European Lotteries
European lotteries are known all over the world due to their great jackpots and good odds to win. In fact, you don’t need to live in one of the European countries to play in European National Lotteries. It is available all over the world, which means Indian players can also join the excitement and try their luck.
With decent odds of winning and reasonably priced tickets, the European lottery is quite popular among players around the globe. This article is about the biggest European lotteries: how to play the online, how much to win, how to get the prizes and other important information. So read ahead, and get ready to try your luck.
Biggest Lotteries of Europe
There is always an additional level of thrill when it comes to playing international lotteries. These lotto games are accessible to all players who are above the age of 18.
Purchasing these lottery tickets is not a difficult process. You can get them either from a retailer in person or from an online site. If you are purchasing from a retailer, make sure you check for the license. The same applies to those purchasing tickets from online vendors. Make sure to check for a license, and also ensure that your ticket is immediately visible in your account.
While there are several European lotteries to choose from, the main among them are discussed here.
Irish Lotto
The Irish National Lottery was found in 1988 and very soon it became favorite lottery amongst Irish players. In fact, it is estimated that more than two-thirds of Irish adults actively play this lotto.
Users are required to select six numbers in the range of 1 to 47. This can be done according to the player’s choice or a Quick Pick. Seven numbers are drawn every Wednesday and Saturday. There is a guarantee of at least €2 million in the jackpot.
The overall odds of hitting the jackpot is 1 in 10,737,573, but you have a 1 in 29 chance to win any one prize in one of the eight prize tiers. Tickets cost €4 per two lines. Additional lines can be added at €2 per line.
Pick 3
In Pick 3, you simply choose three numbers ranging from 0 to 9. The winner gets a chance to take home €500 by picking the 3 right numbers.
You can take part in this lotto from home, or on the go. Winning numbers are selected twice every day, at 1:00 pm and 6:00 pm. Players wager €0.50 to €1 per bet.
You can choose between the following bet types:
- Straight, to predict the winning numbers in the right order
- Box, to predict the winning numbers in any order
- Straight/Box, which is half your bet towards a straight and the other half towards a Box
- Combo, for all possible straights within your chosen set
- Pairs, for any two numbers
UK Lotto
The UK National lottery has been a popular game since its inception in 1994. The player picks six numbers from 1 to 59, either from a retailer or online. The more numbers you match with the chosen numbers, the better your prize. Players can win for matching even 2 numbers.
Draws take place twice a week, on Wednesday at 8 pm and Saturdays at 7:45 pm. Tickets cost £2, and the jackpot starts at £2 million on Wednesdays and £3.8 million on Saturdays. Further, the odds of winning any prize are 1 in 9.3, making it a popular game.
Health Millions
Health Millions is a popular online game with great prizes. The main jackpot is worth at least €5 million. Draws take place at 9:00 pm every Monday and Thursday. In addition to this, there is a monthly Super Jackpot event as well. In this case, top jackpots are boosted to €15 million.
Tickets cost €1 per entry. The players pick six numbers from 1 to 50 and a Health Ball from 1 to 5. The aim is to land all the winning numbers. You have a 1 in 79,453,500 chance of winning the first tier jackpot, but overall odds of winning any lottery are 1 in 3.
Spanish El Nino
Spanish El Nino, commonly known as El Nino, is a Spanish Draw. It takes place once a year. This is usually on the 6th of January. The main jackpot is worth €2 million.
It is more of a raffle than the regular lottery. Players buy Tickets of 5-digit numbers. Each Ticket is divided into Tenths and can be bought separately. Also players can purchase Tenths of different tickets.
Two draws take place. One draw shows the prize values, and the other draw determines the winning tickets.
The cheapest you can buy is 1/100 of a ticket, which costs €4.99. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 100,000, while the odds of any prize are 1 in 3.
UK Thunderball
This UK National lottery game is drawn at 8:15 pm every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday. The fixed payout for a jackpot is £500,000 per winner.
Players have to select five numbers from 1 to 39, along with a Thunderball number between 1 and 14. Tickets cost £1 per entry, and players can get tickets from National Lottery retailers or online sites.
The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 8,060,598, while the overall odds of winning are 1 in 13. It is one European lottery that everyone knows. Players from many countries regularly try their luck here, and several succeed as well.
