Most lottery players have a strategy for picking the numbers they hope will scoop the jackpot. Some use the same set every week, while others opt for a lucky dip to mix things up.
And while the nature of a lottery draw means the result is left to chance, statistics show that some numbers have appeared more than others. Casino comparison site Slotsia has analysed the results from previous National Lottery games to see which numbers come up the most and least frequently in the Lotto, EuroMillions, Thunderball and Set For Life competitions.
They also looked at the overall odds of winning the jackpot for each of these four games. Read on below to find out more.
Lotto
Lotto is the National Lottery’s longest-running game, which first started on November 19, 1994. The game runs 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).
Players must match all six main numbers to win the jackpot, which was £6.4 million per game on average in 2022, or 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
EuroMillions
The first ever EuroMillions lottery draw took place on February 13, 2004, when the UK, France and Spain were the only countries eligible to participate. Play was extended later that year to other European 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
Thunderball
The first Thunderball draw was held on June 12, 1999, where the jackpot was only half what it currently is today. 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
Rather than offering a lump sum, Set For Life does as its name suggests, granting the jackpot winner £10,000 every month for 30 years if they correctly 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
