Editor-In-Chief with 20 years experience covering the betting angles to breaking news stories. Daily slots player, Portsmouth fan and League Snooker Player
Much as Bookmakers are, the lottery is a national institution in the UK, with players taking part up and down the country, hoping to land the jackpot. The National Lottery is also an active charity, diverting much of its revenue to supporting community projects and improving people’s lives. With this in mind, it’s no wonder the lottery has been so popular in the UK for so long.
However, there are multiple lotteries that people in the UK can choose to play. These include the classics, like Lotto and Thunderball, and newer games, like the Postcode Lottery, Set for Life or the Health Lottery. The EuroMillions draw is also available to players in the UK, known for featuring some incredibly high jackpots, the largest of which was seen in December 2023 and stood at more than £206 million!
We’ve previously considered the Luckiest Locations for the Powerball Lottery in the United States, and with lotteries forming such a large part of the UK cultural zeitgeist, we wanted to dig a little into the data to reveal some fascinating facts and figures. Which is the UK’s favourite lottery? Which numbers and pairs are the most commonly drawn? And which UK areas have seen the most lottery wins?
Lotto is the most popular lottery in the UK, with more than 47 million searches recorded in the past 12 months
Lotto - 47.4 million UK searches in the past 12 months
Lotto is the most popular lottery in the UK, with well over 47 million searches in the past 12 months. This shows that the British people love a classic game and will turn out in droves to choose their six lucky numbers once or twice a week.
The colossal jackpots of the EuroMillions lottery make it the next most popular in the UK, with just over 39.5 million searches. In contrast, the long-running Thunderball lottery takes third place with over 13 million.
Residents in Liverpool search for lotteries more than any other UK town or city
| Rank | City | Population | Total searches | Total searches per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 506,552 | 1,851,490 | 365,508 |
| 2 | Bolton | 184,073 | 534,690 | 290,477 |
| 3 | Swansea | 170,055 | 476,210 | 280,033 |
| 4 | Huddersfield | 141,692 | 350,590 | 247,431 |
| 5 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 286,468 | 663,630 | 231,659 |
| 6 | Leeds | 536,321 | 1,205,210 | 224,718 |
| 7 | Manchester | 470,411 | 1,048,170 | 222,820 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton | 234,015 | 487,310 | 208,239 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 148,219 | 301,690 | 203,543 |
| 10 | Birmingham | 1,121,408 | 2,271,550 | 202,562 |
Liverpool - 365,508 searches per 100,000 people
The people of Liverpool are the most interested in lotteries, making more than 1.85 million searches in the past year. This works out to a rate of 365,508 searches per 100,000 people, or 3.65 searches per person, the highest in the UK.
The Greater Manchester town of Bolton has the second-highest level of interest in lotteries, with over 290,000 searches per 100,000 people. That’s almost three searches per person. Swansea has the third-highest level of interest in lotteries, with this small city on the South Wales coast seeing over 476,000 searches in the last 12 months. This equals a rate of 280,033 searches per 100,000 people or 2.8 searches per person.
Lotto
Lotto is the original lottery game in the UK, rebranded from the National Lottery in 2004. Lotto players choose six numbers from 1 to 59, with a minimum of three matching balls required to win a cash prize. However, matching just two balls will earn you a free Lucky Dip for the next draw, putting you in the running with a randomised set of numbers. Draws happen twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with tickets costing £2 each.
| Rank | Region | Millionaires | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South East | 975 | 14.2% |
| 2 | Midlands | 934 | 13.6% |
| 3 | London | 822 | 12.0% |
| 4 | North West | 820 | 11.9% |
| 5 | Scotland | 642 | 9.3% |
| 5 | East | 639 | 9.3% |
| 5 | Yorkshire | 636 | 9.3% |
| 8 | South West | 521 | 7.6% |
| 9 | Wales | 389 | 5.7% |
| 10 | North East | 320 | 4.7% |
| 11 | Northern Republic of Ireland | 174 | 2.5% |
| - | United Kingdom Total | 6,872 | - |
South East - 975 Lotto Millionaires make up 14.2% of the national total
The UK region with the highest proportion of Lotto millionaires is the South East, with 975 separate seven-figure winners accounting for 14.2% of all Lotto millionaires.
