The UK Lottery is the most popular lottery game in the United Kingdom and has firmly established itself as a favourite pastime in Britain. Moreover, its popularity has spilt over beyond the island nation’s borders and has become one of the most played international lottery games worldwide.

You do not have to miss out on all the fun and rewarding prizes offered by the British lottery. You can play this enthralling game from anywhere in the world thanks to the internet’s convenience and Lotto247.

So, if you’re wondering what this game is about, here is everything you need to know about the UK National Lottery;

The UK National Lottery is a state-franchised national lottery launched in 1993 by the government of the then British Prime Minister, John Major. Commonly referred to simply as the “Lotto”, it’s the United Kingdom’s richest game and managed by a private operator, the Camelot Group.

The first UK Lottery draw was held on November 19, 1994. The first winning numbers were 30, 3, 5, 44, 14, 22, and the bonus ball was 10. Seven (7) lucky winners were produced during this draw, and they shared a £5,874,778 (approximately US $8.2 million) jackpot.

Since launching, the UK National Lottery has paid out an impressive £69 million in prizes. After a double jackpot rollover in 1996, this fascinating lottery recorded its first highest jackpot win when three (3) winners shared the £42 million jackpot. A decade later, this record was trumped by a £66 million jackpot win by two (2) lucky winners.

Not only is the UK Lotto famous for its lucrative jackpots, but it is well known for its charitable donations. Since it was launched, it has donated over £35 billion to philanthropic causes across the country.

UK Lotto is one of the simplest games to play as it uses a straightforward 6/59 game matrix. Thus, you only need to choose six (6) numbers from a pool of 59 possible numbers. Then, the bonus ball will be picked from the remaining pool of 53 numbers.

You have two (2) chances to play and win the UK National lottery every week as its draw is held every Wednesday and Saturday at 21:00 (BST).

To win the UK National lottery jackpot, you must match six (6) main numbers. The bonus ball only comes to play in the second prize tier of matching five (5) numbers and the bonus ball.

Unlike other famous lottery games, the UK Lotto has a five (5) jackpot rollover cap. If after the 5th draw it is not won, a “Must Be Won” draw is held to give away the top prize.

No! You do not need to match the numbers in the exact order they are drawn to win the UK National Lottery jackpot or other non-jackpot prizes.

The winning numbers are drawn randomly, and the order in which they are matched does not affect the results or winnings.

The UK National Lottery uses a simple 6/59 game format that does not have an extra number set, making playing this game and winning reasonably straightforward.

During the draw, a single ball set containing 59 numbers where six (6) main numbers are drawn. Also, an additional ball, the bonus ball, is also drawn from the remaining 53 numbers during the draw.

You must remember that you do not choose the bonus ball. This is an additional ball selected automatically during the draw.

Thus, you must match the six (6) main numbers drawn to win the UK National Lottery jackpot.

One of the main reasons the UK National Lottery is a popular multinational game is its lucrative jackpots and favourable chances of winning. It offers six (6) different rewarding prize tiers, and the minimum requirement for winning a prize is matching two (2) winning numbers.

Thus, you have a 1 in 9.3 chance of winning any British Lottery prize, while your chances of winning the coveted jackpot 1 in 45,057,474.

Below is a table listing your chances of winning any UK Lotto prize;

Winning the UK National Lottery jackpot is a dream come true and the start of the life you have always dreamt of living. But, you are probably asking yourself, “how will I know when I have won the jackpot?”

Below is what you need to know;

Lotto247 has a simplified claiming process that makes receiving your money feel like a stroll in the park.

The UK Lotto results will be published on our website immediately after the draw. After that, we will send you an email, and one of our friendly customer service agents will call to congratulate you if you win €200 or more.

Moreover, if you’re lucky enough to match the six (6) winning numbers and win the jackpot, we will immediately credit your Lotto247 account.

You should seek professional advice for more significant winnings to manage your winning according to your local legislation for claiming international lottery prizes.

One of the benefits of playing the UK National Lottery on Lotto247 is the ease of claiming your winnings. All you need to do is to file a cash withdrawal request from your account.

Our security team will contact you upon receiving your request to ensure your Lotto247 account is verified before granting your cash withdrawal request. Your winnings will be deposited in your preferred bank account once your request is approved.

Your prize can also be paid to you in numerous web wallets; however, this option depends on which country you live in, including other factors. The minimum withdrawal limit for all Lotto247 players is set at €10.

When the UK National Lottery was launched, it held its draw only once a week, on a Saturday. However, due to its increasing popularity, a Wednesday draw was added in 1997, and since then, it is  drawn twice a week, every Wednesday and Saturday.

Five (5) years later, after introducing the mid-week Wednesday draw, it changed its name to simply “Lotto”. Other notable historical changes to the UK National Lottery include;

2013 changes

The arrival of the spruced-up new “Lotto” also came with rejuvenated and larger jackpots, an estimated £400,000 for the Wednesday draw and £1.1 million for the Saturday draw.

Also, the value of the prize tier for matching three (3) numbers was doubled, including an increment in the value of the two bottom prize tiers.

2015 changes

The Camelot Group announced changes to the UK National Lottery game format on October 10, 2015. This change increased the pool of possible numbers from 49 to 59, and it introduced a new prize tier, matching two (2) main numbers.

2018 changes

In 2018, another change to the UK Lotto was introduced and this time to the jackpot rollover cap. Previously the British lottery had a four (4) jackpot rollover cap, and in November 2018, it was increased to five (5).

Remember, to win the jackpot; you have to be in it to win it. So, do not forget to play the UK National Lottery and stand a chance of being the next instant multi-millionaire.