On Friday, March 28, 2025, at 9:30 PM, the EuroMillions drawing revealed five numbers and two stars, with a staggering jackpot of 243 million euros at stake—the highest amount ever offered in the game. This monumental prize has the potential to change lives forever, particularly for a lucky winner in Belgium, France, the United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Austria, Switzerland, or Luxembourg. However, the odds of walking away with this life-altering sum are incredibly slim.
With a single play costing 2.50 euros, players face a daunting 1 in 140,000,000 chance of winning the jackpot. Even if a player opts to fill out ten grids for a total of 25 euros, their chances improve only slightly, to 1 in 14,000,000. For perspective, the odds of winning the Lotto are significantly better at 1 in 8 million, while the likelihood of dying in a plane crash stands at 1 in 14 million, and being struck by lightning at 1 in 3 million.
According to statistician Geert Molenberghs from KU Leuven, the chance of winning any prize in EuroMillions is merely 8 percent, the lowest among all National Lottery games. Furthermore, EuroMillions returns an average of only 22 percent of the money wagered, the least favorable return of any lottery. In comparison, the Lotto offers a more generous average return of 42 percent.
The EuroMillions jackpot starts at a minimum of 17 million euros and can grow to a maximum of 250 million euros if no one guesses the winning combination. The current jackpot of 243 million euros is a testament to this escalating system. Two years ago, an Austrian player won an impressive 240 million euros, while the largest payout in Belgium's history was 168 million euros, awarded to a street sweeper of Kosovar descent nine years ago.
Such a massive jackpot inevitably draws significant media attention, with various outlets even employing artificial intelligence to predict winning numbers. Amidst this frenzy, the VTM news program compiled lists of the most and least frequently drawn numbers, highlighting the public's fascination with the game.
Despite the allure of EuroMillions, the lottery's image remains somewhat innocent, as Katleen Peleman, director of the Association for Alcohol and Other Drug Problems (VAD), points out. She notes that the lottery is often perceived as a family-friendly event where loved ones gather to watch the draw. However, she argues that this perception is outdated and misleading. While playing the lottery may be less addictive than other forms of gambling, it still poses risks, particularly due to the low threshold for participation.
One of the factors contributing to the lottery's popularity is the advertising strategies employed by the National Lottery. Unlike other gambling activities, there are no restrictions on promoting games like EuroMillions or Lotto. This means that while football jerseys have been stripped of logos from betting companies like Unibet, advertisements for the National Lottery remain prevalent. Peleman criticizes this, emphasizing that the lottery's benign image belies the real dangers associated with gambling.
As the digital landscape evolves, the lines between lotteries and other gambling games have blurred. Peleman notes that the arrival of the internet has changed the gambling landscape significantly. Through the National Lottery's website, players can easily transition from purchasing lottery tickets to engaging in more addictive games, such as the Woohoo games. These games, which previously featured playful themes like unicorns and pirates, have been rebranded but continue to attract players with their low stakes and high potential rewards.
In fact, the Woohoo games can be played for as little as 0.50 euros, with promised winnings reaching hundreds of thousands of euros. Peleman warns that these games are particularly appealing to children, as they can play using their parents' accounts. Although there are limits on how often children can participate, the thrill of winning can create a dopamine rush that fosters a familiarity with gambling.
On the same day as the EuroMillions drawing, the National Lottery's website faced significant disruptions due to the overwhelming traffic generated by the superpot. Visitors attempting to log in encountered difficulties, with some unable to access their account balances. Jeremie Demeyer from the National Lottery confirmed that the server experienced capacity issues due to the high volume of visitors. The problems began around 6:45 PM and were resolved by 10:00 PM, just in time for the drawing.
As the excitement surrounding the EuroMillions jackpot builds, it’s clear that millions across Europe are willing to take the gamble despite the odds stacked against them. The allure of potentially becoming an instant millionaire is a powerful motivator, even if the reality of winning is far from likely. Whether or not someone will claim the record-breaking prize remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the EuroMillions will continue to capture the imagination of hopeful players.
In a humorous twist, some media outlets have even claimed to have cracked the code to winning the EuroMillions jackpot, sharing the 'lucky numbers' of popular figures such as Tom Waes, Bart De Pauw, and Gert Verhulst. While this may be more of a playful gimmick than a serious strategy, it highlights the lengths to which people will go in hopes of hitting the jackpot.
As the clock ticks down to the drawing, the anticipation is palpable. Will someone finally crack the code and take home the largest EuroMillions jackpot in history? Or will the odds prevail, leaving players to dream of what could have been? Only time will tell, but for now, the excitement continues to build.
