Why? It’s not just about the jackpots; it’s about the vibe. It feels a little more…sophisticated? And it has these two killer features: the Superdraws and the jackpot cap. More on that in a second. First, the problem. If you live outside of Europe, you can’t just walk into a tabac in Paris or a newsagent in Spain and buy a ticket. Which is a bummer, because this lottery is huge, and it’s drawn twice a week (Tuesdays and Fridays). But, like with Mega Millions, there’s a workaround.
The Hack: This is the “errand runner” service. You pay them, they have a person in Europe go buy an official ticket with your numbers on it, and they scan it right into your account. It’s the simplest way to get in on the action from your couch.
How to Play EuroMillions
This is where it gets fun. You choose:
- Five main numbers (from 1 to 50)
- Two “Lucky Stars” (from 1 to 12)
You have to match all seven to win the jackpot. But here’s the thing: because of those two little Lucky Stars, there are 13 different prize tiers. You can win something just by matching two of the main numbers. Check results here.
The Two Big Reasons It’s a Favorite
1. The “Superdraws”. A few times a year, with no warning, they’ll just decide the jackpot is going to be massive. They’ll announce a “Superdraw,” and the grand prize will be a guaranteed €130 million, €150 million, or even more—even if it was just won the week before. It’s an awesome surprise.
2. The Jackpot Cap. This is the best part, in my opinion. The jackpot cannot just grow forever. It’s capped at €250 million.
“Wait,” you’re saying, “a cap is a good thing?”
YES. Here’s why: Once the jackpot hits that €250m cap, all the extra money that would normally go to the jackpot “rolls down” and is added to the second-place prize tier (that’s matching 5 numbers + 1 Lucky Star).
This means you can have a draw where the grand prize is €250 million, but the people who almost won (the 2nd place winners) end up winning €10 million, €15 million, or even €20 million each. The lower-tier prizes get insanely huge. It’s a way more interesting spread of the wealth.
The Disclaimer
This is a fun, daydream, not a retirement plan. It’s for the “what if?” thrill. Don’t go nuts. It should always be fun, and if it’s not, just stop. For real, if you feel like it’s getting to be a problem, check out a site like Gambling6.com. They have actual, free resources to help you set limits or just get some perspective.
