The National Lottery has unveiled a major overhaul of its Lotto game, with tickets now on sale for a new format that gives players two chances to win for every £2 line. This means Britons can now win in one round, the other, or both, all from a single Lotto line.
Two-Round Format
Starting this Wednesday, the Lotto draw, which takes place every Wednesday and Saturday at 8pm, will feature a two-round format. Two sets of six main numbers and a bonus ball will be drawn using two separate machines. Players do not need to change how they play; they simply pick six numbers from 1 to 59 as before.
Prizes and Jackpots
Jackpots will continue to start at £2 million and can roll over for up to five draws, with a must-be-won draw on the sixth. Prizes are awarded for matching two or more main numbers in a single round. There are still two ways to become a millionaire: matching all six main numbers for a jackpot of at least £1 million, or matching five main numbers and the bonus ball for a fixed £1 million prize. The jackpot is shared across both rounds, while other prize tiers remain fixed cash amounts paid per round.
The Lotto HotPicks add-on game will also adopt the two-round format and remain priced at £1.
More Millionaires Expected
The updated game is expected to more than double the number of Lotto millionaires, from around 140 per year to about 345. The odds of winning any prize improve from 1-in-9.3 to 1-in-4.9, according to operator Allwyn.
Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor at Allwyn, said: “This is a huge moment for players as we enter a new era for the nation’s millionaire maker, Lotto. From now on, every ticket gives you two chances to win for the same £2 price. We’re talking more winners, more excitement and hundreds more millionaires made every year. It really could be you – not once, but twice.”
Chris and Geraldine Bradley, from Carmarthenshire, Wales, who won £3.5 million in 2006, said: “We know first-hand just how life-changing a Lotto win can be. That’s why this new format is so exciting – giving players two chances to win from a single ticket means more opportunities for that same incredible moment. It’s fantastic to see even more people getting the chance to become millionaires.”
