Odds of Winning Set for Life: Full Prize Breakdown
This is an editorial guide provided for information only. fortunegames.com is an online slots site and is not affiliated with, nor an agent of, the National Lottery, Allwyn or People's Postcode Lottery. Prizes, odds and ticket prices are set by the relevant operator and can change — always check the official site for the latest details.
Set for Life is the National Lottery's only annuity game — instead of a one-off jackpot, the top prize pays £10,000 every month for 30 years (a total of £3.6 million). Here are the odds for every tier and what each match is worth.
How Set for Life works
You choose five main numbers from 1–47 and one Life Ball from 1–10. Each line costs £1.50, and draws are held every Monday and Thursday at around 8pm (buy before the 7:30pm cut-off). There are eight prize tiers.
The full Set for Life prize table
| Match | Prize | Odds of winning |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Life Ball | £10,000 / month for 30 years | 1 in 15,339,390 |
| 5 numbers | £10,000 / month for 1 year | 1 in 1,704,377 |
| 4 + Life Ball | £250 | 1 in 156,524 |
| 4 numbers | £50 | 1 in 17,392 |
| 3 + Life Ball | £30 | 1 in 4,331 |
| 3 numbers | £20 | 1 in 481 |
| 2 + Life Ball | £10 | 1 in 260 |
| 2 numbers | £5 | 1 in 29 |
Your real chance of the top prize
The odds of winning £10,000 a month for 30 years are 1 in 15,339,390. That's shorter than Lotto's jackpot odds (1 in 45 million) but longer than Thunderball's (1 in 8 million). The appeal isn't the probability — it's the structure: a steady monthly income rather than a lump sum.
Odds of winning any prize
About 1 in 12.4 lines win something, though the great majority of those are the £5 and £10 tiers. The two top prizes are paid as monthly instalments, not as a lump sum, and there's no option to take the cash up front.
Frequently asked questions
What happens to the payments if a winner dies?
The remaining monthly payments typically pass to the winner's estate — the official rules set out the detail.
Is the income taxed?
No, the annuity payments are tax-free like other UK lottery prizes.
When are the draws?
Mondays and Thursdays, around 8pm.