Lotto Online Game Procedures

Edition 20 Effective 1st February 2024

When Lotto is played online (including by Direct Debit or via the App), these Game Procedures (the “Procedures”), the Rules for Draw-Based Games Played Online (the “Rules”), any applicable Game Specific Rules and the Account Terms apply.

If there is any conflict between the documents, the Rules will take priority followed by any applicable Game Specific Rules, the Procedures, and then the Account Terms.

When Lotto is played at retailers, the Lotto Game Procedures set out in the Players' Guide, and the Rules for Draw-Based Games Played at Retailers (and any applicable Game Specific Rules) apply.

You can view all National Lottery Rules and Procedures on the National Lottery website. You can also ask for copies by calling our Customer Care Team on 0333 234 44 33^∞ (please see the Telephone Enquiries section for call charges), or by writing to The National Lottery, PO Box 251, Watford WD18 9BR.

All words and phrases in these Procedures that begin with a capital letter and have specific meaning are explained below or in Section (I).

Contents

• (A) Playing Lotto online

  • (1) Lotto costs £2 to play and Lotto Draws take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
  • (2) To play Lotto on the Site or App, You should fill in the interactive play slip for Lotto by following the instructions provided.
  • (3) A ‘week’, when mentioned in the number of weeks section, will start on the first available Wednesday or Saturday Lotto Draw that Your Lotto Entry is entered into and will end immediately before (and excluding) the Lotto Draw on the same day of the following calendar week.
  • (4) If You have used Your Account to buy a Lotto Entry and Your Selection is not shown in Your “My account” section of the Site or App, then that Selection will not have been entered into any Lotto Draw.

• (B) How to win

  • (1) If Your Lotto Entry matches two or more of the Main Numbers You will win a Prize in the highest relevant Lotto Prize category, providing the requirements of the Rules and these Procedures are met.
  • (2) If Your Lotto Entry matches two of the Main Numbers You will win a Prize of a free Lotto Lucky Dip. Your Lotto Lucky Dip will be entered into the Lotto Draw taking place after the Lotto Draw You won the Lucky Dip in. We will let You know that You have won and give You the option to decide which Lotto Draw You would like any future Match 2 Lotto Prizes to be entered into (next Lotto Draw, next Wednesday Lotto Draw or next Saturday Lotto Draw).

• (C) Prize categories, Prizes and odds of winning

  • (1) The table below sets out and explains the Prize categories, the approximate odds of winning and the Prize value for each Prize category.

  Prize table

  Prize Categories	Approximate Odds of Winning	Prize (subject to Prize capping explained in Section (E) below)
  Match 6* / Jackpot	1:45,057,474	Jackpot 9.79% of sales for a Lotto Draw is allocated to the Jackpot All of the amount available for the Jackpot in the previous Lotto Draw may also be added to the allocation for the Jackpot if there are no Winning Lotto Entries in the Jackpot category in that previous Lotto Draw (subject to Section (D)(2) and Prize capping)
  Match 5* + Bonus Ball	1:7,509,579	£1,000,000
  Match 5*	1:144,415	£1,750
  Match 4*	1:2,180	£140
  Match 3*	1:96.2	£30
  Match 2*	1:10.3	One Lotto Lucky Dip (with a value of £2)
  Any Lotto prize	1:9.3

  * from a Lotto Entry to the Main Numbers

  • (2) The value of the Jackpot will depend on the number of Lotto Entries sold. The Prize awarded for each Winning Lotto Entry in the Jackpot Prize category will depend on the number of Lotto Entries sold and the number of Lotto Entries that match six Main Numbers. However, subject to capping explained in Section (E) below, Allwyn will top up the Jackpot so that each Winning Lotto Entry in the Jackpot Prize category receives at least £1million. For example, if there are five Winning Lotto Entries in the Jackpot Prize category in a Lotto Draw, but the Jackpot available to be won is only £4.5million, Allwyn will top up the Jackpot to £5million so that each Winning Lotto Entry receives a Prize of £1million.
  • (3) All Lotto Prizes, except the Jackpot, are fixed Prizes subject to Prize capping (see Section (E) below). Prizes in the Jackpot category (and any capped Prizes) will be rounded down to the nearest £1.

• (D) The Reserve Fund and Rollovers

  • (1) On average, 50% of Lotto sales will be available to be paid out in Lotto Prizes, with 8.78% of that 50% being put into a reserve fund (the “Reserve Fund”). The Reserve Fund can be used for any Lotto Draw promotions, for example increasing the Prize available in any or all Prize categories (excluding Match 2) or doubling all Prizes (except Match 2 and the Jackpot). It can also be used in very limited circumstances agreed with the Commission to top up certain Lotto Prizes.
  • (2) The Jackpot can roll five times.

