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Thunderball vs Set for Life
These two games offer very different dreams: Thunderball hands you a fixed lump sum, while Set for Life pays a monthly income for decades. Here’s how they compare.
Lump sum vs monthly income
| Thunderball | Set for Life | |
|---|---|---|
| Top prize | £500,000 lump sum | £10,000/month for 30 years |
| Top-prize odds | 1 in 8,060,598 | 1 in 15,339,390 |
| Line price | £1 | £1.50 |
| Draw days | Tue, Wed, Fri, Sat | Mon & Thu |
Which suits you?
Set for Life’s 30 years of £10,000 a month totals £3.6 million — far more than Thunderball’s £500,000 — but it’s spread over decades and the odds are longer. Thunderball gives you a better chance and money in one go. It comes down to whether you’d prefer a lump sum now or a guaranteed income over time.
More detail
See Thunderball odds and Set for Life odds, and for how annuity prizes work, what a lottery annuity is.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between Thunderball and Set for Life?
Thunderball pays a fixed £500,000 lump sum; Set for Life pays £10,000 a month for 30 years.
Which has better odds?
Thunderball’s top-prize odds (1 in 8,060,598) are shorter than Set for Life’s (1 in 15,339,390).
Which is better value?
It depends whether you’d prefer a lump sum or a long-term monthly income.
Related guides: Thunderball odds, Set for Life odds and what a lottery annuity is.