Lottery Rollover Guide: What Is It & How Does It Happen?
When you hear that the National Lottery Lotto has “rolled over”, it means the jackpot has carried on to the next draw instead of being won.
This can make headlines, but what does it actually mean for you as a player?
In this guide, we’ll break down how rollovers work, why they happen, what changes in a Must Be Won draw, and how potential prizes are affected. By the end, you’ll better understand how the jackpot grows, what happens when no one wins, and how the rules help keep the game fair.
What Is A Lottery Rollover?
A rollover happens in the UK Lotto when no ticket matches all six main numbers in a draw. Because the jackpot is not won, the money allocated to it carries over into the next draw. That creates a bigger potential jackpot than usual.
It’s important to note that only the jackpot is affected during these events. The other prize tiers remain fixed:
- 5 main numbers + Bonus Ball: £1,000,000
- 5 main numbers: £1,750
- 4 main numbers: £140
- 3 main numbers: £30
- 2 main numbers: Free Lucky Dip
The odds of winning don’t change from one draw to the next. For the jackpot, your odds are 1 in 45,057,474 every time.
How Does A Lottery Rollover Work?
After each draw, the winning six numbers and Bonus Ball are checked against all tickets. If nobody has matched all six main numbers, the jackpot rolls over. That means the unclaimed jackpot is added to the prize fund for the following draw.
For example, if the Saturday jackpot starts at £2 million and no one wins, that £2 million carries forward. The next draw’s jackpot will include both the carried amount and the new jackpot fund created from ticket sales. This is why you sometimes see much larger jackpots after several rollovers.
Why Do Rollovers Happen In The First Place?
Rollovers occur because matching six numbers is very rare. With numbers drawn from 1 to 59, there are over 45 million possible combinations. The probability of hitting the jackpot in one line is 1 in 45,057,474.
This means it is common for draws to finish without a top-tier winner. When that happens, the rules make sure the jackpot doesn’t disappear—it simply rolls forward until it is eventually won or until the rollover cap is reached.
What Happens When Nobody Wins The Jackpot?
If nobody matches six numbers in a standard draw, the jackpot moves on to the next draw. The other prizes do not change.
However, the rollover cannot continue indefinitely. The UK Lotto has a strict limit: after five consecutive rollovers, the jackpot reaches a Must Be Won draw. This is the point at which the jackpot must be paid out in some form.
How Do Rollovers Affect Jackpot Size?
Rollovers are the reason jackpots can reach higher figures than the starting amount. Each time there is no jackpot winner, the carried sum builds on top of the new jackpot fund.
For instance, a starting jackpot of £2 million can quickly grow if no one wins across multiple draws. After just a few rollovers, the jackpot has the potential to stand at several times its starting level.
The other prize tiers remain the same during rollovers. So, whether or not there is a jackpot winner, possible prizes such as £1,750 for five main numbers are unaffected.
Are There Limits On Lottery Rollovers?
Yes. The Lotto jackpot can only roll over a maximum of five times. If nobody wins by the fifth rollover, the next draw is a Must Be Won draw.
In that draw, if someone matches all six main numbers, they take the entire jackpot. If not, the jackpot does not roll forward again. Instead, it is shared out across winners in the other prize tiers using the Must Be Won rules.
Do Rollovers Make It Harder To Win?
No, a rollover does not change your odds of winning. The chance of matching all six numbers remains 1 in 45,057,474, regardless of whether the jackpot has rolled over or not.
The process is the same for every draw: six main numbers and one Bonus Ball are selected at random. Each draw is independent, meaning past results have no effect on future outcomes.
What Happens After The Rollover Cap Is Reached?
Once the jackpot has rolled over five times, the next draw becomes a Must Be Won draw. At this point, the jackpot cannot roll over again and must be paid out.
There are two possible outcomes:
- If at least one player matches all six main numbers, they win the jackpot in full.
- If nobody matches all six, the jackpot money is shared out across winners in the other prize tiers in what is known as a rolldown.
In a rolldown, the jackpot is distributed to the highest prize tiers that have winners. For example, if there are Match 5 + Bonus Ball winners, they will receive their fixed £1 million prize, plus a share of the jackpot. If there are no winners in that tier, the money allocated to it rolls further down to the next tier that does have winners. This continues until all of the jackpot is shared.
Match 2 winners are treated slightly differently. In every Must Be Won rolldown, they receive their usual free Lucky Dip plus £5 in cash, no matter what happens in the higher tiers.
This structure guarantees that the jackpot is always paid out in full, either to one jackpot winner, or shared among winners in the other prize tiers.
Key Things To Remember About Lottery Rollovers
There are a few important points to keep in mind about UK Lotto rollovers.
- A rollover happens when nobody matches all six main numbers, so the jackpot carries forward.
- The jackpot can roll over up to five times.
- The fifth rollover is a Must Be Won draw, where the jackpot is guaranteed to be awarded either in full, or shared across winners in other prize tiers.
- The odds of winning do not change between rollover and non-rollover draws.
Safer gambling is an important part of playing the Lotto. The game is entirely based on chance, with numbers drawn at random, and there is no strategy that can guarantee a win.
If you decide to take part, it’s sensible to only spend an amount that comfortably fits within your own personal finances. Think of the Lotto as a form of entertainment, rather than a way to make money. And if at any point it stops feeling enjoyable, it may be a good idea to step back for a while.
*All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to these games are subject to change at any time. Game features mentioned may not be available in some jurisdictions.
**The information provided in this blog is intended for educational purposes and should not be construed as betting advice or a guarantee of success. Always gamble responsibly.