A money-saving expert has described the new National Lottery update as a 'kick in the teeth', warning that winners claiming smaller prizes could be worse off in future draws. The Lotto draw, held every Wednesday and Saturday, underwent its biggest change to date on June 7, offering players more chances to win but with reduced prize amounts.
Changes to the Lotto Game
The National Lottery website states that the update was based on customer research, with players expressing a desire for more opportunities to win prizes and become millionaires. The new 'two chances to win' system doubles the odds of winning. However, while the game remains similar—selecting six winning balls at random—the difference is that every £2 line now enters a second draw.
Jordon Cox, known for his money-saving tips on ITV's This Morning, took to Instagram to share his concerns with his 351,000 followers. He argued that the game, which has run since 1994, may no longer be worth playing.
Prize Reductions Under New Rules
In his video, Cox explained: 'There is no point playing the Lotto draw after today. It's now changed so, instead of one draw a night, there are two draws and your ticket can win on both. Sounds like you've got double the chance? Well, the prizes you win have just been slashed.'
The new prize structure is as follows:
- Match five numbers and the Bonus Ball: £1 million
- Match five numbers: now £1,000 (was £1,750)
- Match four numbers: now £50 (was £140)
- Match three numbers: now £10 (was £30)
- Match two numbers: now £1 (was a Free Lotto Lucky Dip)
Cox added: 'Sure, you could win twice in one game. But, in the unlikely event you do, you're still less than you were before. The biggest kick in the teeth is that the most likely prize for matching two numbers is less than what you pay for one ticket.'
Expert Advice and National Lottery Response
In the caption of his video, Cox advised: 'I know people play the Lottery with the hopes of a huge cash win, but save your money. This draw isn't worth it. With these new changes, you probably would have better expected value by picking another draw with better returns.' The National Lottery is set to launch a Powerball game this summer, costing £4 per line, offering UK players a chance to compete in the world's biggest jackpot game.
A spokesperson for Allwyn, the National Lottery operator, responded to the criticism: 'This change will strengthen Lotto's position as the nation's millionaire maker—going from creating around two millionaires a week to over six. Because people can now win more than once from a single £2 Lotto line and will win more often, over the course of the year, regular players will likely experience a net benefit in terms of prize money won—for the same purchase price. Players we tested the game with were happy that they'd have two opportunities in every draw to win the £1m+ prizes and understood that some of the fixed prizes at the lower tiers have been reduced to give them these extra chances of becoming a millionaire.'