  If the Jackpot is not won in the fifth Rollover Lotto Draw (known as the “Must Be Won Draw”), it will be distributed in the following way:

  • (a) each Winning Lotto Entry in the Match 2 Prize category will receive £5 in addition to their usual Lotto Lucky Dip; and
  • (b) any money left over after paying all Winning Lotto Entries in the Match 2 Prize category £5 will be distributed to the remaining cash Prize categories in the percentages set out in the table below, provided there are Winning Lotto Entries in all of those cash Prize categories. If there are no Winning Lotto Entries in any of the Prize categories listed in the table below, the Jackpot in the Must Be Won Draw will be distributed amongst those cash Prize categories in which there are Winning Lotto Entries, in the percentages agreed by Allwyn and the Commission.

  Prize table

  Prize categories	Allocation of Jackpot by Prize category
  Match 5 + Bonus Ball	3%
  Match 5	5%
  Match 4	7%
  Match 3	85%

  • (3) If there is a Lotto promotion on the same day as a Must Be Won Draw, the Lotto promotion mechanic will be applied first.
  • (4) Allwyn can designate any Lotto Draw a Must Be Won Draw for promotional purposes. Allwyn will advertise details of any such Must Be Won Draw in advance of it taking place.

• (E) Prize capping

  • (1) Prize capping takes place in very rare circumstances - for example, when popular number combinations are drawn resulting in there being more Winning Lotto Entries than Allwyn is able to pay Prizes for. If Prize capping takes place, the actual Prizes won for matching 3, 4 and 5 Main Numbers, and 5 Main Numbers + the Bonus Ball may be less than stated. The Jackpot Prize per Winning Lotto Entry may also be capped. How Lotto cash Prizes may be capped is explained in more detail below.
  • (2) Match 3 to Match 5 + Bonus Ball Prize Capping: Prizes in these Prize categories will be capped in very rare cases and only if the Capped Prize Fund (which is an amount equal to 35.82% of the sales for a Lotto Draw, plus an amount agreed by Allwyn and the Commission (being £35million)) is not enough to award Winning Lotto Entries in the Match 2 to Match 5 + Bonus Ball Prize categories the Prizes stated in the table in Section (C)(1) above. In these circumstances, all Winning Lotto Entries in the Match 2 to Match 5 + Bonus Ball Prize categories will be awarded a Prize of £2 or its equivalent in the form of a Lotto Lucky Dip Entry for Match 2 Prize winners. This means that whilst the number of Match 2 Prizes in a Lotto Draw forms part of the capping calculation, Match 2 Prizes will never be capped and will always be awarded in full.
  • (3) If there is any money left in the Capped Prize Fund after paying the £2 Prizes (or its equivalent) to all Winning Lotto Entries in the Match 2 to Match 5 + Bonus Ball Prize categories, the remaining money in the Capped Prize Fund will be used to pay up to a further £28 to all Winning Lotto Entries in the Match 3 to Match 5 + Bonus Ball Prize categories. If there is any money left in the Capped Prize Fund after paying the further £28, the remaining money will be used to pay up to a further £110 to all Winning Lotto Entries in the Match 4 to Match 5 + Bonus Ball Prize categories. If there is any money left in the Capped Prize Fund after paying the further £110, the remaining money will be used to pay up to a further £1610 to all Winning Lotto Entries in the Match 5 to Match 5 + Bonus Ball Prize categories. If there is any money remaining in the Capped Prize Fund following that payment, the remainder will be divided equally amongst the Winning Lotto Entries in the Match 5 + Bonus Ball Prize category.
  • (4) Jackpot Prize capping: The amount of money available to top up each Winning Lotto Entry in the Jackpot Prize category to £1million is limited to £7million. In the very unlikely event that £7million is not sufficient to top up each Winning Lotto Entry to £1million then the amount available for distribution amongst Winning Lotto Entries in the Jackpot Prize category will be the Jackpot plus £7million, and the Prize per Winning Lotto Entry in the Jackpot Prize category will be less than £1million.
  • (5) The amount available to fund Lotto Draw promotions may also be capped, as agreed with the Commission. Details will be available on the Site in advance of the relevant promotion.

• (F) Cancelling a Lotto Entry

  • (1) You cannot cancel a Lotto Entry bought on the Site or App after You have accepted the Selection(s) displayed on the "Confirm Play Slip" screen of the Site or App. You cannot cancel Lotto Match 2 Prizes.
  • (2) If You get two or more Lucky Dip Selections for the same Lotto Draw that contain the same six numbers, You should telephone our Customer Care Team within 120 minutes of buying the relevant Lotto Entry(ies), or before the close of sales for that Lotto Draw, whichever is the earlier. Allwyn may then, at its discretion and following investigation, refund into Your Account an amount equal to the cost of the duplicate Lotto Entry(ies).

