french lotto

About the French Loto

Since its launch in 1976, the French Loto lottery has produced millionaires by paying substantial non-jackpot prize money. It’s become one of the most popular games offered by the Française des Jeux (FDJ), the operators for all French lottery games.

 

Playing the lottery with French Loto means that you stand the chance of winning a minimum jackpot of €2 million. Each time the draw doesn’t produce a jackpot winner, it rolls over to the next draw, and the operator adds €1 million to the pool. The prize could roll over up to 34 times. 

 

Though the odds of winning the jackpot lie around 1:19,068,840, it would still be a life-changing win. You’ll also find overall odds of 1:5.99 in winning a prize with the French Loto lottery. Either way, you could be a winner. Here are a few FAQs to help you get started.

French Loto FAQ

Who Can Play French Loto?

Anyone of the legal gambling age can play. There are more restricted locations. Players from anywhere in the world can choose French Loto lottery numbers and stand a chance to win the prizes offered in each draw.

Who Won the Biggest Jackpot?

From all the French Loto lottery winners, the biggest jackpot won was in June 2011. It was worth €24 million and won by a single ticket holder. 

What Are the Chances of Winning the Lottery?

To win, you need to have drawn all five main French Loto lottery numbers plus the chance number. The statistical odds of this occurrence is 1 in 19,068,840.

How Do You Play the French Loto Lottery?

All players choose five numbers from 1 to 49 and a chance number from 1 to 10. Each ticket costs €2.20. If you have a ticket that matches all six of the drawn numbers, you’ll win the top prize. There are also other prizes such as a €2.20 reimbursement if you match the chance number only and €100,000 if you match all five of the main numbers. You can use the French Loto lottery ticket scanner to check if you qualify for any prizes. 

When Is the French Loto Usually Drawn?

The French Loto draw takes place on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday evenings at 20:35 CET. It is vital to note that the ticket sales end at 8 pm, just before the draw occurs. 

When Does the Mega Millions Drawing Take Place?

The Mega Millions draw for the French Loto lottery results takes place on Fridays. 

How Does the Second Chance Lottery Operate?

After the results of the French Loto lottery are released, there is the 2nd draw. For an extra fee of €0.80, players stand a chance to win €100,000 thanks to the 2nd draw. During the 2nd draw, another set of winning numbers between 1 and 49 are drawn. There are prizes for matching between two and five numbers. However, players must enter the main French Loto draw, and the prize is fixed and does not ever roll over. 

How to Cash in Lottery Tickets, and Will I Pay Taxes?

If you have a physical ticket, you have 60 days to collect your prizes. If you played online via the French Loto lottery app in France, your winnings would be paid to either your player or bank account after security checks. French Loto prizes are tax-free lump sums. However, they may be liable for taxes in your country so ensure that you check with your local financial advisor. 

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