EuroMillions Creates Big Winners Even As Jackpot Stays at Cap

The jackpot hit its €230 million cap on Friday 8th July, triggering a set of special rules for the next few draws. The money that would usually push the top prize up even more has instead gone to winners who have matched five main numbers and one Lucky Star.

On Tuesday 12th July, there were five players across Europe who just missed out on the jackpot by one Lucky Star, including three from the UK. Each ticket holder received £3.6 million (€4.5 million).

This is a far larger amount than usual. For example, the last time there were five winners in the Match 5 + 1 category, on Tuesday 28th June, each player picked up £125,966 (€184,866).

The prize amounts always vary from draw to draw, depending on how many tickets are sold and how many winners there are in a particular category. But the prize fund for the Match 5 + 1 tier will continue to be substantially more than normal until the jackpot is paid out.

How Long Can Jackpot Stay At Cap?

The jackpot can only stay at its maximum amount for four draws without being won. A Must Be Won draw would then be scheduled for the following draw, which would be the fifth one at the cap.

If there are still no tickets that match all the numbers in the Must Be Won draw, all the jackpot money will be split between winners in the Match 5 + 1 category. If there are five players in this tier, for example, they may all receive around €50 million. 

There is the potential for a Must Be Won draw on Friday 22nd July, although EuroMillions fans across the continent will be hoping to land the jackpot before then.  

You can play from authorised retailers in any of the participating countries - Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK - or you can take part online. Check the results after every draw to see if you are a winner.