EuroMillions Mega-Jackpots set to rollover even longer

Last week, Camelot who along with their European partners operate the EuroMillions lottery, announced a change to the way in which the EuroMillions jackpot cap is calculated.

In May 2010, the maximum amount a EuroMillions jackpot could reach was €180million. Once the jackpot reached that level, it was won by ether one or more players matching the five main numbers and the two lucky stars. If there were no players that fitted that category, the jackpot was shared amongst those in the next level down where there was at least one winner. On each occasion that the jackpot reached its cap and was won, the cap was increased by €5million. Since that time the cap has been reached twice and is today standing at €190million.

EuroMillions have now come up with a calculation to keep the excitement of these massive jackpots going even longer. As from the 17^th February 2012, one the first occasion that the EuroMillions jackpot reaches €190million and there is no player that matches all seven numbers, the jackpot will rollover to the next week and remain at €190million. The jackpot can only remain at this level for a maximum of two consecutive draws. If the jackpot isn’t won after the second consecutive draw, then the winnings will be distributed amongst those with winning tickets in the next lower winning prize category. Typically this would be those matching 5 main numbers and one lucky star.

In the event of a capped jackpot rolling over to a second week and remaining at €190million, the additional prize money that would have usually increased the jackpot level, will be rolled down to the next level where there is at least one winner, thereby increasing the amount that can be won at that level.

This could mean a player matching five main numbers and only one lucky star becoming a multimillionaire as well as the jackpot winner.

Sorry I couldn’t have explained this in a little less text but whilst it isn’t complicated, all scenarios had to be covered. Overall, I think this is a good thing. We do all seem to get caught up in the excitement of these huge jackpots and we all like to read about the outright winners rather that those who share the jackpot winning far smaller amounts.

I’ve started saving already for extra lottery tickets into these mammoth jackpots when they come around.