• (G) Cancelled Draws

  • (1) If Allwyn becomes aware that the Lotto Draw after the next Lotto Draw will be a Cancelled Draw, then in that next Lotto Draw (before the Cancelled Draw), if there is no Jackpot winner, the Must Be Won Draw mechanic explained in Section (D)(2) above will apply (as appropriate). Lotto Lucky Dips will be awarded to all Winning Lotto Entries in the Match 2 Prize category.

• (H) Postponement

  • (1) Where Allwyn considers it reasonable to do so, it may postpone a Lotto Draw for as long as it considers to be appropriate in the circumstances. In that case (by way of example only, where there has been a significant disruption to the sale of Lotto tickets) Allwyn may continue to sell tickets for that Lotto Draw beyond the normal Draw break for that Lotto Draw.

• (I) Definitions

  Account:

  An account maintained by a Player on Allwyn's Computer System.

  Allwyn:

  Allwyn Entertainment Ltd, a company registered in England & Wales.

  Allwyn’s Computer System:

  The computer systems used by or on behalf of Allwyn from time to time to operate National Lottery games, administer Accounts, facilitate Lotto Entries and pay Prizes.

  App:

  The National Lottery Android and/or iOS application.

  Bonus Number:

  The one number randomly selected immediately after the Main Numbers have been selected.

  Cancelled Draw(s):

  Any Lotto Draw which does not take place because of the expiry, suspension or withdrawal of either Allwyn's licence from the Commission to run The National Lottery or Allwyn's licence from the Commission to promote Lotto.

  Commission:

  The Gambling Commission (being the body appointed to regulate The National Lottery) or any other body appointed to regulate The National Lottery from time to time.

  Customer Care Team:

  Allwyn's helpline for interactive Players, contact details of which are set out at the end of these Procedures. See the Site for the Customer Care Team’s current opening hours.

  Lotto Draw:

  The process which results in the random selection by Allwyn of a set of seven winning numbers for Lotto.

  Lotto Entry:

  A Selection for entry into a Lotto Draw which has been registered as an entry on Allwyn's Computer System.

  Lotto Prize:

  A prize won by an eligible player in one of the Match 2 to Match 6 (Jackpot) prize categories in a Lotto Draw.

  Lucky Dip:

  Six different numbers which are randomly selected by Allwyn's Computer System on Your behalf for entry into a Lotto Draw.

  Main Numbers:

  The first six numbers randomly chosen in a Lotto Draw.

  Multi-draw:

  The ability for You to buy the same Selections for a number of weeks.

  Must Be Won Draw:

  Has the meaning given to it in Section (D)(2).

  Prize:

  A prize won by an eligible player in a Lotto Game.

  Reserve Fund:

  Has the meaning given to it in Section (D)(1) above.

  Rollover:

  The Lotto Draw immediately after a Lotto Draw in which the Jackpot (Match 6 Prize) is not won. The rules about Rollovers are stated under the table in Section (D)(2) above.

  Selection:

  One set of six numbers chosen by You for entry into a Lotto Draw, or a Lucky Dip for a Lotto Draw.

  Site:

  The website national-lottery.co.uk.

  Validation Requirements:

  Allwyn’s Entry validation requirements referred to in Rule 6 of the Rules or as otherwise determined by Allwyn from time to time.

  Winning Lotto Entry:

  A Lotto Entry which entitles You to a Prize and which meets all the Validation Requirements.

  You:

  The holder of an Account who is eligible to buy Lotto Entries using that Account, and whose Account (and/or Direct Debit, as applicable) has not been terminated, cancelled, suspended or closed.

• Contact Numbers and Addresses

  Telephone Enquiries:

  Customer Care Team: 0333 234 44 33^∞ (0370 737 3983 for complaints).

  For the hard of hearing using Minicom equipment, please call 0370 737 8249.

  Calls cost no more than calls to 01 and 02 numbers. If your phone tariff offers inclusive calls to landlines, calls to 03 numbers will be included on the same basis.

  E-mail

  help@national-lottery.co.uk

  Website

  www.national-lottery.co.uk

  General Written Enquiries:

  The National Lottery
  PO Box 251
  Watford
  WD18 9BR

  National Lottery Regional Centre Addresses:

  Watford (Allwyn’s Head Office)

  The National Lottery
  Tolpits Lane
  Watford
  Hertfordshire
  WD18 9RN
  Tel: 01923 425000

  Liverpool

  The National Lottery
  5 Tiger Court
  Kings Drive
  Kings Business Park
  Prescot
  Knowsley
  Liverpool
  L34 1BH
  Tel: 0151 236 1796

  © Gambling Commission 2024