Lotteries

Lotteries betting & odds

Lotteries are a hugely popular type of gambling where you buy a ticket and pick some numbers. A draw takes place and if enough of your numbers match the balls that come up, you’ll win. The more you match, the bigger the payout. Here at Paddy Power, you can’t buy tickets for lotteries, though you can bet on their outcomes thanks to lotteries betting.

The most popular Lotteries betting markets include UK 49s, Daily Millions, Irish Lotto, New York Lotto.

This is where you bet on lotteries and predict which number(s) will come up. For each lottery, you can bet on one to five numbers, with Paddy Power determining the odds for the bets. The more numbers they include, the higher the odds. For your bet to win, all the numbers that it covers have to appear in the draw. If your bet includes three numbers but only two come up, you won’t win.

How do Lotteries odds work?

When you bet on lotteries, the odds work just like they do in normal sports betting. The number on the right is your bet, while the number on the left is your winnings. Let’s say you bet on a single number and the odds are 5/1. If you win, you’ll receive your original bet back and your winnings will be 5x the size of your bet.

For each lottery, you can bet on one to five numbers. The more numbers your bet includes, the higher the odds. If you want to bet on the UK 49s, for example, a single-number bet has odds of 6/1, while for a two-number bet, the odds increase to 53/1. The actual numbers you pick for your bets don’t affect the odds; it’s how many you pick that matters.

It’s also worth mentioning that the odds for the same bet vary from one lottery to the next. This is because lotteries don’t all use the same number of balls. The New York Lotto, to give an example, uses 59 numbers and a single-number bet has odds of 8/1. The Spanish Primitiva uses 49 numbers, offering lower odds of 6/1 for a bet on just one number.

When placing bets on lotteries, always bear the lotteries odds in mind. The general idea is that the greater they are, the less likely your bet is to win, but the more it will pay out if it wins.

What Lotto types can I bet on?

We’ve already mentioned several lotteries that you can bet on at Paddy Power. Below is a full list of the current options along with how many balls each one uses.

· Irish Lotto - 47 balls

· Daily Millions - 39 balls

· UK 49s - 49 balls

· New York Lotto - 59 balls

· Spanish Primitiva - 49 balls

For all five lotteries, the number of balls drawn in a standard round is seven. This includes six regular balls and one that is the bonus ball. Going back to lotteries odds, since all games have the same number of balls drawn, the lower the number, the better the odds. The Daily Millions, for example, has the smallest number of balls (39) and therefore has the lowest odds (5/1 for a single-number bet).

It’s worth pointing out that the lotteries don’t all have the same number of draws in a typical week; the time that draws take place can also vary. Whenever you visit Paddy Power, you can place a bet on one or more upcoming draws for the lotteries even if they’re a few days away.

How to bet on Lotteries with Paddy Power?

Paddy Power makes it very easy for people to place bets on lotteries. Below you’ll find a simple step-by-step guide to placing a lotteries bet on our site.

1. Create an account with Paddy Power if you don't have one already

2. Deposit some money into your Paddy Power account

3. Head to the Lotteries section

4. Select one of the lotteries

5. Pick an upcoming draw

6. Choose up to five numbers*

7. Confirm your bet and it will appear on your betting slip

8. Enter a bet size, double-check everything and click to place the bet.

*Or use the Quick Pick feature to have Paddy Power choose up to five numbers at random for you.

After placing your bet, you’ll have to wait for the draw to take place. This can be on the same day or in a few days’ time. When it happens, your bet will win if all the numbers it covers come up.

While Paddy Power offers a range of real money online gambling opportunities, we always want our customers to be sensible when it comes to gambling. Lotteries betting can be a lot of fun and can be rewarding if you’re lucky. Only spend what you can afford and never expect to win. When placing your bet, come up with a bet size that’s sensible and within your means.