UK National Lottery Calculator
Calculate UK Lotto odds and expected value
Formula:
Odds = C(59,6) = 45,057,474Current Jackpot
Enter the UK Lotto jackpot amount
Current UK Lotto jackpot
£2 per line
UK Lotto Odds
Your chances of winning
Jackpot Odds
1 in 45.1M
45,057,474 total combinations
Probability: 2.22 in 1M
Any Prize Odds
1 in 9.3
Expected Value
£-1.78
House Edge
88.9%
Tax on Winnings
0% (Tax Free)
All Prize Tiers
| Prize Tier | Odds | Prize |
|---|---|---|
| Match 6 (Jackpot) | 1 in 45.1M | £10M |
| Match 5 + Bonus | 1 in 7.5M | £1,000,000 |
| Match 5 | 1 in 144.4K | £1,750 |
| Match 4 | 1 in 2.2K | £140 |
| Match 3 | 1 in 97 | £30 |
| Match 2 | 1 in 10 | Free Lucky Dip |
vs Other UK Games
UK Lotto
1 in 45M
EuroMillions
1 in 140M
Set For Life
1 in 15.3M
Tax-Free Winnings: Unlike many countries, UK lottery prizes are completely tax-free. You keep 100% of your winnings with no deductions.
Common Jackpot Scenarios
Load typical UK Lotto jackpots
Quick Answer
TL;DR summary
UK National Lottery (Lotto) jackpot odds are 1 in 45,057,474. You pick 6 numbers from 1-59. The calculation is C(59,6) = 59!/(6!×53!) = 45,057,474. While significantly better than EuroMillions (1 in 140M), you're still more likely to become an astronaut or die from a lightning strike than win the jackpot.
Key Facts About UK Lotto
Important things to know
- UK Lotto jackpot odds: 1 in 45,057,474 (6 from 59)
- Overall odds of any prize: 1 in 9.3
- Ticket price: £2 per line
- Draws: Wednesday and Saturday at 7:45pm GMT
- No tax on UK lottery winnings
- Must Be Won: After 5 rollovers, jackpot must be won
- Set For Life alternative: £10,000/month for 30 years
Frequently Asked Questions
Common UK Lotto questions
How does the UK Lotto work?
Pick 6 numbers from 1-59. Match all 6 to win the jackpot. A bonus ball is drawn for the Match 5 + Bonus tier. Draws are Wednesday and Saturday evenings. You can add a Millionaire Maker raffle for a chance at £1 million.
Are UK lottery winnings taxed?
No, UK lottery winnings are completely tax-free. However, any interest or investment returns on your winnings are taxable as normal income or capital gains.
What is a Must Be Won draw?
After 5 consecutive rollovers without a jackpot winner, the next draw is Must Be Won. If no one matches all 6 numbers, the jackpot rolls down and is shared among lower tier winners.
How long do I have to claim a prize?
You have 180 days from the draw date to claim prizes. Unclaimed prizes go to the National Lottery Good Causes fund. Always sign the back of paper tickets and check them promptly.
What happened to the old 6/49 format?
The UK Lotto changed from 6/49 to 6/59 in October 2015. This made jackpot odds about 4× harder (from 1 in 14 million to 1 in 45 million) but introduced a guaranteed raffle millionaire each draw.
How this works
Calculations follow the published mathematics of the game — combinatorics for cards, probability theory for dice, and expected-value accounting for wagers. Results are verified against independent references (primarily Wizard of Odds). No calculation here is an opinion or recommendation; it is arithmetic applied to the rules of the game.
What this tool can’t do
When to consult a professional
This tool computes probability and expected value. It is not a betting system and cannot predict the outcome of any individual wager. If gambling is causing problems for you or someone you know, call the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER.
Sources
- [1]Wizard of Odds — Michael Shackleford, ASAIndustrywizardofodds.comAccessed Apr 21, 2026
Actuary; widely cited casino-game probability reference. Used for house-edge and EV verification.
- [2]National Council on Problem GamblingOfficial sourcencpgambling.orgAccessed Apr 21, 2026
Responsible-gambling guidance and 1-800-GAMBLER helpline.
Joseph OrdunaFounder & Software Engineer
Full-stack software engineer specializing in embedded systems, web architecture, and AI/ML. Founder of Practical Web Tools. Built the gesture-controlled drone IP acquired by KD Interactive (Aura Drone, sold on Amazon).