The Midlands region saw the second-highest number of Lotto millionaires at 934, which is 13.6% of the total. The London region had the third-highest Lotto millionaires at 822, 12% of the UK total.
The Midlands region has the highest number of Lotto players who won £50,000 or more
| Rank | Region | £50,000+ winners | % of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Midlands | 6,377 | 14.6% |
| 2 | South East | 5,859 | 13.5% |
| 3 | North West | 5,395 | 12.4% |
| 4 | London | 5,340 | 12.3% |
| 5 | Yorkshire | 4,071 | 9.3% |
| 6 | East | 3,735 | 8.6% |
| 6 | Scotland | 3,733 | 8.6% |
| 8 | South West | 3,600 | 8.3% |
| 9 | North East | 2,297 | 5.3% |
| 10 | Wales | 2,235 | 5.1% |
| 11 | Northern Republic of Ireland | 916 | 2.1% |
| - | United Kingdom Total | 43,558 | -% |
Midlands - 6,377 Lotto £50k+ winners make up 14.6% of the national total
The Midlands is home to the highest number of Lotto winners who received £50,000 or more at 6,377, 14.6% of the nation’s total.
The South East has seen the second-highest number of Lotto £50k+ winners at 5,859, equal to 13.5%, while the North West had the third-highest number with 5,395 people winning £50,000 or more.
These are the most common Lotto ball drawings
The most common Lotto number is 52 - Drawn 108 times
Lotto's most commonly drawn number is 52, which has appeared 108 times over the last six months. This is closely followed by number 37, which has appeared 107 times, while number 39 has made 106 appearances.
The least common Lotto number is 48 - Drawn 74 times
Number 48 is the least common ball to be drawn in Lotto, appearing 74 times in the last six months. This is considerably fewer times than the most commonly drawn numbers, though they all have an equal chance of being selected.
The second-least commonly drawn number is 6, appearing 77 times, while number 9 has appeared 78 times in the same period.
The most common pair of Lotto numbers are 2 and 54 - Drawn together 19 times
The most commonly-drawn pair of numbers is 2 and 54, with the combination appearing 19 times in the past six months. This is one more appearance than the second most common pair, 37 and 42, which happened 18 times. Interestingly, the number 2 also appeared in the fifth most common pair, alongside the number 23, 16 times.
Lotto is most popular in Liverpool, being searched for more than 800,000 times
| Rank | City | Population | Lotto searches | Lotto searches per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 506,552 | 801,330 | 158,193 |
| 2 | Swansea | 170,055 | 212,240 | 124,807 |
| 3 | Bolton | 184,073 | 228,030 | 123,880 |
| 4 | Huddersfield | 141,692 | 149,920 | 105,807 |
| 5 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 286,468 | 301,950 | 105,404 |
| 6 | Middlesbrough | 148,219 | 137,590 | 92,829 |
| 7 | Leeds | 536,321 | 486,280 | 90,670 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton | 234,015 | 207,280 | 88,576 |
| 9 | Manchester | 470,411 | 400,980 | 85,240 |
| 10 | Glasgow | 631,690 | 526,610 | 83,365 |
Liverpool - 158,193 Lotto searches per 100,000 people
Liverpool is the UK city where Lotto is the most popular, with over 158,000 searches per 100,000 people in the last six months. This suggests that the people of this port city in the North West of England have a positive outlook and feel that luck is on their side.
The Welsh city of Swansea saw the second-highest rate of Lotto searches, with 124,807 per 100,000 people, while Bolton claimed third place with a rate of 123,880.
