EuroMillions Jackpot Soars to £201 Million Ahead of Tonight’s Draw

Tonight’s EuroMillions lottery draw is set to reach an estimated £201 million, marking one of the largest jackpots in recent history. This substantial prize comes after the previous draw on March 12, 2024, resulted in no ticket matching the jackpot numbers. A player from the UK did achieve a notable win, securing £680,767 by matching five numbers and one Lucky Star.

The winning numbers for the EuroMillions draw are 18, 28, 42, 46, and 48, with the Lucky Stars being 03 and 09. In the EuroMillions Hotpicks, which utilizes the same draw numbers, no tickets matched all five numbers to claim the £1,000,000 prize. However, three players matched four numbers, each taking home £30,000.

In a related draw, the National Lottery Thunderball numbers for March 12, 2024, were 21, 29, 34, 36, and 38, with the Thunderball being 08. No one won the £500,000 top prize, but one player matched five numbers to win £5,000.

Strategies for Increasing Your Winning Odds

Many players turn to familiar patterns, such as birthdays and anniversaries, which can limit their number choices. Dr. John Haigh, an emeritus reader in mathematics at the University of Sussex, suggests a different approach. He encourages players to select numbers across the full range up to 50. Choosing six random numbers that total at least 200 can help minimize the likelihood of sharing a jackpot.

Dr. Haigh notes that players often avoid clustering numbers, opting instead for evenly spread selections. He advises clustering two or three numbers together, as this could reduce the chance of multiple winners. Additionally, he warns against reusing numbers from previous draws, as many others may do the same, diminishing the uniqueness of a selection.

Interestingly, the number 13 is commonly avoided by players, but it ranks as the seventh most-picked number. The most frequently chosen numbers are 7, 3, 5, 6, 4, 2, 13, 9, 11, and 12.

Previous Unclaimed Wins Highlight Importance of Vigilance

In a notable incident from November 2, 2018, a winning EuroMillions ticket worth over £76 million went unclaimed for weeks. The ticket was purchased in a shop in Boston and Skegness, but it remained undiscovered until Andrew Clark eventually claimed it. He found the ticket tucked away in his van’s visor, where it had stayed hidden for over a month.

Had he not been prompted by his partner to check the pile of tickets, the substantial prize—along with any interest accrued—would have contributed to funding various National Lottery projects across the UK. This case underscores the importance of checking tickets and considering online purchasing options.

Playing online not only ensures that tickets are not lost but also allows players to set up direct debits, making it easier to participate consistently. Furthermore, online systems notify players automatically of any winnings, providing peace of mind.

With the EuroMillions jackpot climbing to £201 million, players across the UK and beyond will be eagerly anticipating the results of tonight’s draw. Whether through careful number selection or simply luck, many will be hoping to change their fortunes in this high-stakes lottery.