's Cherry Pick Engine and AI predictions can give you a data-backed edge.
Select more than 6 numbers for automatic coverage of all 6-number combinations within your selection. Each combination counts as a separate entry at standard ticket price.
Set up a Direct Debit to play the same numbers automatically each week. Never miss a draw — your numbers enter every Wednesday and Saturday until you cancel.
Ready to Play UK Lotto?
Join SmartLotto to access AI-powered UK Lotto predictions, track every Wednesday & Saturday draw, and never miss a Must-Be-Won!
Play UK Lotto Now View Latest ResultsUK Lotto is operated by Allwyn Entertainment under the UK National Lottery licence. Australian participation is via authorised concierge operators. 18+ only. Please gamble responsibly. Gambling Help Online: 1800 858 858