9 Most popular Lotteries played in Australia and Its Terms

May 15, 2016January 18, 2018 Kamal Kaur

There are varieties of lotteries that are played across the country. Here are the 9 most popular lotteries played in Australia and their terms. The information given below about these lotteries have been taken from ozlotteries as given on their official webpage.

1. 6/38 Pools Lotto

In the standard game of 6/38 Lotto, you select 6 numbers from the number range 1 to 38 inclusive. The more numbers you are playing in any one game that match the winning numbers in the official draw, the higher the likelihood that you win a prize. 6 From 38 Pools is a 6/38 Lotto.

2. 6/45 Lotto

In this standard game of 6/45 Lotto, you select 6 numbers from the number range 1 to 45 inclusive. The more numbers you are playing in any one game that match the winning numbers in the official draw, the higher the likelihood that you win a prize. For example, Monday Lotto, Wednesday Lotto and Saturday Lotto are all 6/45 lotto.

3. 6 From 38 Pools

The 6 from 38 Pools is also known as “Soccer Pools” which is based on Australian and European soccer matches. Each week, 38 matches are listed and numbered 1 to 38 inclusive. For a standard game, you choose 6 numbers from the range of 1 to 38.

The six matches that accumulate to the highest total drawn scores are the winning numbers (e.g. Match A with a final score of 5-5 has a higher total score than Match B which finished 4-4). The 7th highest drawn result is the supplementary number.

6 From 38 Pools offers 5 divisions, or levels, of prizes. The more winning numbers you are playing in any one game, the higher your prize. Results are announced Sunday nights after the last games are played.

4. Monday Lotto

Monday Lotto numbers are drawn from a machine containing 45 balls, numbered from 1 to 45 inclusive. For a standard game, you choose 6 numbers from this range.

In total, 8 balls are drawn of which the first 6 are the winning numbers. The last 2 balls are the supplementary numbers. These supplementary balls are used to determine prizes in Divisions 2 and 5.

Monday Lotto offers 5 divisions, or levels, of prizes. The more numbers you are playing in any one game that are drawn, the higher your prize!
Monday Lotto is run by NSW Lotteries and is drawn weekly at 8:30pm (AEDT) on Monday nights.

5. OZ Lotto

OZ Lotto numbers are drawn from a machine containing 45 balls, numbered from 1 to 45 inclusive. For a standard game, you choose 7 numbers from this range.
In total, 9 balls are drawn of which the first 7 are the winning numbers. The last 2 balls are the supplementary numbers. These supplementary balls are used to determine prizes in Divisions 2, 4 and 7.
OZ Lotto offers 7 divisions, or levels, of prizes. The more numbers you are playing in any one game that are drawn, the higher your prize. OZ Lotto is drawn weekly at 8:30pm (AEDT) on Tuesday nights.

6. Powerball

In Powerball, 2 sets of numbers are drawn from 2 barrels containing 45 balls, numbered from 1 to 45 inclusive. For a standard game, you choose 5 numbers and 1 Powerball which is drawn from the second barrel of 45 numbers.

In total, the machine draws 6 numbers: 5 from the first barrel and 1 Powerball from the second barrel. There are 7 prize divisions in Powerball. To win a prize, all you need to do is pick 3 winning numbers (this can be three straight numbers or two numbers and the Powerball). Powerball is drawn weekly at 8:30pm (AEDT) on Thursday nights.

7. Saturday Lotto

Saturday’s winning numbers are drawn from a machine containing 45 balls, numbered from 1 to 45 inclusive. For a standard game choose 6 numbers from this range.
In total, 8 balls are drawn of which the first 6 are the winning numbers. The last 2 balls are supplementary numbers. These supplementary balls are used to determine prizes in Divisions 2 and 5.
Saturday Lotto offers 5 divisions, or levels, of prizes.

The more numbers you are playing in any one game that are drawn, the higher your prize!
Saturday Lotto is drawn weekly at 8:30pm (AEDT) on Saturday nights.