Eurojackpot
One of Europe’s largest jackpots, Eurojackpot, is enjoyed all over the world. The jackpots size is limited up to €90 million. Draws are held every Fridays and Tuesdays at 19:00 BST in Helsinki.
The starting jackpot is €10 million. Players choose five numbers between 1 and 50. They also pick two additional numbers from 1 to 10. Tickets cost €2 per line. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 95344200. The total odds of any prize are 1 in 26.
This game is especially popular because of the potentially large wins that can happen if a few draws go by without a jackpot winner.
German Lotto 6/49
The German Lottery 6aus49 is one of Germany’s largest lotto games. Managed by Deutscher Lotto-und Totoblock, the Lotto 6aus49 has been a popular choice since its creation in 1974.
Players choose six major numbers in the range of 1 to 49. They also choose an additional number, a Superzahl. This additional number lies in the 0 to 9 range. Draws take place every Wednesday and Saturday. The jackpot prize is for players who match all numbers.
This German lottery ticket costs €1.20, with a minimum base jackpot of €1 million. The odds of winning the jackpot is 1 in 139,838,160.
French Loto
The French National Lottery is commonly known as Loto and was established in 1976.
Players choose five main numbers in the range of 1 to 49. They also choose an additional number in the 0 to 10 range. This is called the Chance Number. Draws take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. The jackpot prize is for players who match all numbers.
This French lottery ticket costs €2.20, with a minimum base jackpot of €2 million. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 19,068,840.
EuroMillions
The international lottery, Euromillions, is among the best known and most widely played lottery. This international lottery was launched in 2004. Draws are held every Tuesday and Friday.
Tickets cost €2.50 per line. There is no eligibility criterion other than the 18+ rule. Tourists, non-europeans, and anyone interested can play the lotto.
The players select five main numbers from 1 to 50 and two lucky stars from a pool of 12 numbers. The minimum guaranteed jackpot is at €17 million, but it can roll over to a maximum of €220 million.
This table summarizes the main European lotteries and their details.
| Lottery | Date of Draw | Ticket Price | Jackpot | Probability to win the Jackpot |
| Irish Lotto | Wednesday and Saturday | €2 per line | €2 million | 1 in 10,737,573 |
| Pick 3
|
Twice a day | €0.50 to €1 per bet
|
€500 | 1 in 1,000 |
| UK Lotto | Wednesday and Saturday | £2 | £2 million on Wednesdays, and £3.8 million on Saturdays | 1 in 45,057,474 |
| Health Millions | Monday and Thursday | €1 per entry | €5 million | 1 in 79,453,500 |
| Spanish El Nino | 6th of January | 1/100 of a ticket costs €4.99 | €2 million | 1 in 100,000 |
| Thunderball
|
Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday | £1 per entry | £500,000 per winner | 1 in 8,060,598 |
| Eurojackpot
|
Friday | € 2 per line | €10 million | 1 in 95344200 |
| German Lotto 6/49 | Wednesday and Saturday | €1.2 | €1 million | 1 in 139,838,160 |
| French Loto | Monday, Wednesday and Saturday | €2.20 | €2 million | 1 in 19,068,840 |
| EuroMillion | Tuesdays and Fridays | €2.50 per line | €17 million | 1 in 139,838,160 |
Make sure you check out the chances of the jackpot and make an intelligent choice as to which lotto you want to try your luck on.
Play European Lotteries From India
Indian players can make use of an online concierge service. They will buy your ticket from the parent company. After this, a copy of the ticket is uploaded to your account. Services like LottoSmile and Lotto247 in India are quite popular. These give you the freedom to play the European lottery online.
You have to pay the lottery ticket fee. In addition, the online service charge may be levied. This varies from one online site to the other. The charge is dependent on the service offered.
How to Buy Tickets From India
Buying your European lottery ticket online is not a big process.
- Register for an account in any one of the sites listed above
- Ensure you provide the right details
- Once KYC is confirmed, your account is all set and ready to go.
- Navigate to the lottery you want to play
- Choose your numbers and select the day you want to play on.
- You can subscribe to play or make a selection for the draw of your choice.
- Add your choices to the cart.
- Pay for the tickets. You can pay with VISA, MasterCard, PayPal and others.