EuroMillions
Since its launch in 2004, EuroMillions has become one of the main lotteries in the UK and offers the largest prizes to potential winners. EuroMillions is open to players in nine European countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
In the game, players select five numbers from 1 to 50 and two Lucky Stars numbered from 1 to 12. You only need to match two main numbers to start winning cash prizes, and all ticket holders are automatically entered into the UK Millionaire Maker draw, giving you a second chance to win big. Tickets cost £2.50 each, and draws happen twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The UK has the highest proportion of EuroMillions jackpot winners
| Rank | Country | Jackpot Winners | Percentage of Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United Kingdom | 41 | 26.6% |
| 2 | France | 31 | 20.1% |
| 3 | Spain | 30 | 19.5% |
| 4 | Portugal | 16 | 10.4% |
| 5 | Belgium | 14 | 9.1% |
| 6 | Republic of Ireland | 8 | 5.2% |
| 7 | Switzerland | 7 | 4.5% |
| 8 | Austria | 5 | 3.2% |
| 9 | Luxembourg | 2 | 1.3% |
| - | Total | 154 | 100.0% |
United Kingdom - 41 EuroMillions jackpot winners
The UK has the most EuroMillions jackpot winners, with 41 players snatching these jumbo prizes. This accounts for 26.6% of the total, meaning more than one in four jackpot winners is from the UK.
France has the second-highest number of EuroMillions jackpot winners with 31, equal to 21.1% of the total, while Spain follows closely behind with 30 winners.
These are the most common EuroMillions ball drawings
The most common EuroMillions number is 21 - Drawn 98 times
The most common number to be drawn in the EuroMillions is 21, having made 98 appearances in the past six months of lottery draws. This is closely followed by the number 20, which takes second place with 95 appearances, while the number 23 is third with 92.
The least common EuroMillions number is 22 - Drawn 54 times
The least lucky number in the EuroMillions is 22, as it has only appeared in the draw 54 times in the last six months. It is also the only number to come up fewer than 60 times, with the number 18 making the second-fewest appearances at 62.
The most common EuroMillions Lucky Star 3 - Drawn 158 times
The most common Lucky Star is number 3, making 158 appearances in the EuroMillions in the last six months. This is followed by number 2, being drawn 155 times, while number 6 takes third place with 139 Lucky Star appearances.
The least common EuroMillions Lucky Star 1 - Drawn 110 times
The least common Lucky Star is number 1, which has been drawn 110 times in the past six months. Lucky Star number 5 has a similarly low number of appearances, drawn 111 times in the same period.
The most common EuroMillions pair is 23 and 32 - Drawn together 16 times
The most common pair of numbers to be drawn in the EuroMillions is 23 and 32, with the combo appearing 16 times in the past 12 months. The numbers 17 and 23 were the second most common pair, selected 15 times. This makes the number 23 seem especially lucky, featuring in the top two pairs.
The most common EuroMillions Lucky Star pair is 2 and 8 - Drawn together 25 times
The most common combination of Lucky Stars in the EuroMillions is 2 and 8, being drawn 25 times in the past six months. The next highest pair, Lucky Stars 3 and 7, appeared 20 times, giving our top pair a substantial lead.
Liverpool is the UK city where EuroMillions is most popular
| Rank | City | Population | EuroMillions searches | EuroMillions searches per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 506,552 | 636,790 | 125,711 |
| 2 | Bolton | 184,073 | 175,820 | 95,516 |
| 3 | Swansea | 170,055 | 149,600 | 87,972 |
| 4 | Manchester | 470,411 | 368,110 | 78,253 |
| 5 | Leeds | 536,321 | 415,870 | 77,541 |
| 6 | Huddersfield | 141,692 | 107,180 | 75,643 |
| 7 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 286,468 | 208,670 | 72,842 |
| 8 | Glasgow | 631,690 | 458,810 | 72,632 |
| 9 | Belfast | 293,298 | 209,140 | 71,306 |
| 10 | Edinburgh | 505,310 | 359,490 | 71,142 |
Liverpool - 125,711 EuroMillions searches per 100,000 people
Liverpool has the highest rate of EuroMillions searches in the UK, with 125,711 per 100,000 people. This makes Liverpool the only city or town in the UK where the ratio of EuroMillions searches to residents exceeds 1.
