Your six chosen numbers are checked against the six main numbers and Bonus Ball drawn in Round 1.
The part to remember
Every prize tier is checked twice
Since June 2026, a £2 Lotto line enters two independent rounds on the same draw night. You still choose just six numbers from 1–59. Those same six numbers are checked against Round 1 and then checked again against Round 2.
You do not choose 12 numbersOne set of six numbers is used for both rounds.
You can win twiceA line can win in Round 1, Round 2 or both.
Fixed prizes are paid per roundMatch 2 through Match 5 + Bonus are separate winning outcomes in each round.
The jackpot is shared across both roundsAll Match 6 winners across the two rounds share the advertised jackpot.
Current UK Lotto prizes
How much do you win on Lotto?
These are the standard prize amounts under the two-round Lotto format introduced in June 2026. The fixed amounts apply separately to each round.
| Match | Standard prize | What you need | Approx. odds per round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 6 | Jackpot | All 6 main numbers | 1 in 45,057,474 |
| Match 5 + Bonus | £1,000,000 | 5 main numbers + Bonus Ball | 1 in 7,509,579 |
| Match 5 | £1,000 | 5 main numbers | About 1 in 144,415 |
| Match 4 | £50 | 4 main numbers | About 1 in 2,180 |
| Match 3 | £10 | 3 main numbers | About 1 in 97 |
| Match 2 | £1 cash | 2 main numbers | About 1 in 10.3 |
The odds shown are for one individual round. A £2 Lotto line is entered into two rounds, which is why the overall chance of winning any prize from the line is now about 1 in 4.9.
Yes — Match 2 now pays cash
The old Free Lucky Dip prize was replaced when the two-round format launched. A standard Match 2 win now pays £1 cash in the round where you match two main numbers.
Round 1 + Round 2
Can the same Lotto ticket win more than once?
Yes. Think of your £2 line as one set of numbers being checked against two separate draws.
The exact same six chosen numbers are then checked independently against Round 2.
If your line produces a winning match in both rounds, those are two separate prizes. You do not combine numbers across the rounds.
An easy example
If your six-number line matches three main numbers in Round 1 and two main numbers in Round 2, it has won a Match 3 prize in Round 1 and a Match 2 prize in Round 2. The two results are checked separately.
Bonus Ball explained
When does the Bonus Ball actually matter?
The Bonus Ball has one very specific job in the prize table: it separates Match 5 from Match 5 + Bonus.
Match 5
Match five of the six main Lotto numbers and you win the standard £1,000 Match 5 prize for that round.
Match 5 + Bonus
Match five main numbers and the Bonus Ball as well, and the prize jumps to a fixed £1 million for that round.
The Bonus Ball does not upgrade every match
Matching the Bonus Ball alongside two, three or four main numbers does not create a separate higher standard prize tier. It matters for the Match 5 + Bonus category.
Must Be Won draws
What does “Must Be Won” actually mean?
It does not mean somebody is guaranteed to match all six numbers. It means the jackpot has reached the end of its rollover cycle and cannot simply roll forward again.
1
If somebody matches all six
The jackpot is won normally and shared between the Match 6 winners across both rounds.
2
If nobody matches all six
The jackpot is redistributed through lower prize tiers under the current Must Be Won rules instead of rolling over to another draw.
A real post-change example
In the Must Be Won draw on 18 July 2026, there was no jackpot winner. Match 2 paid £5 instead of the usual £1, while Match 3 was also boosted. The exact uplift in a rolldown can vary with the draw and the number of winners, so use the final prize breakdown for that draw rather than assuming every Must Be Won payout will be identical.
June 2026 changes
The smaller fixed prizes changed when Lotto moved to two rounds
The new format gave every £2 line two chances to win, but it also changed several fixed payouts. This is worth knowing if you remember the old Lotto prize table.
| Prize tier | Before the change | Current standard prize |
|---|---|---|
| Match 6 | Jackpot | Jackpot |
| Match 5 + Bonus | £1,000,000 | £1,000,000 |
| Match 5 | £1,750 | £1,000 |
| Match 4 | £140 | £50 |
| Match 3 | £30 | £10 |
| Match 2 | Free Lucky Dip | £1 cash |
The trade-off is straightforward: some smaller fixed prizes are lower than they were under the old single-round game, but every £2 line is now checked against two separate rounds and the published overall chance of winning any prize improved from 1 in 9.3 to about 1 in 4.9.
