This is an editorial guide provided for information only. Prize amounts and rules are set by the National Lottery operator and were correct at the time of writing under the June 2026 game changes — always check the official National Lottery site for current prizes. fortunegames.com is not affiliated with the National Lottery or Allwyn.
Does 1 Number and the Bonus Ball Win Anything on Lotto?
The straight answer: no. One main number plus the Bonus Ball wins nothing on Lotto — and neither does two, three or four numbers plus the Bonus. The Bonus Ball only ever matters if you’ve matched five main numbers, where it turns £1,000 into a fixed £1 million.
What the Bonus Ball actually does
After the six main balls are drawn in each round, a seventh — the Bonus Ball — comes out of the same machine. It exists for exactly one purpose: separating the Match 5 tier (£1,000) from Match 5 + Bonus (£1 million). At every other level of the game it is decoration, which is why so many near-miss tickets feel like winners and aren’t.
Where prizes actually start
Under the rules introduced on 7 June 2026, Lotto prizes begin at two main numbers, worth £1 per round — and every £2 line now plays two rounds, so there are two chances per ticket. Three numbers pays £10 per round, four pays £50, five pays £1,000, and five plus the Bonus the £1 million. One main number, with or without the Bonus, has never been a winning Lotto ticket in any era of the game.
The game where one ball does pay
If you like the idea of a single ball winning something, that game exists — it’s Thunderball, where matching the Thunderball alone pays £3 and one main number plus the Thunderball pays £5. The Thunderball is drawn from its own separate pool and unlocks prizes at every level, which is precisely what Lotto’s Bonus Ball doesn’t do.
Checking your ticket properly
Count your main number matches first; only if you reach five does the Bonus Ball matter at all. Online tickets are checked and paid automatically, so no genuine win can slip past — the Bonus Ball confusion only costs people hope, never money.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Bonus Ball count with 2, 3 or 4 numbers?
No — those tiers pay the same with or without it. The Bonus Ball only affects Match 5.
What is Match 5 plus the Bonus worth?
A fixed £1 million per round under the 2026 rules — never shared, paid in full to every winner.
Why does Lotto even draw a Bonus Ball?
Solely to create the £1 million tier between £1,000 and the jackpot — it has no other role in the game.
Is there a lottery game where one ball wins?
Yes — Thunderball pays £3 for the Thunderball alone and £5 for one number plus it.
Related guides: what 5 numbers wins, what 2 numbers wins and the full Lotto prize breakdown.