The Most Popular Lottery in the World – Questions and Answers

Every week, millions of players around the globe buy a ticket and dream about the same thing: hitting a life-changing jackpot. From the deserts of Nevada to the streets of Naples, the appeal is universal – a small stake, a few chosen numbers, and the tantalizing possibility of waking up a millionaire. But with so many international lotteries to choose from, each with its own format, odds, and jackpot history, one question keeps coming up: which is actually the most popular lottery in the world?

The answer depends on how you measure “popular” – by jackpot size, by number of players, by media coverage, or by sheer longevity. In this Q&A guide, we break down the biggest and most-played lotteries available on Lottomat, compare their jackpots and odds side by side, and help you decide which one best fits the way you like to play.

What is the most popular lottery in the world?

Powerball is widely considered the most popular lottery in the world, and the numbers back that up. Played in the United States, it regularly produces some of the largest jackpots in lottery history, with prizes that have climbed past $1 billion on several occasions – a feat few other games have matched even once. Its massive payouts, huge media coverage, and simple 5+1 number format have made it a genuine global phenomenon: millions of international players now enter Powerball online rather than just US residents, chasing the same headline-grabbing jackpots that dominate the news every time a draw rolls over. Part of what sets Powerball apart is the frequency of its billion-dollar runs; because the jackpot grows every time there’s no winner, media attention snowballs, which in turn draws in even more players and pushes the prize even higher. You can check the current jackpot and play Powerball online.

Close behind is Mega Millions, Powerball’s biggest domestic rival, and EuroMillions, the most popular lottery in Europe. Together, these three games account for the bulk of global lottery ticket sales and generate the eye-catching jackpots that make international headlines.

What is Mega Millions and how does it compare to Powerball?

Mega Millions is the second major US multi-state lottery, drawn twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays. Like Powerball, players pick five main numbers plus one extra “Mega Ball,” and jackpots frequently reach hundreds of millions of dollars – occasionally surpassing the billion-dollar mark, most famously in 2023. The two games are often compared because they share a similar format and jackpot structure, but their odds, ticket prices, and jackpot histories differ slightly, and the pools of numbers they draw from aren’t identical. For players trying to decide between them, it often comes down to timing: with draws staggered across the week, following both games means there’s rarely more than a day or two to wait for the next chance at a life-changing prize. You can explore current jackpots and play Mega Millions online.

What is EuroMillions and why is it Europe’s biggest lottery?

EuroMillions is played across nine European countries and is the largest and most popular lottery on the continent. Draws take place twice a week, and jackpots can roll over to reach the €200 million cap, making it a favorite for players chasing a massive payout with relatively simple rules. Its cross-border format is part of the appeal: because tickets are pooled from multiple countries, the prize pools grow faster than most single-country lotteries could ever manage on their own, and a win in one country is celebrated as news across the whole continent. Depending on your location, you can play the UK version of EuroMillions or the EU version of EuroMillions.

Is Eurojackpot as popular as EuroMillions?

Yes, Eurojackpot has become one of Europe’s fastest-growing lotteries and is often described as Powerball’s European counterpart. It’s played across more than a dozen European countries, offers a lower entry cost than EuroMillions, and features a 5/50 + 2/12 format with better odds of winning a prize overall – a big part of why it’s steadily gained ground on the continent’s more established games. Because smaller prize tiers pay out more frequently than in games like EuroMillions, Eurojackpot has built a loyal following among players who value consistent smaller wins alongside the chance at a life-changing jackpot. Our detailed Powerball vs Eurojackpot comparison breaks down exactly how the two compare, from odds and ticket prices to typical jackpot size.

What is SuperEnalotto and why does it have such big jackpots?

SuperEnalotto is Italy’s national lottery, famous for having some of the longest jackpot rollovers and biggest prizes in the world, partly because it uses a 6/90 format with extremely long odds. This makes wins rarer but jackpots enormous when they do hit – it’s not unusual for the top prize to climb for months, or even years, before someone finally matches all six numbers. That rarity is precisely what fuels its reputation: every rollover generates fresh headlines across Italy and beyond, and the eventual winner often becomes a household name overnight. Learn more and play SuperEnalotto online.

What are El Gordo and La Primitiva?

Spain is home to two of the most beloved lotteries in Europe, each with its own distinct character and following:

• La Primitiva is Spain’s original national lottery, known for strong odds and consistent jackpots. Its straightforward format has made it a staple for Spanish players for decades. Play La Primitiva online.
• El Gordo (“The Fat One”) is famous for its huge prize pools, especially the Christmas edition, which is one of the most-watched lottery draws in the world and a genuine cultural event in Spain, broadcast live and followed by millions who gather with friends and family to watch the numbers called out. Play El Gordo online.

What is the UK National Lottery, and what about Thunderball and Set for Life?

The UK Lottery is the flagship national lottery of the United Kingdom, known for its long history and strong brand recognition since its launch in 1994. Alongside it, the UK also runs two popular sister games that appeal to different types of players:

• Thunderball, a lower-jackpot but higher-frequency game with better odds, ideal for players who’d rather chase steadier, more attainable wins – play Thunderball online.
• Set for Life, which pays winners a guaranteed monthly income for up to 30 years instead of a single lump sum – a format that has grown in popularity among players who prefer steady, long-term security over a one-time payout – play Set for Life online.