Bolton has the second-highest rate of EuroMillions searches at 95,516 per 100,000, with a total of 175,820 searches. The only other city with a rate higher than 80,000 searches per 100,000 people is Swansea, which stood at 87,972.
Thunderball
First introduced in 1999, Thunderball is a classic UK lottery that offers more chances to win and a regular jackpot of £500,000. Players choose five regular numbers from 1 to 39 and one Thunderball from 1 to 14. Tickets are just £1 per entry, with prizes starting at £3 for anyone who matches their Thunderball in the draw.
The most common number in Thunderball is 30 - Drawn 354 times
Thunderball’s most commonly drawn number is 30, appearing 354 times in the past six months. This is followed by the number 18, being drawn 340 times, while the number 31 took third place with 339 appearances.
The least common number in Thunderball is 14 - Drawn 289 times
The Number 14 had the lowest number of appearances in the last six months, being drawn 289 times. The number 12 was the second-least drawn with 291 appearances, followed by 9 with 293.
The most common Thunderball is 3 - Drawn 200 times
The luckiest Thunderball in the past six months has been number 3, with 200 appearances. Number 13 was the next luckiest Thunderball with 195 appearances, while Thunderball 7 took third place with 184.
The least common Thunderball is 9 - Drawn 157 times
The least commonly drawn Thunderball is number 9, with 157 appearances. This is followed by Thunderball number 6, with 164 appearances, and Thunderball number 2, which came up 167 times.
The most common pair in Thunderball is 26 and 29 - Drawn together 52 times
The luckiest numbers in Thunderball are 26 and 29, which were drawn together 52 times in the past six months. However, the number 7 features in two of the top five pairs, appearing 51 times alongside number 34 and 47 times alongside number 10.
Liverpool is also the top city for Thunderball searches per capita
| Rank | City | Population | Thunderball searches | Thunderball searches per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 506,552 | 203,290 | 40,132 |
| 2 | Bolton | 184,073 | 62,430 | 33,916 |
| 3 | Huddersfield | 141,692 | 42,910 | 30,284 |
| 4 | Swansea | 170,055 | 50,570 | 29,737 |
| 5 | Wolverhampton | 234,015 | 68,830 | 29,413 |
| 6 | Leeds | 536,321 | 147,980 | 27,592 |
| 7 | Birmingham | 1,121,408 | 307,310 | 27,404 |
| 8 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 286,468 | 78,280 | 27,326 |
| 9 | Manchester | 470,411 | 125,040 | 26,581 |
| 10 | Peterborough | 190,584 | 48,030 | 25,201 |
Liverpool - 40,132 Thunderball searches per 100,000 people
The city with the most Thunderball searches in the UK is Liverpool, with 40,132 per 100,000 people. Bolton takes second place again, with a rate of 33,916 searches per 100,000 people, while Huddersfield claims third place with 30,284 searches per 100,000.
Set for Life
Introduced as recently as 2019, Set for Life offers a different spin on the classic lottery formula. With draws twice a week, players choose five numbers between 1 and 47, and one Life Ball between 1 and 10. The difference with Set for Life is that the jackpot is not a lump sum cash prize, instead paying out £10,000 each month for 30 years, with the runner-up receiving this monthly sum for one year.
The top Set for Life number is 21 - Drawn 71 times
The luckiest number in Set for Life is 21, being drawn 71 times over the last six months. This is closely followed by number 40, being drawn 70 times, while number 42 was the third most common, with 66 appearances.
The least common Set for Life number is 1 - Drawn 42 times
The number with the fewest appearances in Set for Life is 1, drawn only 42 times in the last six months. Number 28 made the next-fewest appearances, with 44, while numbers 27 and 45 were each only drawn 45 times.
The most common Set for Life pair is 13 and 21 - Drawn together 14 times
Numbers 13 and 21 are the most common pair in Set for Life, being drawn together 14 times in the past six months. Both numbers appear twice in the top five pairs, with number 21 being drawn alongside number 16 as many as 13 times, while number 13 was drawn together with number 37 a total of 11 times.
