Tickets are now on sale for the National Lottery’s brand-new Lotto format—and it’s bringing a lot more excitement for the same £2 per line.
Instead of one draw, players now get two chances to win from a single ticket. That means every line you play could hit in Round 1, Round 2, or even both. More chances, more action, same price.
What’s changing in the new Lotto game?
The draw still happens every Wednesday and Saturday at 8pm, but now it’s switching to a fresh two-round format. Each round will have:
- Six main numbers
- One bonus ball
- Separate machines for each round
Players don’t need to do anything differently—just keep picking six numbers from 59 like before.
💥 Big highlight: Every ticket now gives double the opportunity to win without paying extra.
Jackpots, prizes, and millionaire chances
The jackpot still starts at £2 million and can roll over for up to five draws. If no one wins, a must-win draw kicks in on the sixth.
There are also still multiple ways to land big wins:
- Match all six main numbers → win a jackpot (at least £1 million)
- Match five numbers + bonus ball → fixed £1 million prize
- Match two or more numbers → smaller cash prizes in each round
The jackpot is shared across both rounds, while other prize levels stay as fixed cash amounts per round.
Even more ways to play big
The Lotto HotPicks add-on is also getting the same two-round upgrade and will still cost £1, keeping things simple and affordable.
Bigger wins on the horizon
The operator Allwyn says this update could seriously boost winners:
- 💰 Lotto millionaires could jump from ~140 a year to about 345 a year
- 🎯 Overall chances of winning a prize improve from 1 in 9.3 to 1 in 4.9
The first two-round draw kicks off on Wednesday, marking a fresh chapter for the game.
What the experts are saying
Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor at Allwyn, called it a major shift for players:
“This is a huge moment for players… every ticket gives you two chances to win for the same £2 price.”
He added that it means more winners, more excitement, and potentially hundreds more millionaires each year.
Real winners know the feeling
Chris and Geraldine Bradley from Carmarthenshire, Wales—who won £3.5 million back in 2006—also shared their thoughts on the update.
They said nothing compares to the feeling of a big win and explained that this new format could create even more life-changing moments for players:
“Giving players two chances to win from a single ticket means more opportunities for that same incredible moment.”
They originally won as part of a family syndicate and still describe the experience as unforgettable.
Bottom line: same £2 ticket, but now with double the excitement, more chances to win, and a lot more millionaire dreams in play.
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