The Best Lottery to Play in the UK in 2022

Playing the lottery can change your life. 

But the odds of winning a huge jackpot are one in 139 million, which means you are more likely to get hit by lightning than win the lottery. 

That said, some games give you more chances to win and offer other prizes in addition to a massive jackpot.

So, which is the best lottery to play in the UK right now?

Let’s find out.

1. Euromillions

Euromillions is the best UK lottery when it comes to winning a lot of money as jackpots start from £14.3 million and are capped at an incredible £193.8 million. 

However, since this lottery is played in the UK and nine other countries across Europe, the likelihood of walking away with an obscene amount of lottery money is very slim. Actually, the odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 139 million—for comparison, Kim Kardashian has a 1 in 81 chance to become the next US President. 

But don’t be disappointed. Euromillions may not be the lottery with the best odds for the biggest jackpot, but there are twelve other prize tiers for each draw, meaning you can win something even if you match no more than two main numbers.  

2. Thunderball

Thunderball is the national lottery with the best odds, giving you more chances to win than similar games. As a matter of fact, players have a one in eight million chance to win the maximum jackpot of £500k by matching the five main numbers plus the Thunderball. 

But the jackpot is not all you can get—you will win a prize even if you just get the Thunderball. It may be just £3, but it’s still two more pounds than what you started with. 

What’s more, there are four weekly draws, so you have more chances to try your luck and fewer players to compete against.

Best of all, the jackpot you win is all yours, and you don’t have to share it with anyone else. 

3. The Health Lottery

If you want a lottery that gives you the best chances to win big and do your bit for charity, the Health Lottery is your best bet. 

This is hands-down the lottery with the best odds—just one in two million for the jackpot and a low one in 9.7 for any prize. In addition, the draws take place five times a week, further increasing your chances of winning anything from £5 to £100k. 

The Health Lottery is not part of the national lotteries. In fact, it operates on behalf of three Community Interest Companies that help tackle health inequalities in each of their respective regions. These organisations get 25.5% of every ticket the Health Lottery sells.

4. Lotto

Lotto may not be the easiest lottery to win in the UK, but it is by far the most popular. Introduced back in 1994, it is estimated that almost 30% of people in the country play the National Lottery today, making the odds of winning the big jackpot less than favourable.  

Still, that doesn’t mean you will walk away empty-handed. The new rules state that Lotto can rollover just five times after which comes a Must Be Won draw. If no one wins the jackpot in this draw (i.e. matches the six main numbers), then the prize is shared by players who match two or more main numbers, giving thousands a chance to win cash prizes. 

5. People’s Postcode Lottery

People’s Postcode Lottery works a little differently than other entries on the list as it doesn’t let you choose your own numbers. Instead, each player signs up with their postcode and gets to join the daily, weekly, and monthly draws. 

Daily and monthly prizes range from £1,000 to £30,000 for each player, whereas every month, all the players in a winning postcode could split a jackpot of 3 million pounds or more. This means that if one postcode gets lucky, everyone can reap the benefits. 

The People’s Postcode Lottery is also the best charity lottery to play in the UK, as 33% of each ticket goes to good causes. This lottery has so far raised more than £850 million for charity. 

The Final Draw 

Are you ready to try your luck at the UK’s favourite pastime? Whether you are playing the Irish lottery or Euromillions, remember that the best lottery tickets to buy don’t come from games that have the biggest jackpot. Instead, look for lotteries that offer great odds, as these are your best chance of walking away with cash in hand.

And above all, don’t get carried away. If you feel like you are wasting too much time and money on the lottery, it’s best to stop playing.