Top 7 lottery games you should try at least once to boost your chances of winning a massive jackpot

If you're feeling lucky and want to take a chance at winning a life-changing amount of money, then these 7 must-try lottery games are perfect for you. Each game offers a unique opportunity to win big and potentially break records with their massive jackpots. From traditional lotto games to exciting scratch-off tickets, there's something for everyone to try. Don't miss out on your chance to become a record-breaking winner – make sure to play all 7 of these must-try lottery games!

Top 7 Lottery Games to Try in 2024

As promised, here’s an exciting journey through seven of the world’s most popular lottery games. These are the cream of the crop, promising not just mammoth jackpots but also unique features that make them stand out.

1. Powerball

Powerball is one of America's premier lottery games, renowned for its colossal jackpots. The largest jackpot in its history—and indeed, the largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever—was a staggering $2.04 billion, won by Edwin Castro on November 7, 2022, with a ticket purchased at Joe’s Service Center in Southern California. A significant feature of the game is the Power Play option, an additional feature that can multiply non-jackpot prizes by up to 10 times, although the second prize is capped at $2 million regardless of the Power Play multiplier.

Both Powerball and Mega Millions share many similarities, including starting jackpots of $40 million (reduced to $20 million during the COVID-19 pandemic) and tiered prize structures. However, Powerball's odds of winning the jackpot are slightly better at 1 in 292.2 million compared to Mega Millions' 1 in 302.6 million. Another innovative feature is the Double Play, costing an extra $1 per play, allowing players to enter an additional drawing for more chances to win up to $10 million.

2. Mega Millions

Another favorite from the U.S., Mega Millions is known for its jaw-dropping jackpots. The biggest win, at $1.602 billion, occurred on August 8, 2023, in Neptune Beach, Florida. The lottery features a range of play options, including choosing five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25.

Mega Millions also offers a "Just the Jackpot" feature, allowing players to buy two entries that are eligible only for the jackpot prize. A unique aspect of Mega Millions is the Megaplier, available in most states, which multiplies non-jackpot prizes by two to five times for an additional $1 per play. Unlike the jackpot, which is paid out either as a cash lump sum or an annuity over 30 years, the smaller prizes can significantly increase with this feature.

3. EuroMillions

The EuroMillions lottery is a transnational game requiring players to pick five numbers from 1 to 50 and two "Lucky Stars" from 1 to 12. It boasts 13 prize tiers, with the jackpot awarded to those matching all seven numbers. Draws occur twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays, and players can check results on the National Lottery website or app.

The EuroMillions is famed for its colossal jackpots and special Superdraws, which guarantee nine-figure prizes and can roll over to increase the jackpot further. The record-breaking jackpot history includes a €240 million prize won by an Austrian player in December 2023. These sweeping figures and the thrilling possibility of life-changing prizes attract participants from across Europe, contributing to the lottery's enduring popularity and the dreams it realizes.

4. Spanish Christmas Lottery

The Spanish Christmas Lottery, known as "El Gordo" (The Fat One), is a historic and highly anticipated event held annually on December 22nd. It's renowned for being the biggest lottery globally in terms of total prize payouts, boasting a €2.6 billion prize pool. Unique in its format, tickets are expensive at €200 but are typically sold in shares called décimos for €20, making participation accessible. Each ticket number is printed in multiple series, ensuring widespread participation and increasing overall excitement. This lottery distinctively involves a draw where children from Madrid's San Ildefonso school sing out the winning numbers from balls drawn from rotating drums.

The top prize, El Gordo, awards €400,000 per décimo (approximately $440,000), or roughly €325,000 after taxes. Other significant prizes include €250,000 for second place and €50,000 for third per décimo. Compared to other major lotteries like Powerball, Mega Millions, and EuroMillions, El Gordo distributes its wealth more broadly, ensuring numerous winners, and fostering a deep-rooted cultural tradition that sees entire towns celebrating communal wins. The substantial size of its prize pool and the tradition of buying tickets from various locations across Spain from as early as summer set El Gordo apart, making it a cherished and festive highlight for many Spaniards.

5. SuperEnalotto

SuperEnalotto, Italy's most renowned lottery, is famous for its exceptional jackpots and unique features. Originating from the 1950s and rebranded in 1997, it holds the record for the largest European lottery jackpot of €371.1 million, won by a syndicate of 90 individuals in February 2023. The largest single-winner jackpot of €209.1 million was claimed in Lodi in August 2019.

Players pick six numbers from a pool of 90, with draws held thrice weekly. The game features a "Jolly" number for enhanced second-tier prizes and a "SuperStar" number that can multiply winnings up to 100 times. Odds of hitting the jackpot stand at 1 in 622,614,630, making it one of the toughest lotteries to win. Nonetheless, its uncapped jackpot rolls over until won, contributing to its massive prize pools. SuperEnalotto offers five additional prize categories and special draws, making it an exciting option for lottery enthusiasts both in Italy and internationally.