8. Soccer Pools

Soccer Pools lottery is played same as 6 From 38 Pools. You select 6 numbers from the number range 1 to 38 inclusive. The more numbers you are playing in any one game that match the winning numbers in the official draw, the higher the likelihood that you win a prize.

9. Wednesday Lotto

Wednesday Lotto numbers are drawn from a machine containing 45 balls, numbered from 1 to 45 inclusive. For a standard game, you choose 6 numbers from this range.

In total, 8 balls are drawn of which the first 6 are the winning numbers. The last 2 balls are the supplementary numbers. These supplementary balls are used to determine prizes in Wednesday Lotto offers 5 divisions, or levels, of prizes.

The more numbers you are playing in any one game that are drawn, the higher your prize. Wednesday Lotto is run by NSW Lotteries and is drawn weekly at 8:30pm (AEDT) on Wednesday nights.

Lottery Terms to Understand

Division in Lottery

In each Lotto game, there are several levels of prizes. Each level is called a ‘division’. The more winning numbers in any one game, the bigger the prize you win. If all 6 winning numbers match your selected numbers in any one standard game (or equivalent), you win a Division 1 prize, the highest division.

Jackpot in Lottery

On some occasions, there may be no Division 1 winner for a particular draw. When this happens, the draw is declared a Jackpot and the amount not won is added (rolled over) to the following week’s Division 1 total prize pool.

Megadraw in Lotto

A Megadraw is the largest Saturday Lotto Superdraw of the year and is usually drawn in December.

Quick Pick in Lottery

Instead of selecting your own numbers, the lottery picks numbers for you. This random number selecting is called a Quick Pick. A Quick Pick is possible for all Lotto games and all ticket types.

Standard Game in Lottery

A ‘standard game’ refers to each standard line of numbers you select for a lotto game. For example a standard game in Powerball contains 5 numbers and 1 Powerball.
Each standard game you play offers you an equal chance of winning a prize.

Super Combo in Lottery

A system entry increases your chances of winning by selecting more numbers than a standard game entry.
A Super Combo entry lets you enter more number combinations than a standard game entry, but does not cover all possible number combinations of a selected set of numbers like a Systems entry.

Superdraw in Lotto

At times, the Saturday Lotto prize pool is boosted with reserve money. The extra funds are usually added to the Division 1 prize pool. These draws are called Superdraws and are announced on the Ozlotteries.com website well before they take place so that you are assured a chance of winning a prize as high as $30 million!

Supplementary Number

A supplementary number or bonus number is drawn after the 6 winning numbers. In the case of 6/45 Lotto, 2 supplementary numbers are drawn immediately after the first 6 winning numbers and in the case of 6/38 Lotto, 1 supplementary number is drawn immediately after the first 6 winning numbers. These numbers are used to determine prizes in Division 2 and Division 5.
If one or more of your selected numbers match the drawn supplementary numbers, your chance of winning a prize increases.

Syndicate Lottery

A ‘syndicate’ (or Group Play) allows you to buy a bigger Lotto ticket, share the cost between the members of a group and increase your chance of winning a prize. If the syndicate ticket wins a prize, the total winnings will be divided equally among all the members of the group.

System in Lottery

A System allows you to select more than the standard 6 numbers. For example, a System 7 allows you to pick 7 numbers and a System 8 allows you to pick 8 numbers. The highest amount of numbers you can pick is 20 which is a System 20. Powerball allows you to play up to a System 24.
The benefit of playing a System is that your ticket will automatically include every possible combination of 6 numbers which increases your chances of winning a prize. For example, if you are playing a System 8, the ticket will include every combination of 6 numbers that is possible with your 8 selected numbers which is equivalent to 28 games.

Winning Numbers in Lottery

The winning numbers are the first numbers drawn in the lottery draw, prior to supplementary numbers being drawn. In the case of Powerball, they are the first 5 numbers drawn from the first barrel.

Forward draws in Lottery

These are future lotteries draws in which you can purchase advance entries. For the $2 Jackpot there are 11 draws available – the current draw and 10 forward draws. For the $5 Jackpot there are 3 draws available – the current draw and 2 forward draws.