‘IT could be you’ the National Lottery promised when it launched in 1994 and gave every player the chance to become an overnight millionaire.
In the past 30 years its games have made that dream come true for some 7,200 people – with an average of seven new millionaires now made every week.
The lottery is, of course, a game of chance with winning numbers selected randomly.
But, over three decades some have appeared more frequently than others… and we can reveal the most common winners.
The National Lottery has greatly expanded the number of games it runs since 1994, and the list now includes the original Lotto as well as EuroMillions, Set For Life and Thunderball.
Each game has different rules, a different top prize and different odds.
A lotto ticket costs £2 (up from £1 when the game launched) and sees players select six numbers between 1 and 59 as well as a bonus ball.
Customers have the choice of selecting a lucky dip to determine their pick or choosing their own numbers, with some sticking loyal to the same selection every week.
To win the Lotto jackpot players must match the six main numbers in the draw.
The next prize, for those who match five numbers and the bonus ball is £1million, if you match five main numbers without the bonus ball you win £1,750.
The odds of winning the Lotto jackpot are currently around 45million to one.
But, your odds of winning any prize, the lowest being a free lucky dip for matching two main numbers, are a just over one in nine.
Lotto games are drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays every week.
A ticket for the EuroMillions will cost you £2.50, and sees players select five main numbers between one and 50 as well as two lucky stars, between one and 12.
The draw is open to players across Europe and has a huge jackpot prize.
Accordingly the odds of winning the EuroMillions, which is drawn every Tuesday and Friday, are much lower at one in 139million.
To win the jackpot players must match the five main numbers and the two lucky stars.
However other prizes range from £130,554.30 for five main numbers and one lucky star, to £2.50 for two main numbers.
The biggest ever EuroMillions jackpot was £195million, which was won by a UK ticket holder on July 19 2022.
The largest Lotto jackpot ever won was £22.5million, scooped by a couple of work colleagues from Hastings in 1995.
Since its launch in 1994 the National Lottery has paid out some £94billion in prize money, and in May 2024 alone 35 prizes worth £1million or more were won by National Lottery players across all games.
Players can enter the lottery online via the National Lottery app or in-store across a huge number of retailers and supermarkets.
The National Lottery said equal amounts of winning tickets are purchased in store and online, so it appears it doesn’t matter where you pick your up.
Still many players will have rituals they believe will increase their luck on the night.
Some might swear by wearing their lucky pants, or by keeping their numbers a secret.
Others might pick numbers that coincide with special dates while others simply close their eyes and choose at random.
But could knowing the numbers that come up the most help?
We’ve rounded up the Lotto and EuroMillion numbers that appear most regularly.
Ball 25 is the most common to come out of the machine in the UK Lotto this year havings appeared nine times already.
Balls 11, 22, 48 and 53 have all appeared eight times in 2024.
The most common bonus balls in 2024 are 28 and 55, which have both appeared four times.
Back in February 2022 ball 40 was the most common number drawn in the UK Lotto having appeared 350 times since its launch in 1994.
Behind it were balls 23 and 27, which had each appeared 346 times.
In the EuroMillions, participants choose five numbers from 1 to 50.
This year balls 13 and 18 have been the most frequently drawn, appearing 10 times.
Close behind are balls seven and 16, which have come up nine times.
While, two and 23 have appeared eight times.
The most common lucky stars of 2024 are 12 and three, which have both appeared 12 times.
In February 2022 19 had been the most frequently drawn number, appearing 171 times since the game was launched in 2004.
Close behind were balls 23, 44 and 50 – each of which had come up 170 times.
Of course, the draws are random so there are no guarantees that these numbers will continue to be the most commonly drawn.
Are some regions luckier than others? We've checked out which areas are home to the most Lottery millionaires
South East – 975 millionaires created
Midlands – 934 millionaires created
London – 822 millionaires created
North West – 820 millionaires created
Scotland – 642 millionaires created
East of England – 639 millionaires created
Yorkshire – 636 millionaires created
South West – 521 millionaires created
Wales – 389 millionaires created
North East – 320 millionaires created
Northern Ireland – 174 millionaires created
One Brit told how their numbers came up – six weeks AFTER they’d stopped playing.
A shop is thought to be the “world’s luckiest” after three winning tickets were sold from it in just six months.
While a couple may be the luckiest players after scooping a £1million EuroMillions jackpot twice in less than 10 years.
And a Lotto expert reveals what actually happens if you win the jackpot.
Crucially, you should always gamble responsibly and never bet more money than you can afford to lose.
If you’re worried about gambling and need to talk to someone you can contact organisations including the NHS, GamCare, and BeGambleAware.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
Plus, you can join our Sun Money Chats and Tips Facebook group to share your tips and stories
