Big Changes Shrink Chance Of Lottery Win

The chances of winning the lottery jackpot are to be drastically reduced as part of sweeping changes to the game.

Players will soon have to match six numbers from a pool of 59 balls, instead of the current 49.

Experts say that means the chances of scooping the top prize will shrink from about 1 in 14 million to about 1 in 45 million.

The chances of matching three or more balls, which fetch a cash prize, will also drop to about one in 93.

However, the overall chance of winning anything increases from about 1 in 54 to about 1 in 9.3, with players who match two numbers receiving a Lucky Dip ticket for a future draw under the changes.

National Lottery operator Camelot claimed the "enhancements", due to be introduced in October, will give players better odds of becoming a millionaire.

A new Millionaire Raffle will guarantee at least one millionaire per draw, while the average winning jackpot is expected to be triple the current level.

Camelot said the chances of winning at least £1m will be better than the chances of winning the jackpot on the current game, with odds at one in just under 10 million compared with one in just under 14 million.

Dr Simon Goodwin, a senior lecturer at the University of Birmingham's School of Mathematics, told Sky News: "With the increase from 49 balls to 59 balls, the chances of matching all six numbers and winning the jackpot will reduce from about 1 in 14 million to about 1 in 45 million.

"This means that players will have less than one-third of the chance of winning the jackpot than previously.

"Similarly, the chances of matching five and the bonus ball will drop by more than a third, and the probability of matching 5, 4 or 3 balls will drop too.

"In future, matching two numbers will win a free ticket for the next lotto draw, so the chance of winning anything will increase from about 1 in 54 to about 1 in 9.3.

"However, the chances of matching three or more balls will drop to about 1 in 93.

"The new lotto millionaire raffle will guarantee winners of £1m, with odds of 1 in 10 million given on the National Lottery website."

Asked about the impact of the changes, Camelot said in a statement: "Although more numbers to choose from means the odds on the existing prize tiers will lengthen, players will win more often, have more chances than ever to become a millionaire and will have the chance of winning huge rolling jackpots, which we know they love."