You can play the UK Lottery online for full rules and current jackpots.

Which US lotteries besides Powerball and Mega Millions are worth playing?

Beyond the two national giants, two other major American lotteries have carved out loyal followings among players seeking better odds or additional draws throughout the week:

• New York Lottery, one of the most established state lotteries in the US, with a reputation for reliability built up over decades – play New York Lottery online.
• Lotto America, a multi-state game with a growing jackpot format that offers a fresh alternative to the two market leaders – play Lotto America online.

What are the most popular national lotteries in continental Europe?

Alongside EuroMillions and Eurojackpot, several long-standing national lotteries remain hugely popular in their home countries, often thanks to decades of tradition and strong cultural ties:

• French Lotto (Loto) – France’s national lottery, with draws held three times a week, giving players more regular chances to win than most single-country games. Play French Lotto online.
• Lotto 6aus49 – Germany’s flagship national lottery, running since 1955 and one of the longest continuously operating lotteries in Europe. Play Lotto 6aus49 online.

What is the biggest lottery in South America?

Mega Sena is Brazil’s national lottery and the most popular lottery in South America by a wide margin. It’s known for its rolling jackpots and special mega-draws around the New Year, which regularly produce some of the largest jackpots seen outside the US and Europe and turn into national events in their own right, with ticket sales spiking in the final weeks of December. Play Mega Sena online.

What about Australia’s biggest lotteries?

Australia has two standout lotteries that consistently draw huge player numbers and reflect two very different approaches to lottery design:

• Powerball Australia, the country’s biggest jackpot game and the one most likely to make headlines when the prize climbs into the tens of millions – play Powerball Australia online.
• Saturday Lotto, Australia’s original weekly lottery with better odds and more frequent smaller wins, popular with players who value consistency over long-shot jackpots – play Saturday Lotto online.

Which lottery offers the best odds of winning?

Odds vary widely by lottery format, and understanding the trade-off between odds and jackpot size is one of the most useful things a player can learn before choosing where to spend their money. Generally speaking:

• Games with fewer numbers to match, like Eurojackpot or Thunderball, tend to have better odds of winning any prize, even if the top jackpot is smaller than the US giants.
• Games with larger number pools, like SuperEnalotto or Mega Millions, have longer odds but bigger potential jackpots – a trade-off that suits players who are playing specifically for a shot at a truly life-changing sum.

Each lottery’s dedicated page on Lottomat lists its exact odds, so it’s worth comparing a few before deciding where to place your bets.

Which lottery has produced the biggest jackpots ever?

Powerball and Mega Millions hold the records for the largest lottery jackpots in history, with both games having awarded prizes exceeding $1 billion – a milestone that has only become more common as ticket sales and jackpot rollovers have grown in recent years. In Europe, EuroMillions holds the record for the continent’s largest jackpot, while SuperEnalotto is known for its exceptionally long rollovers that build enormous prize pools over time, sometimes taking well over a year to finally produce a winner. These record-breaking jackpots aren’t just lucky flukes; they’re a direct result of each game’s format, since the harder it is to match all the numbers, the longer a jackpot can roll over before anyone claims it, and the bigger it inevitably becomes.

Can I play international lotteries online from anywhere?

Yes. Platforms like Lottomat let players from around the world enter major international lotteries – including Powerball, Mega Millions, EuroMillions, Eurojackpot, SuperEnalotto, El Gordo, La Primitiva, the UK Lottery, and more – from a single account, without needing to travel to the country where the draw takes place. You can browse all available games on our Play Lottery page, check odds and rules under Information, or view the latest winning numbers under Results.

How should I choose between all these lotteries?

There’s no single “best” lottery – the right choice depends on what you’re actually looking for. If your priority is a life-changing, headline-making jackpot, Powerball, Mega Millions, and SuperEnalotto are the games most likely to deliver one, even if the odds of winning are long. If you’d rather play something with more realistic odds and still enjoy a substantial jackpot, Eurojackpot and Thunderball strike a better balance. And if you value regular smaller wins over the slim chance of a mega-jackpot, games like Saturday Lotto or La Primitiva tend to reward consistency. Many experienced players spread their tickets across a few different games for exactly this reason – it lets them chase the big dream while still enjoying more frequent, smaller wins along the way.

Final thoughts

So, what’s the single most popular lottery in the world? For sheer jackpot size and global attention, Powerball takes the crown, with Mega Millions and EuroMillions close behind. But popularity isn’t just about the biggest prize – Eurojackpot, SuperEnalotto, El Gordo, La Primitiva, the UK Lottery, Lotto 6aus49, Mega Sena, and the Australian lotteries all have loyal followings for their own reasons, whether that’s better odds, lower ticket prices, or long-standing national tradition. Ultimately, the “most popular” lottery for you is simply the one whose format, odds, and jackpot size line up best with what you’re hoping to get out of playing.

Whichever lottery you choose, always play responsibly and check the latest jackpots and results before you buy your ticket.

READ ALSO: Top 5 Summer Destinations for Lottery Millionaires in 2026