How to win a Thunderball Jackpot

The Thunderball draw was first launched by the UK lottery operators Camelot on 12th June 1999.

How To Play Thunderball

There are two ways in which you can play Thunderball, either offline through a National Lottery retailer, or online. With either method, the process is the same:

Decide whether you are going to select your own numbers or take a lucky dip.

To select your own, choose 5 numbers from 1-39 on the main board, then choose 1 number from 1-14 from the Thunderball board.

Choose which draws and how many weeks you wish to enter.

Thunderball is drawn every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. Each selection of numbers will cost you £1 for each draw you enter.

Filling Out A Thunderball Payslip

Mark all your entry boxes with a thick horizontal line like this [-]
Don’t use red ink as it may not be picked up by the ticket machine
If you make a mistake, simply place a tick in the VOID box and start again on a new board.
You can enter up to 6 times on 1 Thunderball payslip by using all the available boards.

How Do You Win Thunderball?

With every Thunderball draw, 5 ‘Main’ numbers and 1 ‘Thunderball number is randomly drawn
If you match your 5 ‘Main’ numbers in any order with the 5 ‘Main’ numbers drawn, and then match your ‘Thunderball’ number with the ‘Thunderball’ number drawn, then you will win the top prize.

The top prize is fixed (apart from in exceptional circumstance) and it never has to be shared. If one week there were 3 winners of the top prize, then the top prize would be paid out 3 times.

If you aren’t fortunate enough to win the top prize, then there are a further 8 ways in which you could win a lesser prize. The table below shows the prize-winning combinations and the prizes associated with each combination.

Winning Numbers

Match 5 numbers and the Thunderball £500,000
Match 5 Numbers £5,000
Match 4 numbers and the Thunderball £250
Match 4 numbers £100
Match 3 numbers and the Thunderball £20
Match 3 numbers £10
Match 2 numbers and the Thunderball £10
Match 1 numbers and the Thunderball £5
Match the Thunderball £3

Checking Your Ticket

It’s important to check your ticket before you leave the retailer it to see that it matches the selection, the number of draws and the draw dates made on your payslip. Changes cannot be made after a draw has been made. You can keep your payslip to use another time but remember, payslips are not accepted as proof of a ticket purchase.

Keep Your Ticket Safe

Your ticket is your only proof of purchase so make sure you keep it in a safe place. See our tips on keeping your ticket safe

How To Claim Your Prize

UP TO £100 – Prizes of up to £100 can be claimed in cash from your local Lottery retailer. Some retailers will pay out on prizes up to £500 in cash, but they don’t have to. If your local lottery retailer can’t process your ticket, then you should contact The National Lottery Line on 08459 100 000 for information on how to claim your prize.

UP TO £50,000 – Most main lottery Post Offices are able to pay up to £50,000 by cheque. Winners can opt to receive the first £500 in cash if they choose. Winners will have to fill in a Prize Claim Form (available from your local.

Alternatively, for all prizes up to £50,000, you can send your ticket along with completed Prize Claim Form (if your prize is over £500) to The National Lottery, PO Box 287, Watford, Herts, WD18 9TT. Your prize will be paid out within five working days of receipt of the claim by cheque providing that there is no query with the ticket. It is the winner’s responsibility to get the ticket and claim form to The National Lottery. As such, it is highly recommended that should you choose to post your ticket and claim form, that you use ‘Special Deliver’ or some other form of insured postal service and that you ensure that.

Over £50,000 – Winners of prizes in excess of £50,000 must be claimed in person, and will be paid either by cheque or by direct credit into a current bank account. If this is you, contact The National Lottery Line on 08459 100 000 for information on how to claim your prize.

How Long Do I have To Claim A Prize?

Thunderball prizes must be claimed by producing the winning ticket within 180 days of the relevant draw date. Anyone claiming by telephone within the 180 day limit has a further 7 days after the expiry of the 180 days to claim their prize by attending a regional Centre along with the winning ticket, a completed Prize Claim Form and a current proof of identity. the conditions for claiming in this was include providing name, address and ticket number and telling Camelot that they intend to claim within the extra seven days. Thereafter, a claimant failing to meet the seven day deadline will forfeit their prize.