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Lottery Betting
Forget picking numbers and waiting for a weekly draw. Lottery betting is a different game. It's about wagering on the outcome of official lotteries, not entering them. When you buy a lottery ticket, you're not hoping to win the jackpot; you're putting money on specific numbers being drawn. This means you can bet on specific numbers, ranges, or characteristics of the draw (like odd/even) across the world's biggest lotteries like Powerball, EuroMillions, and Mega Millions, all from one account. It's faster, has more variety, and, most importantly, you know how much you'll win the moment you place your bet.
How to Bet on the Lottery
Log into your VivatBet account and go to the Lottery or Numbers section. You'll see a list of the draws available to you (e.g., UK Lotto, Irish Lotto, EuroJackpot). Choose the lottery you want to bet on. Instead of choosing your own numbers, you'll usually choose from predefined betting markets, such as "Ball 1 to be Odd" or "Total Sum of Numbers to be Over 150." You can also bet on specific number ranges or the colour of a bonus ball. Pick your market, the odds will be displayed, add it to your bet slip, enter how much you want to bet, and confirm. It's just like betting on a football match.
Lottery Betting Offers and Promotions at VivatBet
Try your luck with a little extra backing. Check our Promotions page for offers that may apply to lottery betting. While welcome bonuses are often for sports, look out for potential price boosts on popular lottery markets or cashback offers on selected draws. These can improve the predictions you make. Please always read the full terms and conditions for each promotion.
Key Terms to Know:
Official Draw: The bet is settled based on the numbers drawn in the official lottery draw that's shown on TV.
Main Numbers: The primary set of numbers drawn (e.g., 6 out of 59 in UK Lotto).
Bonus Ball (or Lucky Star): An extra number drawn that can be a separate betting market.
Ball-by-Ball Betting: Wagering on the outcome of a specific numbered ball (e.g., "Ball 4 will be between 30-40").
Sum Total: The combined total of all the main numbers drawn.
Pros & Cons of Lottery Betting
Pros:
You know the odds and payouts of this type of ticket. Unlike a traditional ticket, the jackpot amount never changes.
You don't need to claim your prizes: Winnings are paid directly into your betting account. You won't lose any tickets or have to go to a claim centre.
A wider range of bets is available. You don't have to match all the numbers. You can bet on specific outcomes.
Global Lotteries avaliable: Access draws from around the world from one single account.
Cons:
You don't win the official jackpot. If you bet on the right numbers, you'll win the fixed odds payout from the bookie, not a share of the multi-million-pound/euro lottery jackpot.
Most people will get paid less. While odds can offer great value, the bookmaker sets a limit on how much you can win. This is less than you could win on a progressive jackpot.
It's still a game of pure chance. It works the same as the lottery, where everything is random. No skill or analysis can influence the outcome.
Betting Markets for Lottery
Ball Number Markets: Betting on the value of a specific ball position (e.g., Ball 1 to be Under 10).
Odd/Even Total: Betting on whether the sum of the main numbers is an odd or even number.
High/Low Total: Betting on whether the sum of the main numbers is above or below a specified median.
Colour of the Bonus Ball: Predicting the colour group (often red/blue/green) of the bonus number.
Number Group Betting: Betting that a number from a specific range (e.g., 1-12, 13-24) will be drawn.
Match a Number: A bet that a specific number you choose (e.g., 7) will appear among the drawn numbers.
Popular Lotteries for Betting
EuroMillions: Bets on the 5 main numbers and 2 Lucky Stars from the pan-European draw.
UK National Lottery (Lotto): Bets on the 6 main numbers and the Bonus Ball.
Irish Lotto: Bets on the 6 main numbers from the Irish draw.
Powerball & Mega Millions (USA): Betting on the outcome of the iconic US lottery draws.
EuroJackpot: A popular European draw similar to EuroMillions
How do lottery betting odds work?
Lottery betting odds are fixed. They are set by the bookmaker. They are based on the mathematical probability of an event occurring in the official draw. For instance, the probability of the first ball being odd is approximately 50%, so you might see odds of around 1.90 for 'Ball 1 – Odd'. The odds of a specific number being drawn in any position are longer (e.g. 'Number 7 to be drawn' at odds of 6.00 in a 6/59 lottery). As with sports betting, the bookmaker builds a margin into these odds. Your payout is always your stake multiplied by the fixed odds you accepted.
Betting tips for lottery betting
The most important tip is to understand that this is not the real jackpot. When you bet, you're not entering a lottery; you're betting on an outcome. Be realistic.
Stick to Simple Markets: Markets like Odd/Even or High/Low have a 50/50 chance of happening, and you're more likely to win smaller amounts more often if you play here than if you try to predict specific numbers.
Set a very strict budget: Think of it as a form of entertainment where you might lose a lot of money, like playing a slot machine. Only spend money you don't need.
The odds for the same lottery market might be a bit different depending on which bookie you ask. It's worth checking for the best price.
No System Works: Every draw is completely random and independent. Past draws do not affect future ones. Don't follow any "strategy" that says otherwise.
Betting types
Single Bets: A wager on one specific outcome (e.g., "EuroMillions Ball 1 > 25").
Multiple Bets/Accumulators: Combining several lottery bets into one slip. All selections must win for the bet to pay out, multiplying the risk and potential return.
System Bets (Less Common): Some books may offer a way to cover multiple number combinations in a single bet, but this is functionally similar to a multiple.
Safe Gambling
Lottery betting is a type of gambling where the chances of winning are low, but the stakes are high. It is important to set a small, strict budget and think of any gambling money as entertainment, not an investment. Set the deposit limit tools to a very low amount for this particular area. Never chase losses or increase stakes after a win. The random nature of this process can be deceptive. If you think you're spending too much, or if you've spent more than you planned, use our tools to stop playing right away. This should be a fun, occasional activity, not something you do regularly.
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Lottery Betting FAQ
What is lottery betting?
Lottery betting is not buying a ticket. It's betting with a bookie on the outcome of an official draw.
What are the main types of lottery bets?
The most common types of bets are Single, where you pick one number that will be drawn; Colour, where you pick red or black in some games; Odd/Even, where you pick whether the number is odd or even; Over/Under, where you pick whether the total number of numbers will be higher or lower than a set number; and Jackpot Winner, where you pick the exact winning numbers.
What do I need to do to win a 'Single Number' bet?
You choose one number (e.g. 17) from the range of numbers available in the lottery. If that number is drawn as one of the winning numbers in that draw, your bet wins. You don't need to position it in a certain way.
What is the difference between betting on the 'Jackpot' and a 'Lotto Match'?
To win the jackpot, guess the main numbers right and in the right order. A Lotto Match bet, like "Match 3", wins if you predict a set number of balls from the draw, regardless of order.
Are the odds the same as if you bought a lottery ticket?
No, the odds and potential returns are set by the bookmaker, not the official lottery. They are usually similar, but the payouts can differ. Always check the odds on your betting slip.
What happens if a lottery draw is cancelled or deemed invalid
If the official draw is not completed or is declared void, all bets are typically void. We'll refund the money you paid to us back into your account. This rule is standard across bookmakers.