Prize chances
Prize money and odds are two different questions
This page is about what each matching tier pays. If you want to compare the probability of hitting each tier, the dedicated Lotto odds page goes deeper into the per-round and two-round maths.
One useful number to remember
The published overall chance of winning any prize from one £2 Lotto line is about 1 in 4.9 under the current two-round game. For the full breakdown, see UK Lotto odds & prize chances.
After the draw
Found a match? Check the actual draw breakdown
The standard fixed prizes above tell you what the normal prize tier pays, but the final results page is where you should confirm both rounds, the Bonus Ball and any Must Be Won uplift.
Check both rounds
Your line can win in either round or both, so do not stop checking after Round 1.
Check the Bonus Ball
If you matched five main numbers, the Bonus Ball determines whether the prize is £1,000 or £1 million.
Confirm the official result
Use the official operator for the final claim outcome. MLL tools are useful for checking, but they do not replace the official ticket validation process.
Continue through UK Lotto
Use the next page for the next question
The prize page should answer “what do I win?” and then send you to the right specialist page rather than trying to become another giant Lotto guide.
Questions answered
UK Lotto prize FAQs
Quick answers to the questions people usually have after looking at the prize table.
How much do you win for matching 2 numbers on UK Lotto?
The standard Match 2 prize is £1 cash per winning round under the current two-round game. The old Free Lucky Dip prize was replaced in June 2026.
How much do you win for matching 3 numbers?
The standard Match 3 prize is £10 per winning round.
How much do you win for matching 4 numbers?
The standard Match 4 prize is £50 per winning round.
How much do you win for matching 5 numbers?
Matching five main numbers wins £1,000 in that round.
How much do you win for matching 5 numbers and the Bonus Ball?
Match five main numbers plus the Bonus Ball and the fixed prize is £1 million in that round.
What happens if I match all 6 Lotto numbers?
You win a share of the advertised jackpot. If more than one line matches all six across Round 1 and Round 2, the advertised jackpot is shared between those jackpot winners.
Can I win a prize in both Lotto rounds?
Yes. Your same six numbers are entered into both rounds independently. If they produce a winning match in each round, you have won two separate prizes.
Can I combine numbers from Round 1 and Round 2?
No. Each round is checked separately. For example, one matching number in Round 1 plus one in Round 2 is not a Match 2 prize.
What does Must Be Won mean?
It means the jackpot has reached the end of its rollover cycle. If nobody matches all six numbers, the jackpot money is redistributed through lower prize tiers under the current game rules instead of rolling over again. It does not mean somebody is guaranteed to match six numbers.
Does Match 2 always pay £5 in a Must Be Won draw?
The standard Match 2 prize is £1. In a Must Be Won rolldown, lower-tier prizes can be boosted. A July 2026 Must Be Won draw paid £5 for Match 2, but always check that draw's final prize breakdown because the way extra funds are distributed can depend on the outcome and number of winners.
Does the Bonus Ball matter if I match fewer than five main numbers?
Not for the standard prize tiers. The Bonus Ball is used for the Match 5 + Bonus category.
Are Lotto prizes tax-free in the UK?
The initial National Lottery prize is paid without UK tax being deducted. What you later do with the money can create normal tax consequences on income, investments, gifts or estates.
Research & current game format
Sources used for this prize guide
The current two-round structure and overall prize odds are based on Allwyn's June 2026 launch information. Standard post-change prize amounts are cross-checked against published results from the first new-format draws, including 10, 17 and 20 June 2026, and the Must Be Won explanation uses published post-change draw breakdowns.
Important: prize structures and game procedures can change. Use The National Lottery's official result and claim process to confirm any actual winning ticket. My Lottery Life is an independent information site and is not the operator of The National Lottery.