The Basics: Two Lotteries, One Format
EuroMillions launched in 2004 across the UK, France, Spain, and six other countries. EuroJackpot followed in 2012 with 19 participating nations, mainly in Northern and Central Europe. Both use the same number format: pick 5 main numbers from 1-50, plus 2 bonus numbers from 1-12. That identical structure gives them the same jackpot odds: 1 in 139,838,160.
For context, those odds are roughly twice as good as US Powerball (1 in 292 million) and Mega Millions (1 in 302 million). If you're used to playing American lotteries, either European option gives you a significantly better shot at the top prize. To put it concretely: you'd need to buy two Powerball tickets to match the probability of one EuroMillions or EuroJackpot ticket hitting the jackpot.
Both draw twice a week — EuroMillions on Tuesdays and Fridays, EuroJackpot also on Tuesdays and Fridays. That means four chances per week if you play both, though your wallet might have opinions about that strategy. The draw times are slightly different: EuroMillions at 8:00 PM CET (2:00 PM ET) and EuroJackpot at 9:00 PM CET (3:00 PM ET).
Here's where things start to diverge. EuroMillions tickets cost €2.50 per line. EuroJackpot tickets cost €2.00. If you're playing regularly, that 50-cent difference adds up. Over a year of playing one line per draw (104 draws), EuroMillions costs you €260 vs EuroJackpot's €208. Same odds, €52 less. That savings could fund another 26 EuroJackpot tickets — an extra quarter of a year's worth of plays.
Jackpot Caps: The Biggest Difference
EuroMillions caps at €250 million. EuroJackpot caps at €120 million. That's the headline difference, and for many people, it's the only number that matters.
The EuroMillions cap was raised from €190 million in 2020, and the record jackpot hit €230 million in July 2022 — a UK ticket holder claimed the entire pot. At EuroJackpot, the €120 million cap has been reached multiple times, and in July 2024 it was won by a single ticket in Germany.
But here's the thing about caps: they change the behavior of the lottery when the jackpot hits the ceiling. EuroMillions allows up to five additional draws at the cap before triggering a mandatory rolldown. EuroJackpot's cap rule is different — once it hits €120 million, excess funds flow into lower prize tiers immediately. That means the secondary prizes get fatter every draw the jackpot stays maxed out.
So if you're a secondary-prize optimizer (and honestly, matching 5+1 for a few million euros is still life-changing), EuroJackpot at the cap can actually be more valuable than EuroMillions at the cap. The top prize is smaller, but more money is spread across more winners.
Prize Tiers: Where Your Money Actually Goes
EuroMillions has 13 prize tiers. EuroJackpot has 12. More tiers generally means more chances to win something, though the smallest prizes in both lotteries are modest — around €2 to €5 for matching just 2 numbers.
The overall odds of winning any prize are noticeably different. EuroMillions gives you a 1 in 13 chance of winning something. EuroJackpot's any-prize odds are 1 in 26. That means you're twice as likely to walk away with any prize at all when playing EuroMillions, even if most of those wins barely cover your ticket cost. Over 100 tickets, you'd statistically expect about 8 small wins from EuroMillions but only 4 from EuroJackpot.
For the mid-range prizes — matching 4 or 5 numbers without the bonus balls — the payout structures are comparable. Both lotteries use a pari-mutuel system for most tiers, meaning the prize amount depends on ticket sales and how many winners there are in each tier. A typical Match 5+0 prize (all 5 main numbers, no bonus balls) ranges from €30,000 to €300,000 depending on the draw.
EuroMillions also has the Millionaire Maker raffle, which creates at least one guaranteed millionaire per draw via a random selection from all tickets sold. It's basically a bonus lottery within the lottery — your ticket is automatically entered. Every single draw produces at least one new millionaire through this mechanism, independent of the main number draw. EuroJackpot doesn't have an equivalent feature, which is a genuine edge for EuroMillions if you value guaranteed secondary prizes.
One more structural difference: when nobody wins the EuroJackpot for multiple consecutive draws, the jackpot grows faster relative to its cap because the ticket pool is fed by 19 countries. EuroMillions has a slower growth curve per draw because the cap is higher and the rollover period can stretch longer.
Tax Treatment: What You Actually Keep
This is where European lotteries absolutely crush their American counterparts. Most European countries don't tax lottery winnings at all. You win €100 million, you take home €100 million.
Compare that to the US, where a Powerball winner immediately loses 24% to federal withholding, then up to 37% at tax time, plus state taxes in most states. A $100 million Powerball jackpot becomes roughly $55-60 million after taxes (lump sum). A €100 million EuroMillions win in France or the UK? You keep €100 million.
There are exceptions. Spain taxes prizes over €40,000 at 20%. Portugal recently introduced a 20% tax on prizes over €5,000. Switzerland taxes vary by canton. But the majority of EuroMillions and EuroJackpot participating countries — including the UK, France, Germany, Austria, and Ireland — are fully tax-free.