The most common Life Ball in Set for Life is 6 - Drawn 62 times
The luckiest Life Ball in Set for Life is number 6, which appeared 62 times over the past six months. Only one other Life Ball made more than 60 appearances, with number 7 being drawn 61 times.
The least common Life Ball is 4 - Drawn 42 times
The Life Ball with the lowest draw rate is number 4, having only been selected 42 times over the past six months. While there is a mathematically equal chance of each Life Ball being drawn, there is a sizeable difference between the most and least common numbers.
Liverpool is the UK city with the most searches for Set for Life
| Rank | City | Population | Set for Life searches | Set for Life searches per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 506,552 | 122,030 | 24,090 |
| 2 | Bolton | 184,073 | 35,980 | 19,547 |
| 3 | Huddersfield | 141,692 | 22,650 | 15,985 |
| 4 | Manchester | 470,411 | 73,210 | 15,563 |
| 5 | Swansea | 170,055 | 24,470 | 14,389 |
| 6 | Leeds | 536,321 | 75,260 | 14,033 |
| 7 | Newcastle upon Tyne | 286,468 | 39,400 | 13,754 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton | 234,015 | 31,750 | 13,568 |
| 9 | Birmingham | 1,121,408 | 150,690 | 13,438 |
| 10 | Peterborough | 190,584 | 24,120 | 12,656 |
Liverpool - 24,090 Set for Life searches per 100,000 people
Liverpool has the highest interest in Set for Life, with over 24,000 searches per 100,000 people. The total number of searches in the city over the past 12 months was just 122,000.
The people of Bolton made the second-highest number of searches for Set for Life in the past year, with 19,547 per 100,000, while Huddersfield saw the third-highest search rate of 15,985 per 100,000.
Health Lottery
The Health Lottery gives players the chance to support projects that benefit people’s physical and mental health in the UK. The Health Lottery has raised over £130 million to help fund over 3,500 individual projects, making a real impact on the lives of vulnerable groups in society.
There are several games to choose from in the Health Lottery, with the flagship game being The Big Win. Players simply choose five numbers from 1 to 50 to have a chance of winning the £25,000 jackpot. Draws happen four times every week and tickets cost only £1 each.
The most common number in the Health Lottery’s The Big Win is 36 - Drawn 163 times
Number 36 is the most commonly drawn in ‘The Big Win’, with 163 appearances over the past six months. This is closely followed by number 29, with 162 appearances, and number 50, which was drawn 161 times.
The least common number in The Big Win is 7 - Drawn 122 times
The least commonly drawn number in ‘The Big Win’ is 7, which appeared 122 times. Number 39 appeared the second-fewest times, with 123 appearances, followed by number 13, which appeared 127 times.
The most common pair in The Big Win is 36 and 38 - Drawn together 27 times
The most common pair in The Big Win was numbers 36 and 38, drawn together 27 times in the past six months. Numbers 9 and 43 were the second most common pair, with 23 appearances, while numbers 23 and 32 were drawn together 22 times.
Manchester saw the highest level of interest in the Health Lottery
| Rank | City | Population | Health Lottery searches | Health Lottery searches per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Manchester | 470,411 | 13,080 | 2,781 |
| 2 | Liverpool | 506,552 | 13,770 | 2,718 |
| 3 | Swansea | 170,055 | 4,420 | 2,599 |
| 4 | Bolton | 184,073 | 4,590 | 2,494 |
| 5 | Warrington | 174,954 | 3,950 | 2,258 |
| 6 | Huddersfield | 141,692 | 2,950 | 2,082 |
| 7 | Leeds | 536,321 | 10,060 | 1,876 |
| 8 | York | 141,671 | 2,640 | 1,863 |
| 9 | Middlesbrough | 148,219 | 2,490 | 1,680 |
| 10 | Peterborough | 190,584 | 3,050 | 1,600 |
Manchester - 2,781 Health Lottery searches per 100,000 people
The people of Manchester are the most interested in the Health Lottery, with 2,781 searches per 100,000 people. Liverpool takes second place with 2,718 searches per 100,000, while Swansea came third with 2,599.
