ALTRENDAT
🌐 General🌐 Worldwide🔍 +54000 searches

National Lottery revamps format to create more millionaires with two draws

By Karim Fouad · Published 04 Oct 2026, 05:01 UTC

The National Lottery now features a two-round Lotto format on Wednesdays and Saturdays offering players two chances to win with every line.

AI image: National Lottery revamps format to create more millionaires with two draws
AI-generated image

Quick facts

Lotto Jackpot
£2m
Thunderball Top Prize
£500,000
Draw Days
Wednesday and Saturday
Ticket Cut-off Time
7:30pm

Following a recent overhaul, the National Lottery now splits each Lotto draw into two distinct rounds to increase the total number of winners and millionaires produced. While the entry price remains the same, ticket-holders now benefit from dual opportunities to match six numbers in either round to claim a share of the jackpot. Previously, the system relied on a single draw, but the new structure is designed to double the frequency of jackpot winners compared to the former format. In recent sessions, the jackpot has reached significant figures, with prizes such as £5.8m awarded during the September 26 draw, which also saw three new millionaires created. For the most recent Wednesday draw, participants vied for a £2m jackpot, while the Saturday draw held on October 3 also offered a top prize of £2m. The Thunderball draw remains a separate game, providing players with additional chances to secure a top prize of £500,000 across four days each week. Beyond individual winnings, the National Lottery continues to direct millions of pounds toward various good causes through ticket sales. Participation is open until 7:30pm on the days of the draws, with tickets available for purchase throughout the week. Players looking for alternatives can also engage with the EuroMillions game on Tuesdays and Fridays, or the Set for Life draw held on Mondays and Thursdays. Official results are recorded as draws take place, typically scheduled in the evening hours.

National LotteryLottoThunderballJackpot

Sources & Coverage

← Worldwide trends on 2026-10-04 · Today

🪙 Goldex App: Live Gold & Currencies: Get Goldex 📱