This conventional passive game consists of 24 draws per year. Of these, 21 are regular bi-weekly draws, at a ticket cost of £10 (divided into 10 shares of £1 each). First prize for the regular draws is £100,000. For each draw, 20,000 tickets are issued, with 23 winning numbers drawn. Overall odds are 1:8.32.
The remaining three are special event "Bumper" draws with higher ticket costs and larger first prizes. The July Bumper Draw, usually held on the first Monday in July, costs £20 per ticket, with a first prize of £250,000. Ticket issue for the July Bumper is 25,000, overall odds of winning are 1:7.8, and 35 winning numbers are drawn. The biggest draw is the Christmas Draw, held the week before Christmas. Tickets cost £20 and the first prize is £500,000. Ticket issue for this draw is 50,000. The third bumper draw is the "Three Kings," held at the beginning of January. Tickets cost £20 and the first prize is £200,000. Ticket issue for this draw is 20,000.
Tickets are also eligible to win more than one prize, e.g. a ticket matching the first four digits of the first prize number and the last three digits of the second prize number would win both prizes.
Prizes
Prize return is among the highest anywhere, averaging 77 percent. In addition, one ticket can win multiple prizes. Winnings are not subject to tax.
Claiming Prizes
Winners have six months in which to claim their prizes, after which prize money reverts to the Lottery.
Non-residents are permitted to buy lottery tickets and there are no currency restrictions.
Government Lottery Prize Structure
| Fortnightly Draw |
Prize |
Number of Prizes
|
Odds
|
| First prize |
£100,000
|
1
|
1:25,000 |
| Second prize |
£10,000
|
1
|
1:25,000 |
| Thrid prize |
£5,000
|
1
|
1:25,000 |
| Twenty Minor prizes |
£500
|
20
|
1:833.33 |
| Twenty Seven prizes |
£50
|
27
|
|
| Fifty Seven Minor prizes |
£30
|
57
|
|
| Two Hundred and Ninety-Seven prizes |
£20
|
297
|
|
| One thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine prizes |
£10
|
1999
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Numbers before and after 1st prize number |
£2,500
|
2
|
1:12.500 |
| Numbers before and after 2nd prize number |
£250
|
2
|
1:12,500 |
| Numbers before and after 3rd prize number |
£100
|
2
|
1:12,500 |
| -Numbers before and after 4th prize number |
£50
|
2
|
1:12,500 |
| Numbers before and after 5th prize number |
£25
|
2
|
1:12,000 |
|
|
|
|
| First 4 digits match first 4 digits of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th prizes |
£100
|
45
|
1:555.55 |
| Last 3 digits match last 3 digits of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th prizes |
£50
|
120
|
1:208.33 |
| First 3 digits match first 3 digits of 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th or 5th prizes |
£25
|
495
|
1:50.5 |
| Last digit matches last digit of 1st prize |
£20
|
2,499
|
1.10 |
|
|
|
|
Series of 25,000 tickets
|
|
|
|
