Ranked by jackpot odds (best first): EuroMillions (1 in 139.8M) gives the best jackpot chance of the four major games, followed by Mega Millions (1 in 290.5M) and Powerball (1 in 292.2M), with SuperEnalotto the longest at 1 in 622.6M. But best jackpot odds isn't the whole story — ticket cost, any-prize odds and the jackpot ceiling all differ, and the full table below lays them out side by side.
The major lotteries side by side
| Lottery | Jackpot odds | Any prize | Ticket | Jackpot cap | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EuroMillions | 1 in 139,838,160 | 1 in 13.0 | ~€2.50 (varies by country) | €250 million cap | Tuesday & Friday |
| US Powerball | 1 in 292,201,338 | 1 in 24.9 | US$2 (US$3 with Power Play) | No cap (jackpot rolls until won) | Monday, Wednesday & Saturday |
| US Mega Millions | 1 in 290,472,336 | 1 in 23.1 | US$5 (multiplier built in) | No cap (jackpot rolls until won) | Tuesday & Friday |
| SuperEnalotto | 1 in 622,614,630 | 1 in 20.1 | €1 per line | No cap (famous for enormous rollovers) | Tuesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday |
Jackpot and any-prize odds are computed from each game's official number matrix and cross-checked against the operator's published figures. Ticket prices vary by country/retailer.
The major lotteries ranked by jackpot odds
Best jackpot odds first:
- EuroMillions — 1 in 139,838,160 (smallest number field of the four)
- Mega Millions — 1 in 290,472,336
- US Powerball — 1 in 292,201,338
- SuperEnalotto — 1 in 622,614,630 (matching 6 from 90 is the hardest of any major game)
EuroMillions gives you more than twice the jackpot chance of either US game per line, and more than four times the chance of a SuperEnalotto jackpot. All four figures are computed directly from each game's official number matrix.
Why best odds isn't the whole story
Jackpot odds are only one axis. Three others matter:
- Ticket cost — a EuroMillions line (~€2.50) and a Powerball line ($2) buy very different jackpot chances than a $5 Mega Millions line or a €1 SuperEnalotto line. Cost per unit of jackpot chance is worth thinking about.
- Any-prize odds — the chance of winning something at all is far shorter than the jackpot: roughly 1 in 13 for EuroMillions, about 1 in 24-25 for Powerball, 1 in 23 for Mega Millions and around 1 in 20 for SuperEnalotto.
- Jackpot ceiling — EuroMillions caps at €250 million, while Powerball, Mega Millions and SuperEnalotto have no cap and can roll into the hundreds of millions or billions.
The table above puts all of this in one place so you can weigh the trade-offs rather than chase the biggest headline.
So which lottery should you play?
There is no single "best" — it depends on what you're optimising for. For the best realistic chance of winning any prize, EuroMillions leads. For the biggest possible headline jackpot with no cap, the US games and SuperEnalotto can go higher. For the lowest entry cost, SuperEnalotto's €1 line is the cheapest.
Whatever you choose, none of these are an investment — the jackpot odds are long across the board. Pick the game whose format and draw days you enjoy, set a budget you can afford to lose, and treat any win as a bonus rather than an expectation. For the full tier-by-tier detail on each, follow the per-lottery links in the table.
Frequently asked questions
Which lottery has the best jackpot odds?
Of the four major games, EuroMillions has the best jackpot odds at 1 in 139,838,160, thanks to its smaller number field. SuperEnalotto has the longest at 1 in 622,614,630.
Which lottery is easiest to win any prize on?
EuroMillions, at roughly 1 in 13 to win any prize per line — shorter than Powerball (~1 in 24.9), Mega Millions (~1 in 23.1) or SuperEnalotto (~1 in 20).
Which lottery has the biggest jackpots?
Powerball, Mega Millions and SuperEnalotto have no jackpot cap and have produced the largest prizes in history. EuroMillions is capped at €250 million.
Are these odds affected by strategy?
No. Jackpot and tier odds are fixed by each game's number matrix. Buying more lines raises your overall chance proportionally but also your spend, and never makes a win likely.
Sources & further reading
Legal, tax and game figures on this page are drawn from the official operators and government/tax authorities below. Rules change — always confirm the current position with the operator or a qualified adviser before you play or claim.
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