The National Lottery has announced a significant change to its Lotto game, effective this week. Players will now have two opportunities to win for every £2 line they purchase. Tickets for the revamped game have already gone on sale.
New Two-Round Format
The twice-weekly Lotto draws, held every Wednesday and Saturday at 8pm, will now feature a two-round format. Two separate machines will draw two sets of six main numbers and a bonus ball. This means players can win in one round, the other, or both, all from a single Lotto line. Players do not need to change their selections; they will continue to pick six numbers from 59 balls.
Jackpot and Prize Changes
Jackpots will still start at £2 million and can roll over up to five times before a must-be-won draw on the sixth. Players will win a prize by matching two or more main numbers in a single round. There remain two ways to become a millionaire: matching all six main numbers for a jackpot of at least £1 million, or matching five main numbers plus the bonus ball for a fixed £1 million prize. The jackpot is shared across both rounds, while other prize tiers offer fixed cash prizes per round.
The Lotto HotPicks add-on game will also adopt the two-round format, priced at £1. The first two-round draw is scheduled for Wednesday, June 10.
Increased Winners and Improved Odds
Operator Allwyn expects the updated game to more than double the number of Lotto millionaires, from around 140 to about 345 per year. The odds of winning a prize improve from 1-in-9.3 to 1-in-4.9. A player in Great Yarmouth purchased the first retail ticket for next Saturday’s draw, while the first online purchase was made by a player in Aylesbury using an advanced play option.
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, who won £3.5 million in 2006, commented: “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.”
