The Biggest Lotteries In The World
Lotteries have always been available to people the world over. Their popularity never seems to fade, but this fame increased tenfold with the advent of online lotteries. There are hundreds of lotteries from around the globe; however, some stand out as the biggest and the most lucrative. Let us unpack the biggest lotteries in the world.
Powerball
Have you ever asked someone, “if you won the lotto, what would you buy first?” We all have. And when you ask anyone in the United States what the biggest lottery is, they will say the US Powerball. This lottery is managed by the Multi-State Lottery Association and is available in 45 states, including the US Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. But it’s the jackpot that has people talking all the time.
When the US Powerball first launched, the total prize money was $20 million. This figure would grow into hundreds of millions of dollars from time to time. In 2016, one lucky person won a whopping $1.5 billion. This was also a new record. The latest winner walked away with a staggering $235 million jackpot. So, how do you play Powerball? You choose five numbers from 1 to 69 and a Powerball number from 1 to 26.
Mega Millions
A lucrative lottery that’s been a popular figure in the US and is also managed by the Multi-State Lottery Association. Another similarity to US Powerball is that the Mega Millions jackpot often also hits high figures. So, how do you play it? Players choose five numbers from 1 to 70. Next, they must pick one mega ball from 1 to 25. Fun fact, there are numbers in Mega Millions that are the luckiest. And these include:
- 22, drawn 33 times
- 11, drawn 28 times
- 18, 13 and 9 drawn 27 times each
Just a few days ago, someone bagged the $20 million jackpot prize.
EuroMillions
Another well-known lottery, and even though you can only play it in select European countries, it is still known by lottery fans worldwide. This transnational lottery is played in nine countries: Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. For every draw, the jackpot starts at €17 million.
When there are rollovers, this number can increase well into the hundreds of millions of euros. In 2021, the highest EuroMillions jackpot was recorded, with the winner walking away with a staggering €210 million. To participate in this lottery, you need to choose five numbers between 1 and 50. And then two lucky numbers from 1 to 12.
EuroJackpot
This is the second transnational lottery to feature on our list. However, the EuroJackpot is played in 18 countries, including the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain and Sweden. While this one has smaller jackpots, it is still relatively enticing, starting at €10 million. It grows up to €90 million in prize money.
When playing, players need to select five numbers between 1 and 50 and pick two EuroNumbers between 1 and 10. To win, all five numbers, as well as the EuroNumbers, need to match. You can also win with as few as three numbers. If there are no winners for a draw, it is carried over to the following week.
SuperEnalotto
We cannot complete our list without mentioning Italy’s premier lottery, SuperEnalotto. While the Enalotto existed since the 1950s, it was renamed SuperEnalotto in 1997. Since then, it has taken Italy by storm. Draws take place every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with jackpots totaling hundreds of millions of euros.
To play this lotto, you need to match six numbers out of 90. If a player matches all the numbers, they win the jackpot. There are more levels in which you can win.
When you select your initial six cards, you must also pick one jolly number. If you get five numbers plus the jolly number, you also win. You must match at least two numbers to win. The biggest single-person jackpot win was in 2019, with the winner walking away with over €200 million.
El Gordo
The only lottery that has a guaranteed billion-euro jackpot for every draw. And the reason for this unique and outlandish prize money is that the draw only occurs once a year in December. Dubbed the Christmas Lotto, El Gordo is run by state-owned Loterías y Apuestas del Estado. It’s the oldest lottery in the world and was first played in 1812. And the best thing about it? The massive jackpot.
There is something mystical about the El Gordo lottery. It’s an event that sees everyone getting involved. Whether you are in the streets or at home, you are almost always guaranteed to hear someone shouting the numbers as they are read out. Fun fact, because of the format of the game and because the draw takes place only once a year, the idea is to have multiple winners at once.
These are some of the world’s biggest lotteries, offering lucky players a chance to win a life-changing cash prize. Whether you enter hundreds of times or enter only once and win, playing the lottery will always be a thrilling experience.
