Have you ever wondered how the bonus ball works in the UK Lotto?
It’s a key part of the game that can play a significant role in boosting your potential winnings.
If you play the UK Lotto, you choose six numbers from 1 to 59. But during the draw, there’s an extra ball—known as the bonus ball—drawn from the remaining numbers. While it doesn’t affect the main jackpot, matching it with five of your chosen numbers can help you win a larger prize.
Understanding how the bonus ball works is straightforward, but it can make a big difference when it comes to your overall experience. Let’s dive in and break it down step by step.
What Is The Bonus Ball in Lotto?
The bonus ball in the UK Lotto is an additional number that’s drawn after the six main numbers. It’s picked from the remaining numbers, giving players a second chance to increase their prize potential.
While the bonus ball doesn't influence the main jackpot, it comes into play if you’ve matched five of the six main numbers. In this case, if the bonus ball is one of your selected numbers, you can win a higher prize than you would with just five matches alone.
It’s important to remember that the bonus ball is only relevant if you’ve already matched five main numbers. It doesn’t contribute towards the jackpot, but it can still help boost your potential winnings if you’re close to hitting the top prize.
There’s only one bonus ball drawn per Lotto game, and it offers that extra opportunity for players aiming to try to improve their outcome. Understanding how the bonus ball fits into the overall structure of the UK Lotto can give you a better grasp of how the game works.
Does Bonus Ball Count In Lotto?
In the UK Lotto, the bonus ball does count, but only under specific circumstances. It doesn’t affect the main jackpot, which is won by matching all six main numbers. However, the bonus ball becomes important if you match five of the main numbers. In this case, if your remaining number also matches the bonus ball drawn, it can increase your prize.
To clarify, the bonus ball does not contribute to any winnings if you’ve matched fewer than five of the main numbers. Its role is purely to offer a better prize to those who’ve already matched five numbers, giving an extra layer to the game’s payout structure.
While it isn’t as impactful as matching all six numbers for the jackpot, it can still help improve your potential winnings in specific prize tiers. So, while the bonus ball isn't involved in every prize level, it does count if you're close to hitting the top prize. Understanding how the bonus ball works gives you a clearer picture of what to expect when playing the UK Lotto.
How Much Does a Bonus Ball Pay?
The amount paid if you match the bonus ball in the UK Lotto depends on how many main numbers you’ve matched alongside it. The bonus ball only comes into play if you’ve matched five of the six main numbers. If this happens, and your sixth number matches the bonus ball, you qualify for a higher prize tier.
While the exact payout for matching five numbers plus the bonus ball can vary depending on ticket sales and the number of winners, it’s typically a significant step up from just matching five numbers alone.
This prize is often one of the larger amounts, sitting just below the jackpot in terms of value. To get an idea of what this could mean, the five-number match without the bonus ball tends to pay around £1,750, while adding the bonus ball can potentially boost that figure into tens of thousands.
However, it's important to note that the bonus ball does not impact other prize categories, such as matching fewer than five numbers. So, while it can offer a more rewarding prize, it only does so in very specific situations. Understanding how much you could potentially win with the bonus ball can help make the game clearer and more enjoyable to follow.
How Much Do You Win For 5 Numbers And The Bonus Ball?
If you match five numbers plus the bonus ball in the UK Lotto, you can win a substantial prize, often up to £1 million.
This prize is the second-highest in the game, just below the jackpot, and is reserved for those who match five of the main numbers as well as the bonus ball drawn. The amount won can vary slightly depending on factors such as ticket sales and the number of winners in that specific draw, but it typically falls within this upper range.
To put it simply, matching five numbers without the bonus ball can potentially lead to a decent payout, but if the bonus ball is part of the combination, it boosts the prize to a much more significant amount. While this prize doesn't guarantee reaching the jackpot, it’s one of the highest possible wins in the UK Lotto, potentially giving you a major payout if you're close, but don’t quite hit all six numbers.
Remember that the bonus ball only matters if you’ve already matched five numbers, and it can provide a sizeable win if everything lines up.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.