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Lotto Knowledge 31 July 2017
The Best Aussie Lotteries Compared
Which Australian Lottery Has the Best Odds?
Although we've always known that Aussies love to play lotto, we got a powerful reminder in January during US Powerball fever. The record-breaking jackpot just happened to coincide with our lauch. Therefore, having literally just opened our virtual doors, we quickly found ourselves overwhelmed by an unprecidented number of signups in a very short period of time. Once the press got hold of the story the situation got turbo-charged. The result was the busiest week in Lottoland's history, as customer service worked doubletime and our servers got so hot they nearly melted holes in the floor.
Of course with all the hype and attention it's easy to forget how hugely popular domestic lotteries have been, and the reasons for this popularity in the first place. So, we're going to compare the best Australian lotteries to see how they all measure up.
Australia's Most Popular Lotteries
So, what are the best Australian lotteries?
- Monday Lotto - Draw time: Monday 8.30pm AEST/9.30pm AEDT
- Oz Lotto - Draw time: Tuesday 8.30pm AEST/9.30pm AEDT
- Wednesday Lotto - Draw time: Wednesday 8.30pm AEST/9.30pm AEDT
- Powerball (Australia) - Draw time: Thursday 8.30pm AEST/9.30pm AEDT
- Saturday Lotto - Draw time: Saturday 8.30pm AEST/9.30pm AEDT
Odds of Winning Australian Jackpots
| Lottery | Jackpot Odds | Min. Jackpot | Record Jackpot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday Lotto | 1 : 8,145,060 | $1 Million | $1 Million |
| Oz Lotto | 1 : 45,379,620 | $2 Million | $111,972,151 (2012) |
| Wednesday Lotto | 1 : 8,145,060 | $1 Million | $1 Million |
| Powerball (Australia) | 1 : 76,676,600 | $3 Million | $71,809,241 (2014) |
| Saturday Lotto | 1 : 8,145,060 | $4 Million | $33 Million (2006) |
Odds of Winning Monday, Wednesday or Saturday Lotto
The most popular lotteries in Australia are the three standard 6/45 Lotto games. The Monday, Wednesday and Saturday Lotto are all essentially the same game, with the same game mechanics and same odds of 1 : 8,145,060. The only difference is that the Saturday Lotto offers bigger jackpots each week as well as regular Superdraws and Megadraws.
| Prize Division | Prize Odds |
|---|---|
| Division 1 | 1 : 8,145,060 |
| Division 2 | 1 : 678,755 |
| Division 3 | 1 : 36,689 |
| Division 4 | 1 : 733 |
| Division 5 | 1 : 297 |
| Division 6 | 1 : 144 |
| Any Prize | 1 : 85 |
Odds of Winning Oz Lotto
The Oz Lotto, Australia's most popular lotto, was launched in 1994. Originally it was pretty much the same as the Monday, Wednesday and Saturday games until 2005, when another number was added making it a 7/45 game. This obviously increased the odds enormously, but then so, too, did the jackpots. The odds of getting all seven numbers correct are 1 : 45,379,620.
| Oz Lotto Prize Division | Prize Odds |
|---|---|
| Division 1 | 1 : 45,379,620 |
| Division 2 | 1 : 3,241,401 |
| Division 3 | 1 : 180,078 |
| Division 4 | 1 : 29,602 |
| Division 5 | 1 : 3,340 |
| Division 6 | 1 : 154 |
| Division 7 | 1 : 87 |
| Any Prize | 1 : 55 |
Odds of Winning Powerball (Australia)
The Australian Powerball might not have the same sort of jackpot firepower as its American cousin (the record-breaking lottery which inspired the Aussie version) but it's still a solid lottery in its own right. In jackpot terms it takes second place on the Australian lottery leaderboard, just behind the Oz Lotto.
The odds of hitting the jackpot are 1 : 76,767,600, though it's the additional prize divisions you'll want to pay really close attention to - 1 : 4,040,400 for the second division and just 1 : 376,312 for division three! It also has the most ways to win of any of our Australian lotteries, with eight prize divisions in total!
| Australian Powerball Prize Division | Prize Odds |
|---|---|
| Division 1 | 1 : 76,676,600 |
| Division 2 | 1 : 4,040,400 |
| Division 3 | 1 : 376,312 |
| Division 4 | 1 : 19,806 |
| Division 5 | 1 : 9,123 |
| Division 6 | 1 : 641 |
| Division 7 | 1 : 480 |
| Division 8 | 1 : 110 |
Australia's Record Jackpots
The biggest jackpots in Australian lottery history:
| Lottery | Draw Number | Date Date | Division 1 Prize Pool |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oz Lotto | 977 | 6/11/2012 | $111,972,151 |
| Oz Lotto | 802 | 30/06/2009 | $106,549,985 |
| Oz Lotto | 951 | 8/05/2012 | $74,856,587 |
| Powerball | 953 | 21/08/2014 | $71,809,241 |
| Powerball | 1017 | 12/11/2015 | $70,000,000 |
| Oz Lotto | 1035 | 17/12/2013 | $70,000,000 |
| Powerball | 1025 | 7/01/2016 | $70,000,000 |
| Powerball | 885 | 2/05/2013 | $62,055,383 |
| Oz Lotto | 1122 | 18/08/2015 | $60,000,000 |
| Powerball | 629 | 5/06/2008 | $58,737,207 |
So What's the Best Lottery in Australia?
So, what's the best Australian lottery overall? Well that all depends on what you're looking for. If you want the best odds go with the Saturday Lotto, and its smaller siblings the Monday and Wednesday Lotto games. If you want the biggest jackpots then the Oz Lotto is the game for you. If, on the other hand, you're looking for a great all-round lottery game with lots of ways to win then your answer is the Australian Powerball.
Never miss a big jackpot - Bet on overseas lotteries on the go with the Lottoland App - available for iPhone and Android smartphones!
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by
Niall