Jackpot odds vary enormously from one lottery to the next. Of the games we track, California Fantasy 5 has the best jackpot odds at 1 in 575,757, and SuperEnalotto has the longest at 1 in 622,614,630. This table puts them side by side, with what one play costs and the jackpot at which that play would break even on paper.
| Game | Format | Jackpot odds | Cost per play | Draws | Current jackpot | Break-even jackpot |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California Fantasy 5 | 5 of 39 | 1 in 575,757 | $1 | Daily | $75,000 | $575,757 |
| Wisconsin Megabucks | 6 of 49 | 1 in 13,983,816 | $0.50 | Wed, Sat | $3,600,000 | $6,991,908 |
| Lotto 6/49 | 6 of 49 | 1 in 13,983,816 | C$3 | Wed, Sat | C$5,000,000 | C$41,951,448 |
| Veikkaus Lotto | 7 of 40 | 1 in 18,643,560 | €1 | Sat | €11,000,000 | €18,643,560 |
| Lotto Texas | 6 of 54 | 1 in 25,827,165 | $1 | Mon, Wed, Sat | $14,500,000 | $25,827,165 |
| Lotto America | 5 of 52 + 1 of 10 | 1 in 25,989,600 | $1 | Mon, Wed, Sat | $2,700,000 | $25,989,600 |
| El Gordo de la Primitiva | 5 of 54 + 1 of 10 | 1 in 31,625,100 | €1.50 | Sun | €21,000,000 | €47,437,650 |
| Mexico Melate | 6 of 56 | 1 in 32,468,436 | MX$15 | Wed, Fri, Sun | MX$44,400,000 | MX$487,026,540 |
| SuperLotto Plus | 5 of 47 + 1 of 27 | 1 in 41,416,353 | $1 | Wed, Sat | $12,000,000 | $41,416,353 |
| New York Lotto | 6 of 59 | 1 in 45,057,474 | $0.50 | Wed, Sat | $13,400,000 | $22,528,737 |
| Vikinglotto | 6 of 48 + 1 of 5 | 1 in 61,357,560 | €1 | Wed | €4,100,000 | €61,357,560 |
| La Primitiva | 6 of 49 + 1 of 10 | 1 in 139,838,160 | €1 | Mon, Thu, Sat | €5,500,000 | €139,838,160 |
| EuroJackpot | 5 of 50 + 2 of 12 | 1 in 139,838,160 | €2 | Tue, Fri | €53,000,000 | €279,676,320 |
| EuroMillions | 5 of 50 + 2 of 12 | 1 in 139,838,160 | €2.50 | Tue, Fri | €141,000,000 | €349,595,400 |
| Mega Millions | 5 of 70 + 1 of 24 | 1 in 290,472,336 | $5 | Tue, Fri | $505,000,000 | $1,452,361,680 |
| Powerball | 5 of 69 + 1 of 26 | 1 in 292,201,338 | $2 | Mon, Wed, Sat | $20,000,000 | $584,402,676 |
| SuperEnalotto | 6 of 90 | 1 in 622,614,630 | €1 | Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat | €50,300,000 | €622,614,630 |
Games are sorted from best to longest jackpot odds. Jackpots are the advertised figures in our draw data. Costs are for one play in the game’s home market, and they vary by country for EuroJackpot, EuroMillions and VikingLotto. See our guides to US lotteries and European lotteries for where each game is sold, how it pays out and how prizes are taxed.
How to Read the Table
- Jackpot odds: The chance of one play winning the top prize. La Primitiva’s jackpot needs 6 numbers plus the reintegro, so its odds are 1 in 139,838,160 rather than the 1 in 13,983,816 for 6 numbers alone.
- Cost per play: Wisconsin Megabucks and New York Lotto sell two plays for $1, so one play costs $0.50. The $3 for Lotto 6/49 is in Canadian dollars and includes a Gold Ball number.
- Break-even jackpot: The jackpot odds multiplied by the cost of a play. At that figure, the top prize alone would be worth the price of the play on paper.
What Break-Even Does and Doesn’t Tell You
Powerball’s break-even jackpot is 292,201,338 × $2, or $584,402,676. A jackpot above that figure doesn’t make a ticket a good bet, because the sum leaves out several things:
- Cash value: Advertised US jackpots are usually the total of annual payments, and the cash payment is much lower. A New York Lotto jackpot of $13.4 million had an estimated cash value of $6.6 million.
- Tax: Large prizes are often taxed, and the rules depend on the game and where you live.
- Shared jackpots: Most jackpots are split among all winning tickets, and the bigger the jackpot, the more tickets tend to be sold.
- Lower prizes: These add some value that the sum ignores, but they don’t change the top-prize odds.
Some games can’t reach break-even at all at the costs shown. EuroJackpot is capped at €120 million, EuroMillions at €250 million and VikingLotto at €25 million, and the Classic Jackpot of Lotto 6/49 is fixed at C$5 million. In practice, every lottery is built to pay out less than it takes in.
Which Lotteries Have the Best Odds?
California Fantasy 5 leads by a wide margin, but its top prize is far smaller than the big multi-state jackpots. Next come Wisconsin Megabucks and Lotto 6/49, both at 1 in 13,983,816, then Veikkaus Lotto at 1 in 18,643,560. Better odds usually come with a smaller jackpot, because fewer possible combinations leave less room for the prize to roll over.
Some well-known rivals are closer than they look. EuroJackpot and EuroMillions have identical jackpot odds, and Powerball and Mega Millions are less than 1% apart. What separates those pairs is the cost of a play, not the chance of winning.
Why the Same Odds Can Pay Differently
Every combination in a draw has the same chance, but not every combination is equally popular. Many people play birthdays, which only go up to 31, so a line built from those numbers may have to share a jackpot with more people if it wins.
While our AI-powered predictions can’t guarantee a win, we analyze past draws and try to predict what could happen. Each game in the table links to its own page, with its rules, draw history and statistics.
Where You Can Play
JackpotGenius doesn’t sell tickets. Most of these games are only sold in certain states or countries, and the rules differ from place to place. Each game’s page explains where its tickets are sold, so check that and your local rules before you buy from anyone.
FAQ: Lottery Odds
Which lottery has the best odds?
Of the games we track, California Fantasy 5 has the best jackpot odds, at 1 in 575,757. SuperEnalotto has the longest, at 1 in 622,614,630.
Are Powerball or Mega Millions odds better?
They are very close. Powerball is 1 in 292,201,338 and Mega Millions is 1 in 290,472,336, but a Powerball play costs $2 and a Mega Millions play costs $5.
Do EuroMillions and EuroJackpot have the same odds?
Yes. Both use 5 numbers from 50 plus 2 from 12, so the jackpot odds are 1 in 139,838,160 for each.
Does a jackpot above break-even make a ticket a good bet?
No. Break-even ignores tax, the lower cash value and shared jackpots, so a ticket is still expected to lose money.
Responsible Gambling Notice: JackpotGenius is a statistical tool intended for entertainment purposes only and does not guarantee financial returns. Gambling involves risk and randomness. Play responsibly and within your financial limits. If you or someone you know is struggling with a gambling problem, contact a support service in your country.