One critical note for American readers: US residents cannot purchase international lottery tickets online. Federal law prohibits it, and legitimate services like theLotter block US IP addresses from buying European lottery tickets. This comparison is primarily relevant if you live outside the United States or travel to participating countries. If you're a US resident, your options are domestic lotteries and licensed lottery courier services that operate within the US.
Country Coverage: Which Markets Are Served
EuroMillions is played in 9 countries: the UK, France, Spain, Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Switzerland. These are some of Europe's wealthiest nations, which translates to higher ticket sales and faster-growing jackpots.
EuroJackpot covers 19 countries: Germany, Finland, Denmark, Slovenia, Netherlands, Estonia, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Croatia, Italy, and Austria. Notice that Spain and Austria appear in both lotteries — players there can choose either one (or both).
The larger country pool for EuroJackpot means more total tickets sold per draw, but the revenue is spread across more nations. EuroMillions, with fewer but wealthier countries, tends to generate comparable or higher per-draw revenue despite the smaller participant list.
For players outside these countries, both lotteries are accessible through licensed online lottery courier services. Services like theLotter purchase official tickets on your behalf from authorized retailers in participating countries. You own the actual physical ticket — they just buy it, scan it, and notify you if you win. For a detailed breakdown of EuroMillions rules and how to play, check our full guide.
Historical Performance: Which Lottery Produces Bigger Winners?
EuroMillions has produced some truly massive individual wins. The record stands at €230 million (July 2022, UK). Other standout prizes include €220 million (October 2021, France), €210 million (February 2023, France), and €200 million (December 2020, France). France seems to have a knack for winning the biggest ones — which makes sense statistically, since France has the largest population of any EuroMillions country and therefore buys the most tickets.
EuroJackpot's record is €120 million, which has been hit several times since the cap was introduced. Notable wins include a €120 million jackpot split between two winners in Denmark and Germany in 2022, and a single-ticket €120 million win in Germany in July 2024. Germany dominates EuroJackpot winners for the same reason France dominates EuroMillions — largest population in the participating countries means most tickets sold.
Because of the lower cap, EuroJackpot's top prizes are more predictable — they cluster around €90-120 million during long rollover streaks. EuroMillions can swing much wider, with jackpots sometimes languishing in the €17-50 million range for weeks before exploding past €100 million. This volatility is part of EuroMillions' appeal — the excitement of watching a jackpot climb toward the quarter-billion ceiling draws massive attention and ticket sales.
If you want to chase the absolute maximum possible prize, EuroMillions is the only choice. If you prefer more consistent large jackpots with better secondary prize distributions when the cap is reached, EuroJackpot has an edge. And if you're purely outcome-driven, remember that both lotteries have produced life-changing winners every single year since their respective launches.
Expected Value: The Math Behind the Decision
Neither lottery is a positive expected value bet. No lottery is. But some are less negative than others.
At face value: EuroMillions costs €2.50 per line with a 1 in 139.8 million chance at up to €250 million. EuroJackpot costs €2.00 per line with a 1 in 139.8 million chance at up to €120 million. If you're purely comparing the jackpot-to-ticket-cost ratio, EuroMillions offers €100 million per euro spent on the maximum jackpot, while EuroJackpot offers €60 million per euro.
But expected value isn't just about the top prize. You need to factor in all 12-13 prize tiers, the probability of each, and the average payout. When you run the full calculation, both lotteries return roughly 50-55 cents per euro wagered at typical jackpot levels. EuroMillions edges ahead when the jackpot is near the €250 million cap; EuroJackpot is competitive at normal jackpot levels because the lower ticket price means you lose less per play.
There's also the 'entertainment value per euro' angle. If your lottery budget is €10 per draw, EuroMillions gives you 4 lines while EuroJackpot gives you 5. Five independent shots at 1 in 139 million is mathematically better than four, even though each individual ticket has the same probability. Over a year of €10-per-draw play, that extra line per draw adds up to 104 additional chances at the jackpot.
The practical takeaway: if you're going to play one, the difference in expected value is small enough that personal preference should drive your decision. Do you want the shot at €250 million, or do you want to save €0.50 per ticket and play more lines? For a deeper look at how lottery odds really work, check our EuroJackpot page.
The Verdict: Which Should You Play?
Play EuroMillions if:
- You want a shot at the absolute biggest European jackpot (€250M cap)
- You value the Millionaire Maker raffle as a bonus win condition
- You prefer better any-prize odds (1 in 13 vs 1 in 26)
- You're in the UK, France, or Ireland and can buy tickets locally
Play EuroJackpot if:
- You want to save €0.50 per ticket (adds up over time)
- You like the prize overflow mechanic at the €120M cap
- You're in Germany, Scandinavia, or Eastern Europe
- You prefer a lottery with 19 participating countries
Play both if:
- You're serious about European lotteries and want four draws per week instead of two
For non-US residents who want to try either lottery, courier services let you buy official tickets online from anywhere in the world. You get a scanned copy of your physical ticket, and any winnings are deposited directly to your account.
Play EuroMillions via theLotter
