Which Lotteries Offer Better Odds?
Winning the lottery jackpot is hard – t’s an undeniable fact. Sure, many have won large jackpots over the years, but those were exceptions rather than the rule. And heck, if it were that incredibly easy to win, lottery games would probably cease to exist altogether!
Can’t have everyone winning every game, right? That being said, it doesn’t mean that all lottery games are made equal. Which ones give the better odds? Take a look below for a comparison of different lotteries' winning odds.
Odds for Winning any Prize
If you aren’t particular about the prize you win in lotteries (i.e. you’d be content on winning anything), a lot of lottery games offer good odds when it comes to winning any prize. But, which ones offer the best chances of winning? Check out the table below to see how some of the most popular lotteries fare against each other:
| Lotteries | Overall Odds of Winning any Prize |
| French Lotto | 1 : 5.99 |
| UK Lotto | 1 : 9.3 |
| Euromillions | 1 : 13 |
| Mega Millions | 1 : 14.71 |
| US Powerball | 1 : 24.87 |
| EuroJackpot | 1 : 26 |
| Irish Lotto | 1 : 29 |
| SuperEnalotto | 1 : 314 |
As you can see, if you’re not solely aiming for the jackpot, your odds of winning are actually not that bad!
For the best chance of winning, going with French Lotto is your best bet. Of course, if you are hoping to win a much bigger payout than what that game typically offers, you’d have to go with more popular lotteries – like Mega Millions or US Powerball.
The problem is, if you go with the bigger lotteries, the odds tend to take a dip.
Odds for Winning the Jackpot
If you’re set on winning the jackpot, remember that the bigger the pot, the more your chances of winning goes down. What are the chances of you winning the jackpot in the most popular lottery games? Check out the table below:
| Lotteries | Overall Odds of Winning the Jackpot |
| Irish Lotto | 1 : 10,737,573 |
| French Lotto | 1 : 19,068,840 |
| UK Lotto | 1 : 45,057,474 |
| EuroJackpot | 1 : 95,344,200 |
| Euromillions | 1 : 139,838,160 |
| Mega Millions | 1 : 259,890,850 |
| US Powerball | 1 : 292,201,338 |
| SuperEnalotto | 1 : 622,612,630 |
Again, less popular lotteries – like Irish Lotto and French Lotto – still provide the better odds compared to games that offer much larger jackpots. So, yes, if you want a much better chance of winning, better go with less popular lotteries. But, where’s the fun in that, right?
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Despite the fact that SuperEnalotto usually offers smaller jackpots than other (more popular) lotteries, the odds of winning the jackpot in that game aren't very good. In comparison, playing US Powerball, which has bigger jackpots, also offers a better chance of winning it.
The Bottom Line
Choosing the lottery game with the best odds might not be the best move every time.
Sure, it’s logical to go with ones that offer better odds if you want better chances of winning, right? However, if you want to win big, you have to play in bigger lotteries. The problem is that if you do that, the odds will most likely not be in your favor.
That’s not to say that it’s impossible to win, just that it’s incredibly difficult. But hey, lottery is a game about risks. The question is: are you willing to take the chance?
