If you're a lottery loyal every week, you may have a certain way of playing in the hopes of winning the jackpot.
Whether you choose different numbers each time or stick with the same select few, it's very clear that the winning numbers are down to complete luck.
However, statistics show that there are certain numbers that are drawn in the lottery more than others, Hull Live reports. Slotsia, a casino comparison site, broke down four popular lottery games - EuroMillions, Lotto, Thunderball and Set for Life - to find out what numbers come up the most and least often.
The overall chances of scoring the jackpot for each of these was also analysed, so read on to find out what the results were.
EuroMillions
The very first EuroMillions draw took place in 2004. Back then, the UK, Spain and France were the only countries who were able to take part.
Later that year, play was extended to other EU countries, including Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland.
In the EuroMillions, UK players can pay £2.50 to pick five main numbers between 1 and 50 as well as two Lucky Stars numbers between 1-12. The EuroMillions can be played twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays, when the numbers are drawn at 8:45pm. For 2022, the average EuroMillions jackpot for each game is £70.6 million, and the approximate odds of winning it are 1 in 139,838,160.
Based on 630 EuroMillions games, these are the most and least commonly drawn numbers:
Most Commonly Drawn EuroMillions Numbers
EuroMillions ball number; Number of times drawn
20; 77
17; 77
21; 75
42; 74
23; 74
2 (Lucky Star); 129
3 (Lucky Star); 128
Least Commonly Drawn EuroMillions Numbers
EuroMillions ball number; Number of times drawn
40; 49
22; 49
18; 49
33; 50
8; 53
5 (Lucky Star); 86
1 (Lucky Star); 86
Lotto
The National Lottery's longest-running game, Lotto began in November 1994. It takes place twice a week, and players can select six numbers between 1 and 59 to play with. The winning numbers for each game are drawn on Wednesday (8pm) and Saturday evenings (7:45pm).
To win the jackpot, players need to match all six numbers. The jackpot was £6.4 million per game on average in 2022.
Players can also match five main numbers plus the bonus ball to win £1 million. The odds of winning the Lotto jackpot prize stand at 1 in 45,057,474.
Based on 731 Lotto games, these are the most and least commonly drawn numbers:
Most Commonly Drawn Lotto Numbers
Lotto Ball Number; Number of times drawn
52; 99
36; 87
58; 86
8; 85
37; 85
39; 85
Least Commonly Drawn Lotto Numbers
Lotto Ball Number; Number of times drawn
48; 64
5; 65
9; 65
22; 66
44; 66
53; 67
Thunderball
When the Thunderball was first played back in 1999, the jackpot was half of what it is now.
UK players can enter this lottery for £1, where they can pick five main numbers between 1 and 39 as well as one Thunderball between 1 and 14. Thunderball draws are held four times a week, Tuesday and Friday (8pm) and Wednesdays and Saturdays (8:15pm).
If a player matches all five main numbers as well as the Thunderball, they win the jackpot of £500,000. However, the approximate odds of winning this prize stand at 1 in 8,060,598.
Based on 2,189 Thunderball games, these are the most and least commonly drawn numbers:
Most Commonly Drawn Thunderball Numbers
Thunderball ball number; Number of times drawn
30; 308
34; 300
29; 300
4; 298
31; 298
13 (Thunderball); 178
Least Commonly Drawn Thunderball Numbers
Thunderball ball number; Number of times drawn
12; 250
35; 254
14; 258
25; 259
5; 263
9 (Thunderball); 133
Set for Life
Instead of offering up just one sum of money, Set for Life does it differently. Players could win £10,000 every month for 30 years if they match all six numbers.
Set up in March 2019, players of this game can select five numbers between 1 and 47 as well as one Life Ball between 1 and 10. The approximate odds of winning the jackpot on Set for Life are 1 in 15,339,390.
Based on 373 Set For Life games, these are the most and least commonly drawn numbers:
Most Commonly Drawn Set For Life Numbers
Set for Life ball number; Number of times drawn
21; 50
26; 50
42; 50
8; 49
32; 49
6 (Life Ball); 46
Least Commonly Drawn Set For Life Numbers
Set for Life ball number; Number of times drawn
30; 27
1; 29
12; 30
14; 30
46; 30
4 (Life Ball); 29
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