EuroMillions

EuroMillions is a popular pan European lottery played by millions across Europe every week. EuroMillions was launched in 2004 by the Francaise des Jeux, The Spanish Loterias y Apuestas Del Estado and Camelot, operator of the UK National Lottery. EuroMillions drawings are held every Friday night at 20:35 GMT and EuroMillions tickets cost 2.00 euros. (About $2.44 USD at current exchange rates) EuroMillions also offers players a 'plus' option and tickets are €3.00 ($3.67) if the plus option is used.

EuroMillions is played similar to most US lotteries. Players select a series of five numbers from 1 through 50 and two 'Lucky Star' numbers from 0 through 9. EuroMillions offers a 'Lucky Dip' option similar to the 'quick pick' option in the US where a random number generator picks the player's numbers. On each EuroMillions lottery ticket is a 'No. of Weeks' section which allows EuroMillions players to play the same set of numbers for up to four weeks. EuroMillions sells online lottery tickets and European lottery players appreciate the convenience and ease of online lottery ticket purchases. Players who buy a EuroMillions ticket at a lottery terminal can only collect their winnings in the country where the ticket was purchased. Online EuroMillions tickets are not subject to this restriction.

UK based EuroMillions players can buy online EuroMillions tickets at the UK National Lottery website or at lottery terminals located throughout the country. EuroMillions used two separate draw machines containing numbered balls. The machine containing fifty balls is known as Stresa and the one containing nine balls is known as Paquerette. The use of two draw machines in unique to EuroMillions. In May of 2009 a 26 year old Spanish woman became the largest single jackpot winner in European history! The lucky woman took home a EuroMillions jackpot of €126 million Euros. ($154,108,177 USD) Keep in mind that all EuroMillions jackpots are totally tax free except in Switzerland. Unlike US lotteries where taxes can easily eat up half of the jackpot this lucky young woman got to keep every penny of the jackpot!

You don't have to live in Europe to play EuroMillions. Online lottery tickets can be purchased for EuroMillions but if you win you will probably have to go to Europe to collect but who would object to a European vacation to collect Millions of Euros tax free? EuroMillions results can be found online for non European players and most lottery websites post EuroMillions results minutes after the drawings. EuroMillions is one of the most exciting lotteries in the world and thanks to the internet anyone can play and win EuroMillions!