Lottery odds comparison: 14 games ranked
Which big lottery is the least impossible to win? Here are fourteen major games ranked by jackpot odds, with their number formats and prices, so you can compare them side by side. All figures are calculated from the published formats.
| Game | Country | Format | Price | Jackpot odds | Versus the best |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotto 6/49 | Canada | 6/49 | C$3 | 1 in 13,983,816 | best |
| French Loto | France | 5/49 + 1/10 | €2.20 | 1 in 19,068,840 | 1.4x harder |
| Cash4Life | United States | 5/60 + 1/4 | $2 | 1 in 21,846,048 | 1.6x harder |
| Lotto America | United States | 5/52 + 1/10 | $1 | 1 in 25,989,600 | 1.9x harder |
| Lucky for Life | United States | 5/48 + 1/18 | $2 | 1 in 30,821,472 | 2.2x harder |
| UK National Lottery Lotto | United Kingdom | 6/59 | £2 | 1 in 45,057,474 | 3.2x harder |
| Oz Lotto | Australia | 7/47 | A$1.55 | 1 in 62,891,499 | 4.5x harder |
| EuroJackpot | Europe | 5/50 + 2/10 | €2 | 1 in 95,344,200 | 6.8x harder |
| Powerball (Australia) | Australia | 7/35 + 1/20 | A$1.45 | 1 in 134,490,400 | 9.6x harder |
| EuroMillions | Europe | 5/50 + 2/12 | €2.50 | 1 in 139,838,160 | 10.0x harder |
| German Lotto 6aus49 (with Superzahl) | Germany | 6/49 + 1/10 | €1.20 | 1 in 139,838,160 | 10.0x harder |
| Mega Millions | United States | 5/70 + 1/24 | $5 | 1 in 290,472,336 | 20.8x harder |
| Powerball | United States | 5/69 + 1/26 | $2 | 1 in 292,201,338 | 20.9x harder |
| SuperEnalotto | Italy | 6/90 | €1 | 1 in 622,614,630 | 44.5x harder |
Calculated from each game's published number format (14 games). Formats, prices and rules change over time and some games have several ways to play, so check the official rules before relying on a figure. "Per dollar" multiplies the odds by the local ticket price, so cheaper tickets rank better; it ignores currency differences.
The full ranking
Sorted from best to worst jackpot odds. Formats and prices change, so check the official rules.
| Game | Country | Format | Price | Jackpot odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotto 6/49 | Canada | 6 of 49 | C$3 | 1 in 13,983,816 |
| French Loto | France | 5 of 49 + 1 of 10 | €2.20 | 1 in 19,068,840 |
| Cash4Life | United States | 5 of 60 + 1 of 4 | $2 | 1 in 21,846,048 |
| Lotto America | United States | 5 of 52 + 1 of 10 | $1 | 1 in 25,989,600 |
| Lucky for Life | United States | 5 of 48 + 1 of 18 | $2 | 1 in 30,821,472 |
| UK National Lottery Lotto | United Kingdom | 6 of 59 | £2 | 1 in 45,057,474 |
| Oz Lotto | Australia | 7 of 47 | A$1.55 | 1 in 62,891,499 |
| EuroJackpot | Europe | 5 of 50 + 2 of 10 | €2 | 1 in 95,344,200 |
| Powerball (Australia) | Australia | 7 of 35 + 1 of 20 | A$1.45 | 1 in 134,490,400 |
| EuroMillions | Europe | 5 of 50 + 2 of 12 | €2.50 | 1 in 139,838,160 |
| German Lotto 6aus49 (with Superzahl) | Germany | 6 of 49 + 1 of 10 | €1.20 | 1 in 139,838,160 |
| Mega Millions | United States | 5 of 70 + 1 of 24 | $5 | 1 in 290,472,336 |
| Powerball | United States | 5 of 69 + 1 of 26 | $2 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
| SuperEnalotto | Italy | 6 of 90 | €1 | 1 in 622,614,630 |
How to read the table
- The format shows how many numbers you pick from the pool, plus any bonus numbers.
- Jackpot odds are one divided by the number of possible tickets. Fewer combinations means better odds.
- Odds of winning smaller prizes are far better and depend on each game's prize tiers.
- A higher price per play is not reflected in the jackpot odds. Compare odds per dollar if you care about value.
Why the odds are so different
Odds are determined by combinatorics. A game that draws 6 numbers from 49 has about 14 million combinations. One that draws 5 from 69 and 1 from 26 has 292 million. Lotteries that want to build giant jackpots choose formats with very long odds, so jackpots roll over and grow. Lotteries that want players to win more often choose smaller formats. Neither choice changes the fact that every lottery returns less than it takes in.
What to do with this
See which lottery has the best odds, read the complete guide to lottery odds, or test any game in the odds calculator.
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Frequently asked questions
Which lottery has the best jackpot odds?
In this table, Canada's Lotto 6/49 at 1 in 13,983,816. SuperEnalotto has the longest at 1 in 622,614,630.
Are Powerball odds worse than Mega Millions?
Slightly. 1 in 292.2 million against 1 in 290.5 million, but a Powerball play costs $2 and a Mega Millions play $5.
Do these odds include smaller prizes?
No. They are for the top prize. See each game's calculator for every tier.
Can formats change?
Yes. Lotteries have changed their formats several times. Check the official rules.