History of Eurojackpot: Europe's Favorite Multi-National Lottery
Launched in 2012 to rival EuroMillions, Eurojackpot has become a favorite across 19 European nations. With better odds and a massive €120 million jackpot cap, discover the history of this continental phenomenon.
The Launch: March 23, 2012
Eurojackpot was created to compete with EuroMillions and allow more European countries to participate in a massive lottery. The first draw took place on March 23, 2012, in Helsinki.
Originally, only 7 countries participated: Germany, Finland, Denmark, Slovenia, Italy, the Netherlands, and Estonia. Today, there are 19 nations, from Iceland to Greece.
🎲 The Very First Draw
March 23, 2012, Helsinki
Evolution of Rules
The Beginning
Format: 5/50 + 2/8. The odds were 1 in 59 million – very attractive compared to today. The jackpot was capped at €90 million.
Expansion & Harder Euro Numbers
The Euro numbers pool expanded to 1-10. Odds dropped to 1 in 95 million. However, many new countries like the Czech Republic and Hungary joined.
€120M & Tuesday Draw
For the 10th anniversary, the biggest change: Euro numbers up to 12 (odds 1:140M), introduction of the Tuesday draw, and jackpot cap increase to €120 million.
The Biggest Wins
💡 Germany and Finland are statistically the most successful Eurojackpot countries, boasting the most jackpot winners since the lottery began.
Winning Odds Explained
| Tier | Match | Odds | Avg Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 + 2 Euro | 1:139,838,160 | Jackpot (min €10M) |
| 2 | 5 + 1 Euro | 1:6,991,908 | ~€700,000 |
| 3 | 5 | 1:3,107,515 | ~€100,000 |
| 4 | 4 + 2 Euro | 1:621,503 | ~€4,000 |
| 5 | 4 + 1 Euro | 1:31,075 | ~€250 |
| 12 | 2 + 1 Euro | 1:49 | ~€8 |
Detailed Comparison
| Lottery | Jackpot Odds | Max Jackpot | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇪🇺 Eurojackpot | 1:140 Mio. | €120 Mio. | 19 |
| 🇪🇺 EuroMillions | 1:139 Mio. | €250 Mio. | 9 |
| 🇩🇪 6 aus 49 | 1:140 Mio. | €50 Mio. | 1 |
Did You Know?
More Countries than EuroMillions
Although EuroMillions has larger jackpots, Eurojackpot covers a larger area with 19 countries (potential reach of 270 million people).
Helsinki
The draw takes place every Tuesday and Friday in Helsinki, Finland. Winning numbers are drawn around 8:00 PM local time.
A Danish Record
The very first €120M jackpot was won by a player from Denmark in July 2022 – shortly after the rule change.
Balance
The system was designed to pay out more frequently than EuroMillions, but (originally) had smaller jackpots.
Check Your Eurojackpot Numbers
Have you won already? Check your numbers against all historical draws since 2012.
Check Numbers NowDisclaimer: The information in this article is based on publicly available historical data. Lottery is a game of chance – play responsibly. LottoROI is not affiliated with official lottery operators.