Oz Lotto: Official Guide, Rules, Odds & How to Play
What is Oz Lotto?
Oz Lotto is one of Australia's most popular national lottery games, known for its massive jackpots and unique supplementary number system. Launched on February 26, 1994, it was Australia's first fully national lottery game.
Oz Lotto drawings are held every Monday at 8:30 pm AEST. Tickets cost $1.10 per play.
Did You Know?
Oz Lotto created Australian lottery history in 2012 when four winners shared a record Division 1 pool of $111,972,151.04 - one of the largest lottery prizes in Australian history!
How to play Oz Lotto?
Each Oz Lotto draw involves selecting 7 main numbers from 1 to 47, plus 3 supplementary numbers drawn from the remaining pool. You win the jackpot by matching all 7 main numbers.
The starting jackpot is $3 million and can grow to massive amounts through rollovers.
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Choose 7 main numbers from 1 to 47
- Remember supplementary numbers are drawn but only affect lower divisions
- Wait for the draw every Monday at 20:30 AEST
- Check all 10 numbers - 7 main + 3 supplementary
- Match your numbers and claim your prize!
Supplementary Numbers Explained
Supplementary numbers only matter for specific prize divisions. They help determine winners in Division 2, 4, and 7, but are NOT required to win the Division 1 jackpot. Think of them as bonus numbers that can boost your prize in lower divisions!
Odds to win Oz Lotto prizes
Oz Lotto offers 7 prize divisions with varying odds and prize allocations!
| Division | Winning Selections | Odds | Prize Fund |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Match 7 main numbers | 1 in 62,891,499 | 40% |
| 2 | Match 6 main + 1 supplementary | 1 in 2,994,834 | 2.2% |
| 3 | Match 6 main numbers | 1 in 242,825 | 2.6% |
| 4 | Match 5 main + 1 supplementary | 1 in 26,271 | 2.0% |
| 5 | Match 5 main numbers | 1 in 4,497 | 1.6% |
| 6 | Match 4 main numbers | 1 in 182 | 19.8% |
| 7 | Match 3 main + 1 supplementary | 1 in 71 | 31.8% |
Overall odds of winning any prize: 1 in 51
Prize Pool Distribution
Oz Lotto uses a percentage-based prize pool system. Here's how the prize fund is allocated:
Reality Check
The odds of winning Oz Lotto jackpot are extremely challenging! You're more likely to be struck by lightning (1 in 12,000) than to win the Division 1 prize. However, with 1 in 51 overall odds, you have a reasonable chance of winning any prize!
Oz Lotto Odds Calculations
Let's examine how the unique odds for Oz Lotto are calculated with its 7/47 matrix and supplementary number system.
Main Balls Odds
There are 47 numbers to pick from, and you choose 7. The number of ways to choose 7 numbers from 47 is:
That means there are over 62 million possible combinations for the main numbers alone.
Supplementary Numbers
Supplementary numbers are drawn from the remaining 40 balls after the 7 main numbers are selected:
Supplementary numbers only affect specific prize divisions and don't change the Division 1 jackpot odds.
Overall Division 1 Odds
Since supplementary numbers don't affect the jackpot:
So your jackpot odds are 1 in 62,891,499!
While the jackpot odds are challenging, Oz Lotto offers better overall odds (1 in 51) than many other major lotteries due to its multiple prize divisions.
Learn how to improve your odds of winning Oz Lotto with strategic play.
Winning vs Losing Combinations
After each Oz Lotto draw, the distribution of combinations is:
Winning Probability Calculations
In Oz Lotto, you pick 7 numbers from 1 to 47. The game also draws 2 supplementary numbers, but these only affect specific prize divisions. The number of combinations that win any prize after each draw is calculated as follows:
Total Number of Combinations
The total number of ways to choose 7 numbers from 47 is given by:
Winning Combinations Breakdown
Let's calculate all the winning combinations for each prize tier (note: supplementary numbers create additional winning scenarios):
| Prize Division | Winning Combinations | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Division 7 Match 3 + 1 Supplementary |
3,832,740 | \( \binom{7}{3} \times \binom{40}{2} \times \binom{2}{1} = 35 \times 780 \times 2 = 54,600 \) |
| Division 6 Match 4 numbers |
1,597,725 | \( \binom{7}{4} \times \binom{40}{3} = 35 \times 9,880 = 345,800 \) |
| Division 5 Match 5 numbers |
1,221,759 | \( \binom{7}{5} \times \binom{40}{2} = 21 \times 780 = 16,380 \) |
| Division 4 Match 5 + 1 Supplementary |
249,900 | \( \binom{7}{5} \times \binom{40}{1} \times \binom{2}{1} = 21 \times 40 \times 2 = 1,680 \) |
| Division 3 Match 6 numbers |
148,995 | \( \binom{7}{6} \times \binom{40}{1} = 7 \times 40 = 280 \) |
| Division 2 Match 6 + 1 Supplementary |
27,720 | \( \binom{7}{6} \times \binom{2}{1} = 7 \times 2 = 14 \) |
| Division 1 Match 7 numbers |
1 | \( \binom{7}{7} = 1 \) |
| Total Winning Combinations | 7,079,616 |
Non-Winning Combinations
Conclusion
Therefore, there are 7,079,616 combinations (11.26%) that win any prize in each Oz Lotto drawing, while 55,811,883 combinations (88.74%) win nothing.
Probability Insight
Your chance of winning ANY prize in Oz Lotto is approximately 1 in 8.9, which is significantly better than the Division 1 jackpot odds of 1 in 62.9 million! The supplementary numbers create additional winning opportunities in several divisions.
Supplementary Numbers System
Oz Lotto's unique supplementary number system creates more winning opportunities:
Division Prize Structure
Oz Lotto features 7 prize divisions with percentage-based prize pools:
Note: Oz Lotto starts with a A$3 million jackpot and offers excellent overall odds thanks to its supplementary number system. With 7 prize divisions and multiple ways to win, it provides great value for Australian lottery players.
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Explore Winning StrategiesNotable Changes & History
On May 11, 2022, Oz Lotto underwent significant changes to maintain game sustainability:
- Expanded Number Pool: Increased from 45 to 47 main numbers
- Added Supplementary: Increased from 2 to 3 supplementary numbers
- Odds Impact: Jackpot odds increased from 1 in 45M to 1 in 62.9M
- Prize Structure: Adjusted prize divisions and percentages
- Goal: Create larger, more impressive jackpots through rollovers
Oz Lotto made Australian lottery history:
- Record Jackpot: $111,972,151.04 total Division 1 pool
- Multiple Winners: Four lucky winners shared the historic prize
- National Excitement: Generated unprecedented public interest
- Media Coverage: Extensive coverage across Australian media
Major update on October 18, 2005:
- Seventh Number Added: Changed from 6/45 to 7/45 format
- Odds Adjustment: Significantly increased jackpot odds
- Enhanced Gameplay: More challenging but larger potential jackpots
- Player Response: Maintained popularity despite tougher odds
Oz Lotto launched as an Australian lottery pioneer:
- National Debut: Australia's first fully national lottery game
- Initial Format: Different matrix in early versions
- Operator: Launched by Tattersall's (now Tatts Group)
- Market Position: Positioned as premium national lottery option