Postcode Lottery
The Postcode Lottery is another popular game in the UK, this time using a subscription model to provide players with more chances to win. Signing up for the Postcode Lottery costs £12 per month, with 20 different postcodes winning every single day and minimum prizes of £1,000. Additionally, the stakes are raised each Saturday as players in one lucky postcode win a share of £1 Million in the Millionaire Street prize.
The Birmingham postcode has won the Postcode Lottery most frequently
| Rank | Postcode | Area | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | B | Birmingham | 1,233 |
| 2 | S | Sheffield | 1,037 |
| 3 | NE | Newcastle upon Tyne | 958 |
| 4 | M | Manchester | 933 |
| 5 | NG | Nottingham | 904 |
| 6 | G | Glasgow | 878 |
| 7 | SA | Swansea | 748 |
| 8 | PE | Peterborough | 745 |
| 9 | BS | Bristol | 736 |
| 10 | CF | Cardiff | 724 |
Birmingham - 1,233 Postcode Lottery win
Birmingham is the luckiest UK area for the postcode lottery, with 1,233 wins. This is followed by Sheffield, with 1,037 wins, and Newcastle upon Tyne, with 958.
Belfast is the only UK postcode that has never won the Postcode Lottery
Belfast is the only UK postcode that has never won the Postcode Lottery
| Rank | Postcode | Area | Wins |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BT | Belfast | 0 |
| 2 | WC | Western Central London | 9 |
| 3 | ZE | Zetland | 15 |
| 4 | EC | East Central London | 17 |
| 5 | HS | Outer Hebrides | 39 |
| 6 | LD | Llandrindod Wells | 48 |
| 7 | KW | Kirkwall | 52 |
| 8 | HG | Harrogate | 98 |
| 9 | SM | Sutton | 125 |
| 10 | HX | Halifax | 130 |
Belfast - 0 Postcode Lottery wins
The Belfast BT postcode is the only UK area never to win the Postcode Lottery. The next-lowest number of wins was in West Central London, with only nine wins under its belt, while the Zetland area has the third lowest with 15.
Swansea saw the highest level of interest in the Postcode Lottery
| Rank | City | Population | Postcode Lottery searches | Postcode Lottery searches per 100,000 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Swansea | 170,055 | 34,910 | 20,529 |
| 2 | Middlesbrough | 148,219 | 28,210 | 19,033 |
| 3 | Warrington | 174,954 | 31,620 | 18,073 |
| 4 | Huddersfield | 141,692 | 24,980 | 17,630 |
| 5 | Bolton | 184,073 | 27,840 | 15,124 |
| 6 | Liverpool | 506,552 | 74,280 | 14,664 |
| 7 | Manchester | 470,411 | 67,750 | 14,402 |
| 8 | Leeds | 536,321 | 69,760 | 13,007 |
| 9 | Peterborough | 190,584 | 23,320 | 12,236 |
| 10 | Plymouth | 266,983 | 32,360 | 12,121 |
Swansea - 20,529 Postcode Lottery searches per 100,000 people
Swansea saw the most significant public interest in the Postcode Lottery, with 20,529 searches per 100,000 people. No other area had a rate above 20,000, with second-place Middlesbrough recording 19,033 searches per 100,000 people, while Warrington took third place with 18,073.
Methodology
We took the number of Lotto millionaires and £50,000+ winners from the National Lottery.
Data showing the most commonly drawn numbers and pairs, Postcode Lottery wins by area, and EuroMillions won by country were taken from lottery.co.uk.
Search data was taken from Google Keyword Planner and normalised against City Population data. This was done for the 50 largest UK towns and cities and covered the 12-month period from February 2023 to January 2024.
The search terms analysed for each lottery were:
- how to play [LOTTERY]
- play [LOTTERY] online
- [LOTTERY]
- [LOTTERY] check numbers
- [LOTTERY] jackpot
- [LOTTERY] odds
- [LOTTERY] results
- [LOTTERY] ticket
- [LOTTERY] ticket price
- [LOTTERY] winnings
Searches for all these terms were combined for each lottery to provide a total search volume for each area.