It is easy to play international lotteries online. In fact, you can use the same steps to play USA Powerball, EU lotto or any lottery of your choice. It also offers great odds of a win.
The ticket, once purchased, will be added to your account. This means that the physical ticket now belongs to you. The lottery companies do not charge commission on winnings and credit to players full prize amount after tax deductions. You now have the freedom to experience a global lottery. All you have to do is identify the right site, register and buy your tickets.
Receiving Your Winnings
Winning the lottery is undoubtedly a thrilling experience. However, it leads to one main question – What comes next?
The next major step is to collect your winnings. This might vary based on the country you are in and the lottery you are playing. It also depends on whether you bought your ticket online or offline.
Real Tickets Online
If you buy your lottery ticket online, the process of collecting your wins is easy. For smaller wins, the collection will be done by the concierge service. The winnings are credited to your Bank Card or E-wallet specified in your account.
In case of winning the Jackpot, you might be required to collect it from the Lottery Operator. This might include traveling in Europe to get the original of the winning ticket and then collect the Jackpot. The company where you bought tickets will provide you with all the support you need to get the prize.
Lottery Bets
The easiest way to play and win European Lotteries is to place bets. When you win all the prizes are credited to your account on the site you play. Then you decide to continue to place bets or take the winnings to a bank card or electronic wallet. If you withdraw the money you also should pay the income tax of the state, you live in.
Buy Tickets in One of European States
If you bought the ticket offline, be sure to check the results regularly. If you win, you might be required to fill a form to claim the prize. In addition, remember to preserve the ticket until you claim the prize.
Some lotteries offer you the chance to fill an online form and attach documents. Others, including large jackpots, might require you to travel down to them, exchange the form and collect your prize.
Whatever the means of purchase, you need to make sure that the prize will not be credited immediately. There are several vetting and identity confirmations that need to be done. After this, the prize will be transferred to your wallet or bank account as per the details provided. If it is transferred to a wallet, you need to ensure that the amount in your account is greater than the minimum withdrawal limit.
You can choose to withdraw it directly to your bank accounts that have been provided. The process is easier if your account has been KYC verified already.
How Much Tax Do Winners Pay
One major concern is the taxes one has to pay in the case of a win. For many winners, the thought of paying the government money from their winnings never occurs. The actual amount to be paid in taxes varies from lotto to lotto and among countries.
For European players, jackpots are usually tax-free. While the lotteries themselves are taxed, players need not worry about paying taxes from their own winnings.
However, players from Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland do have to pay taxes.
Indian players playing European lotteries do have to pay taxes. Your winnings will have to be declared in “Other Income,” and an income tax is levied on them. This usually adds up to about 30 percent of your winnings that will be paid as tax. You are still left with a substantial amount after the taxes are paid.
In most situations, even after taxes are paid in full, there is enough money left to enjoy the wins to your heart’s content. With large prizes and decent odds of winning, you do not have to worry about taxes eating up a significant part of your profits.
Conclusion
In conclusion, playing the European lottery is undoubtedly a great way to turn your luck around and bring in the big bucks. With affordable ticket pricing and good win rates, all players have to do is check the results.
You can check results online as soon as the draw is over or watch it through live telecasts. In most cases, if your contact details are provided, you will be reached by phone, SMS, or email. Keep an eye out for messages that announce the winners.
You can win big and make your dreams come true. Easily sign up on an online site. Pay for them to pick up your ticket. Get ready to be part of the thrill of a global lotto with European lotteries.
I transform my interest in lotteries to useful articles.
I’ve always dreamt of winning a big amound of money for myself. I had heard that there are lots of International lotteries from Europe that can be played from anywhere in the world. But I did not know much about the lotteries. So, I was browsing the internet looking for a good article through which I could learn about the European lotteries. Then I found the LottoThrill website. The article was so informative. From here I’ve known how I can purchase a ticket and take part in the draw.
With a wide array of options to choose from, I can only choose so much and feel overwhelmed at times when searching on Google. But luckily, I came across this article and found a short list of European lotteries to try, which helped me to choose the perfect game that I play up to this day (Pick 3).
I wouldn’t know what other game I would be playing right now if it wasn’t for Lottothrill’s help and informational article, so thank you, from the bottom of my heart!