EuroMillions Odds — Full Prize Breakdown for Irish Players
EuroMillions offers 13 prize tiers ranging from matching just 2 numbers all the way to the jackpot. The odds vary enormously across these tiers — from 1 in 22 for the smallest prize to 1 in 139.8 million for the jackpot. Here is the complete breakdown.
EuroMillions jackpot odds
To win the EuroMillions jackpot you must match all 5 main balls (from 1–50) and both Lucky Stars (from 1–12). The number of possible combinations is calculated as:
C(50,5) × C(12,2) = 2,118,760 × 66 = 139,838,160
This gives jackpot odds of approximately 1 in 139.8 million. To put this in perspective: you are roughly 250 times more likely to be struck by lightning in your lifetime than to win the EuroMillions jackpot in any single draw.
The jackpot starts at €17 million and rolls over if not won. It can grow to a maximum of €250 million (the "Must-Go" cap), at which point the prize is shared among the winners in the next tier down if the jackpot is not won.
Full EuroMillions prize tier odds
| Prize tier | Match | Odds (1 in) | Approximate prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackpot | 5 + 2 Lucky Stars | 139,838,160 | €17m+ |
| 2nd | 5 + 1 Lucky Star | 6,991,908 | €300k–€1m |
| 3rd | 5 + 0 Lucky Stars | 3,107,515 | €20k–€50k |
| 4th | 4 + 2 Lucky Stars | 621,503 | €1,000–€5,000 |
| 5th | 4 + 1 Lucky Star | 31,075 | €100–€500 |
| 6th | 3 + 2 Lucky Stars | 14,125 | €50–€150 |
| 7th | 4 + 0 Lucky Stars | 13,811 | €50–€100 |
| 8th | 2 + 2 Lucky Stars | 985 | €15–€25 |
| 9th | 3 + 1 Lucky Star | 706 | €12–€20 |
| 10th | 3 + 0 Lucky Stars | 314 | €10–€15 |
| 11th | 1 + 2 Lucky Stars | 188 | €8–€12 |
| 12th | 2 + 1 Lucky Star | 49 | €6–€8 |
| 13th | 2 + 0 Lucky Stars | 22 | €4–€5 |
EuroMillions odds vs Irish Lotto odds
The Irish Lotto jackpot odds are approximately 1 in 10.7 million — about 13 times easier to win than EuroMillions. This is because Irish Lotto draws 6 balls from only 47, giving C(47,6) = 10,737,573 possible combinations.
However, Irish Lotto jackpots are typically far smaller — usually starting at €2 million and rarely exceeding €10 million. EuroMillions jackpots regularly reach €50–100 million and sometimes exceed €200 million.
EuroMillions also has the Millionaire Maker raffle, which guarantees at least one Irish millionaire in Irish draws — significantly improving the expected return for Irish players compared to a pure odds analysis.
EuroMillions Plus odds
EuroMillions Plus is an Irish add-on game that costs €1 extra per line. It draws 5 numbers from 1–50 (no Lucky Stars) with a fixed €500,000 top prize.
The odds of winning EuroMillions Plus are 1 in C(50,5) = 1 in 2,118,760. With a fixed prize (not a rollover jackpot), the expected value per €1 ticket is approximately €0.24 — better than the main EuroMillions game on a pure mathematical basis, though still negative expected value.
How to improve your expected return
No strategy can change the underlying odds of any specific combination winning. However, you can manage your expected return in a few ways:
Play when the jackpot is very large: A €200 million jackpot improves your expected return per ticket significantly, even though the odds remain the same.
Avoid popular number combinations: If you win while others have chosen the same numbers, the jackpot is split. Numbers 1–31 are overplayed (linked to dates). Playing numbers above 31 does not improve your odds of winning, but it reduces the risk of sharing the prize.
Use the EuroMillions Plus add-on: The fixed prize structure and better odds-to-prize ratio make Plus a reasonable add-on at €1 per line.
Join a syndicate: A 10-person syndicate playing 10 lines gives you 10× the chances of winning at the same individual cost — though any prize is shared.
Frequently asked questions
What are the odds of winning EuroMillions?
The jackpot odds are 1 in 139,838,160. The odds of winning any prize are approximately 1 in 13. There are 13 prize tiers in total, starting from matching 2 main balls (odds: 1 in 22).
What are the odds of winning EuroMillions with 1 line?
With one line, your jackpot odds are 1 in 139.8 million. Your chance of winning any prize (any tier) is approximately 1 in 13 per line played.
Are EuroMillions odds better or worse than Irish Lotto?
EuroMillions jackpot odds (1 in 139.8 million) are about 13 times harder than Irish Lotto (1 in 10.7 million). However, EuroMillions jackpots are typically far larger and the Millionaire Maker raffle guarantees an Irish winner in every draw.
Has anyone in Ireland won EuroMillions?
Yes — several Irish players have won EuroMillions jackpots, and Ireland has produced multiple winners of the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker raffle. The largest Irish EuroMillions winner won over €175 million.
What is the EuroMillions Millionaire Maker?
The Millionaire Maker is a raffle included in every Irish EuroMillions ticket, guaranteeing at least one Irish player wins €1 million in each draw regardless of whether the main jackpot is won. It significantly improves the expected return for Irish players.