GAME GUIDE
How to play Lotto: the new two-round format explained
How the new Lotto works, what it costs, what you can win and your real chances in each round.
Lotto in 30 seconds
- Pick 6 numbers from 1 to 59, or choose a Lucky Dip. Our Lotto number generator can pick a line for you.
- Each line costs £2.
- Draws are every Wednesday and Saturday. They are shown first at 8pm.
- Every line is entered into two separate rounds on each draw night.
- Buy before 7:30pm to play on the day of a draw. See every draw and cut-off time in one place.
How the two rounds work
Since June 2026 every Lotto line gets two chances. Round 1 uses one set of 59 balls and one draw machine. Round 2 uses a second set of 59 balls and a second machine. Each round draws 6 main numbers and a Bonus Ball.
Your same line is checked against both rounds separately. Match 2 or more numbers in either round and you win a prize for that round. You cannot combine numbers from Round 1 with numbers from Round 2. Curious whether your usual numbers have ever hit the jackpot? Try Have my numbers won?
Check your line against Round 1 first, then check it again against Round 2. Our Lotto results page shows the two rounds separately to make this easy.
What you can win
| Match | Prize |
|---|---|
| 6 numbers | A share of the jackpot |
| 5 numbers + Bonus Ball | £1 million |
| 5 numbers | £1,000 |
| 4 numbers | £50 |
| 3 numbers | £10 |
| 2 numbers | £1 |
The jackpot is shared across both rounds. All other prizes are fixed, although the operator can cap them in exceptional circumstances. The jackpot shown before a draw is an estimate, so it can change.
Your odds of winning
These are the chances for one line in one round, worked out from the 6 from 59 format. With two rounds per draw, your line gets two separate chances each draw night.
| Match | Odds |
|---|---|
| 6 numbers (jackpot) | 1 in 45,057,474 |
| 5 + Bonus Ball | 1 in 7,509,579 |
| 5 numbers | 1 in 144,415 |
| 4 numbers | 1 in 2,180 |
| 3 numbers | 1 in 96 |
| 2 numbers | 1 in 10.3 |
| Any prize | 1 in 9.2 |
Across both rounds, the chance of a line winning something on a draw night is roughly 1 in 4.9, and the chance of a jackpot is roughly 1 in 22.5 million. These are our calculations from the game rules. Our guide on the odds of winning the lottery explains what they mean in practice. See how Lotto compares in our lottery odds guide.
Rollovers, Must Be Wons and Rolldowns
If nobody matches all 6 numbers, the jackpot rolls over to the next draw. Lotto can only roll over 5 times. The fifth rollover is a Must Be Won draw. Since 2015 the jackpot has been won in only about 1 draw in 6. See how many people win it each year.
If nobody wins the jackpot in a Must Be Won draw, the money rolls down. Each Match 2 winner gets £5, unless exceptional circumstances apply, and whatever is left is shared between Match 3 winners. That’s what happened on Saturday 10 October 2026, when nobody won the £12m jackpot and Match 3 paid £35 instead of £10.
Look out for special draws with guaranteed £1 million Millionaire Raffle prizes too.
Questions people ask
How much does a Lotto ticket cost?
Each line costs £2 and is entered into both rounds of the draw.
What time is the Lotto draw?
Draws are shown first at 8pm every Wednesday and Saturday. Buy your ticket before 7:30pm to play that night. Full results are on the official site from around 9:30pm.
Can I win in both rounds?
Yes. Your line is checked against each round separately, so it can win a prize in Round 1, Round 2 or both.
See the latest numbers and the next jackpot.
Latest results →Sources
We check every guide against the operators’ own pages. Rules and prizes can change, so the official operator always has the final word.