This Tuesday’s EuroMillions draw is one for the history books, with an eye-watering £210 million up for grabs. If a single UK player scoops the jackpot, they’ll become the biggest National Lottery winner of all time, overtaking the anonymous ticket holder who won £195 million in 2022.
With ticket sales surging across the country, the dream of instant mega-wealth is closer than ever — but with odds of 1 in 139,838,160 (0.0000007%), how can hopeful players give themselves even the slightest edge?
According to Dave James, odds expert at Whataretheodds.co.uk, the answer is yes — sort of.
“Tonight’s jackpot is a whopping £210m and there’s sure to plenty of people jumping on board and buying a ticket. The draw itself is random, but how you choose your numbers isn’t. Players can reduce their chances of splitting a prize and make smarter selections simply by avoiding the most common mistakes.” explains Dave.
So if you’re feeling lucky or just want to be smarter with your £2.50, here are five of Dave’s expert backed tips to help boost your shot at that life-changing moment.
Play the ‘Hot’ numbers
“Certain numbers have a habit of appearing more often and savvy players are taking notice. Numbers like 3 (drawn approximately 182 times), 2 (drawn approximately 178 times), and 20 (drawn 111 times) have consistently been among the most frequently drawn in recent years, and while it doesn’t guarantee success, playing the ‘hot’ numbers is a popular strategy for those hoping to defy the odds.”
Don’t go for birthdays
“Many people pick numbers between 1 and 31, simply because they stick to birthdays! But the EuroMillions lets you go up to 50. By choosing higher numbers, you won’t improve your odd but you’ll reduce the chance of having to split the jackpot or prize money with others picking the same dates.”
Start a Syndicate
“If you’re playing with friends, family or co workers, a lottery syndicate is a smart move. If you all put in a few quid into the pot to buy a few tickets it increases your number coverage and boosts your overall odds, though you’ll share any winnings equally.”
Don’t Ignore Lucky Stars
“You need to pick two Lucky Star numbers (1–12), and many players either randomise these or neglect them. Choosing them more strategically, especially higher or less common ones can give you a unique edge if your ticket hits.”
Mix it up
“Many players choose birthdays, anniversaries, or patterns like “1, 2, 3, 4, 5”. All odd or all even combinations are statistically less common in winning tickets. The sweet spot? A mix of 3 odd and 2 even (or vice versa), which has proven most common historically.”
Ditch previous winning combinations
“It’s tempting to reuse old winning combinations, but no draw influences the next. Worse still, plenty of people think the same way — meaning more chance of splitting the prize if lightning somehow strikes twice.”
