Editorial note: this guide is general information about how competitions, lotteries and gambling work in the UK. It is not advice, and it does not describe any specific promotion offered by Fortune Games. Rules, prices and regulations can change, so always check the operator’s current terms.
What is the lottery bonus ball?
In UK Lotto, the bonus ball is an extra seventh number drawn after the six main balls. It only affects one prize tier — lifting a line that has already matched five main numbers into a higher band — and it never affects the jackpot, which always needs all six main numbers. You do not pick the bonus ball; the draw decides it.
How the bonus ball works
Six main numbers are drawn first from the pool of 1 to 59, and then one more number — the bonus ball — is drawn from the remaining balls. Because they come from the same pool, the bonus ball can never duplicate a main number in the same draw. You still only choose your usual set of main numbers when you buy a ticket; the bonus ball is generated by the draw itself.
Which prize tier it affects
The bonus ball matters in just one situation: when your line has matched five of the six main numbers. If your remaining number also matches the bonus ball, your entry moves up from the plain Match 5 prize into the higher Match 5 plus Bonus tier, which sits between Match 5 and the jackpot. For every other outcome — Match 2, 3, 4 or the jackpot — the bonus ball makes no difference at all.
Other games work differently
The bonus ball is specific to Lotto. EuroMillions uses two “Lucky Star” numbers that you choose and that count towards many of its prize tiers, which is a different mechanism. Thunderball has its own separate Thunderball number with its own fixed-prize structure. So when you read about a “bonus” number, check which game it refers to, because the rules are not the same across them.
Frequently asked questions
Do I choose the bonus ball?
No. You only pick your main numbers. The bonus ball is drawn automatically from the remaining balls after the main numbers, so it is decided by the draw, not by you.
Does the bonus ball affect the jackpot?
No. The jackpot always requires matching all six main numbers. The bonus ball only upgrades a Match 5 line; it never changes the top prize.
Does one number plus the bonus ball win anything?
No. The bonus ball only counts once you have matched five main numbers. Matching one main number and the bonus ball does not win a prize.
Is it the same in EuroMillions?
No. EuroMillions uses two Lucky Star numbers that you choose, and Thunderball has its own separate ball. The Lotto bonus ball is unique to that game.
Related guides: How does the lottery work? · How lottery numbers are drawn · Matching 2 numbers on the lottery
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