6. La Primitiva

The Spanish La Primitiva, one of the world's oldest lotteries established in 1763, offers a rich history and significant allure with substantial jackpots. This venerable lottery requires players to select six main numbers from a pool of 1-49 and one 'Reintegro' number from 0-9. To win the jackpot, all six numbers plus the 'Reintegro' must match the drawn numbers. Notably, La Primitiva's jackpot starts at €2 million and can grow indefinitely with no upper limit if it goes unclaimed.

In 2015, the highest recorded jackpot reached €101.7 milliona. A unique feature of La Primitiva is its bonus balls: the 'Reintegro' and the 'Complementario'. Additionally, an optional side-game called ‘The Joker’ offers further prize opportunities, including a main prize of €1 million. Draws occur on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, ensuring frequent chances to win. La Primitiva continues to captivate with its blend of historical significance and enticing prize potential, accessible now even to international players thanks to online platforms.

7. Mega-Sena

The Mega-Sena is the largest lottery in Brazil, managed by the Caixa Econômica Federal bank since March 1996. Mega-Sena has two weekly draws where six numbers are selected from a pool of 1 to 60. Players can win by matching 4, 5, or all 6 numbers, with the jackpot awarded for the latter.

Among its notable jackpots, the highest recorded Mega-Sena grand prize was R$ 135,315,118.96, roughly €43 million. Moreover, a special annual draw called the "Mega da Virada," held on New Year's Eve, boasts even larger prizes. The biggest Mega da Virada payout reached R$ 263,295,552.66, approximately €83 million. The Mega da Virada draws are unique due to their increased ticket sale duration, distinctive ticket appearance, and significantly higher jackpots, making it a highly anticipated event in Brazil's lottery scene.

Top 7 lotteries ranked by their biggest jackpot wins

When evaluating the largest jackpots in history for various lotteries, it's essential to recognize the extraordinary figures that have shaped their legacies. Here is the ordered list according to their biggest jackpots:

• Powerball – The largest of all is the $2.04 billion Powerball jackpot, won by Edwin Castro in Southern California on November 7, 2022. This monumental sum stands as the highest lottery prize ever recorded in the United States.
• Mega Millions – The highest payout in Mega Millions history was a jackpot of $1.602 billion, awarded to a single ticket holder in Neptune Beach, Florida, in August 2023.
• SuperEnalotto – Italy's SuperEnalotto had a record jackpot of €371.1 million, won by a syndicate of 90 individuals in February 2023
• EuroMillions – The largest jackpot in EuroMillions was €240 million, won on December 8, 2023. Currently, the maximum value it can reach is set at €250 million.
• La Primitiva – Although its jackpots are smaller than those of the lotteries listed above (€101.7 million), La Primitiva is known for regular substantial payouts, although none have surpassed those listed above.
• Mega-Sena – In Brazil, Mega-Sena's largest jackpot was R$ 263 million (roughly €83 million), significantly smaller in comparison to the massive figures seen in US and European lotteries.
• Spanish Christmas Lottery (El Gordo) – Although the top prize for a single ticket (décimo) is €400,000, the total prize pool for this lottery is immense, amounting to €2.6 billion as of December 22, 2023.

In summation, the Powerball and Mega Millions lotteries dominate the scene with their colossal payouts, with EuroMillions and Spain's Christmas lottery also featuring highly prominently due to their enormous sums and widespread participation.

Top 7 lotteries ranked by their winning odds

Although the big jackpots are often the first thing that catches our attention in these lotteries, there is another important factor to take into account: the odds of winning. Although, in general, all lotteries are based on very low odds of winning, the truth is that some of these lotteries have better chances than others. Here is the list:

Spanish Christmas Lottery (El Gordo)

• Winning Odds: 1 in 100,000
• This lottery, held annually on December 22, offers the best odds of winning the top prize among the lotteries listed.

Mega-Sena

• Winning Odds: 1 in 50,063,860
• Mega-Sena, a popular Brazilian lottery, offers better odds compared to most international lotteries but still much lower than US and EU lottery prizes

La Primitiva

• Winning Odds: 1 in 139,838,160
• La Primitiva, one of Spain's primary lotteries, features odds similar to the EuroMillions.

EuroMillions

• Winning Odds: 1 in 139,838,160
• The EuroMillions lottery, popular across Europe, has the same odds of winning the jackpot as La Primitiva.

Powerball (US)

• Winning Odds: 1 in 292,201,338
• The Powerball lottery in the United States provides longer odds compared to EuroMillions and La Primitiva but better than Mega Millions and SuperEnalotto.

Mega Millions (US)

• Winning Odds: 1 in 302,573,350
• Slightly tougher to win than Powerball, the Mega Millions lottery in the US also features large jackpots.

SuperEnalotto (Italy)

• Winning Odds: 1 in 622,614,630
• With the most challenging odds, Italy’s SuperEnalotto stands as the toughest game on this list to win the top prize.