How is EuroMillions changing?
The game is due to be updated in a number of ways, the biggest of which concerns the maximum amount that the jackpot can reach. Here’s a list of the most important changes:
- The jackpot cap will increase from €190 million to €200 million from 1st February
- The cap may increase even further in the future - up to €250 million
- Jackpots will grow faster with every rollover
- More Superdraws every year
What’s also important to note is what’s not changing, namely the cost of a EuroMillions ticket. Despite offering bigger jackpots more often, the cost of a EuroMillions ticket will remain the same. Instead, the amount of money allocated to the lower prize tiers in every draw will be shifted around. You can see a complete breakdown of the new prize structure and how it compares to the old one in this previous article about the EuroMillions changes.
When do the changes take effect?
The official date for the changes is 1st February 2020, but as that is a Saturday EuroMillions players won’t see a tangible difference until Tuesday 4th February, when the first draw after the changes is due to take place.
To mark the occasion, the National Lottery has scheduled a special Millionaire Maker raffle for that night, in which 20 UK millionaires are guaranteed. Anyone who purchases a ticket for the 4th February draw will be entered into the special raffle.
If that’s not enough, the EuroMillions draw on Friday 7th February will be the first Superdraw of 2020 and will offer a jackpot of €130 million, providing an early chance for the top prize to roll over and hit that brand new €200 million cap. Prior to the draw on Friday 31st January the jackpot stood at £24 million (€28 million), so you could see as much as an extra €100 million added to the jackpot for the 7th February draw - a huge increase!
Buying EuroMillions tickets
The changes due to come into effect from 1st February are the biggest in a number of years and as a result, you may find you cannot purchase tickets for draws beyond the 31st January. This is so the updates to all the necessary systems and processes can be implemented smoothly; after 1st February you should be able to advance purchase your entries as usual - any issues buying tickets should be directed to the National Lottery.
Alternatively, you can take a shot at winning jackpots worth up to €200 million by choosing your numbers online, even if you don’t live in one of the participating countries.