Which lottery is better between EuroMillions and Mega Millions?

EuroMillions
Mega Millions
Mega Millions Lottery
2019-03-08

Winning a lottery jackpot represents the realisation of a once-in-a-lifetime dream and the beginning of a new chapter – to live the life you’ve always dreamed of.

EuroMillions and Mega Millions are, without a doubt, two of the most well-known multinational lottery games that have created a culture of excitement while also transforming the lives of players.

So, a million-dollar question you are probably asking is, “which is the better and more rewarding game?” The glamorous EuroMillions or the sleek and notorious American Mega Millions?

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Which lottery game offers the best chances of winning?

As the saying goes, the devil is in the details, but when it comes to determining which lottery offers the best chances of winning, numbers don’t lie.

When playing the EuroMillions lottery, you must select five (5) numbers from a pool of fifty (50). You must also choose two (2) Lucky Star numbers from a pool of twelve (12).

Playing the Mega Millions lottery, you must also choose five (5) numbers from a pool of 70, including one (1) Mega Number from a pool of 25.

The EuroMillions lottery has a smaller pool of numbers to choose from than the Mega Millions lottery. As a result, your chances of winning the EuroMillions jackpot are slightly improved.

The table below compares the chances of winning and the jackpot amount for each game.

Prize Tier EuroMillions Mega Millions
Minimum Jackpot Amount €17 million US $20million
Chances of winning Jackpot 1 in 139,838,160 1 in 302,575,350
2nd Prize Amount €303,798 U.S. $1 million
Chances of winning 2nd  Prize 1 in 6,991,908 1 in 12,607,306

Can you play the EuroMillions and Mega Millions lotteries from overseas?

Since their inception, the EuroMillions and MegaMillions lottery games have enchanted millions of players. Every week, eager players take their chances in the hopes of changing their lives by winning the coveted jackpot.

So, if you’re wondering if you can play EuroMillions and Mega Millions from abroad, the answer is “YES.” Thanks to Lotto247, you can play both the EuroMillions and Mega Millions online from almost anywhere in the world.

When do the EuroMillions and Mega Millions hold their draws_

When do the EuroMillions and Mega Millions hold their draws?

The EuroMillions and Mega Millions have one thing in common: they both give you two (2) chances to win their respective jackpots every week.

EuroMillions holds its draw every Tuesday and Friday evening at 20:55 in Paris, France. The Mega Millions lottery draw is also held every Tuesday and Friday at 23:00 (ET) in Atlanta, USA.

Visit the EuroMillions results page and the Mega Millions results page to see if your lucky numbers matched those drawn in both games.

The stats

Many lottery players believe that EuroMillions and Mega Millions are essentially the same lottery games. However, the chances of winning the EuroMillions and Mega Millions lottery games are not the same. The table below shows how the two lotteries compare to one another.

Game Features Mega Millions Euro Millions
Jackpot chances 1 in 302,575,350 1 in 139,838,160
Match five (5) numbers 1 in 12,607,306 1 in 3,107,515
Match four (4) numbers + Mega Ball / two (2) Lucky Star Numbers 1 in 931,001 1 in 621,503
Match four (4) numbers 1 in 38,792 1 in 13,812
Match three (3) numbers + Mega Ball / two (2) Lucky Star numbers 1 in 14,547 1 in 14,126

Which game has the best top 10 record jackpots?

Choosing which lottery game is better between the EuroMillions or Mega Millions can be a difficult task. Both games are constantly evolving to provide even more massive jackpots.

However, when it comes to the highest jackpots ever recorded for either game, Mega Millions far outperforms EuroMillions.

The Mega Millions jackpot reached US $1.53 billion in October 2018. In comparison, the highest EuroMillions jackpot in December 2020 was €200 million (approximately US $239 million).

The table below lists the top ten largest jackpots ever recorded for both lotteries.

EuroMillions Mega Millions
1. €200 million (approximately US $239 million)

December 2020

US $1.53 billion

October 2018

2. €190 million (approximately US $227 million)

October 2019

US $1 billion

January 2021

3. €190 million (approximately US $227 million)

August 2012

US $656 million

March 2012

4. €190 million (approximately US $227 million)

October 2014

US $648 million

December 2013

5. €190 million (approximately US $227 million)

October 2017

US $543 million

March 2018

6. €187 million (approximately US $223 million)

June 2013

US $536 million

July 2016

7. €185 million (approximately US $221 million)

July 2011

US $533 million

March 2018

8. €183 million (approximately US $218 million)

February 2006

US $451 million

January 2018

9. €183 Million (approximately US $218 million)

November 2006

US $437 million

January 2019

10. €177 million (approximately US $211 million)

February 2018

US $414 million

March 18 2014

According to the table above, the Mega Millions lottery has the larger jackpot of the two games, making it the “better” lottery game. It is also worth noting that the American lottery game has the world record for the largest single-ticket win.

Which lottery has the better prize tier_

Which has the better prize tier?

Although the Mega Millions lottery has the highest recorded jackpots, EuroMillions has more rewarding prize tiers.

The pan-European lottery game has 13 different prize tiers, whereas the American lottery only has nine (9) lucrative prize tiers. The more number combinations you match in both games, the bigger the prize you win.

You win the jackpot if you match all five (5) numbers, including the Mega Ball and two (2) Lucky Stars. The table below depicts the value of each prize tier in each lottery.

Match EuroMillions Match Mega Millions
Five (5) numbers + two (2) Lucky Star numbers Jackpot
Five (5) numbers + one (1) Lucky Star number €303,798 Five (5) numbers + Mega Ball Jackpot
Five (5) numbers €31,448 Five (5) numbers US $1 million
Four (4) numbers + two (2) Lucky Star numbers €3,076
Four (4) numbers + one (1) Lucky Star number € 164 Four (4) numbers + Mega Ball US $10,000
Four (4) numbers € 59 Four (4) numbers US $500
Three (3) numbers + two (2) Lucky Star numbers € 102
Three (3) numbers + one (1) Lucky Star number € 14 Three (3) numbers + Mega Ball US $200
Three (3) numbers € 12 Three (3) numbers US $10
Two (2) numbers + two (2) Lucky Star numbers € 19
Two (2) numbers + one (1) Lucky Star number € 8 Two (2) numbers + Mega Ball US $10
Two (2) numbers € 4
One (1) number + two (2) Lucky Star numbers € 10 One (1) number + Mega Ball US $4
Mega Ball US $2

You can play both the EuroMillions and Mega Millions lotteries online

It can be difficult to choose between EuroMillions and Mega Millions because they both offer lucrative jackpots and non-jackpot prizes. So why not participate in both games?

When it comes to winning the lottery, the golden rule is to play more to win more.