How to Play France Lotto
Technology and online platforms have opened up a whole new world of lottery games that South Africans can enjoy. It’s definitely worth learning more about games such as France Lotto, especially if they come with excellent odds like this one.
And the prize money isn’t bad either!
We’ve compiled a concise, user-friendly guide to help you become an expert at playing this European lottery. Whether you prefer using your birthday to pick a set of numbers, or a France Lotto number predictor, learning about this game is a good idea!
In a Hurry?
Here are some basic facts on France Lotto to get you started.
| Numbers to win the jackpot | 6 (5 Main + 1 Lucky Number) |
|---|---|
| Jackpot type | Rollover |
| Number range | 1 – 49 & 1 – 10 |
| Prize categories | 10 |
| Draw days | Monday, Wednesday, Saturday |
| Draw time (SA Time) | 8:30 pm / 9:30 pm (November – March) |
| Minimum age | 18 |
| Claim period | 60 days |
| Jackpot odds | 1:19,068,840 |
| Biggest Jackpot | €26 million (~ZAR 494 million) |
France Lotto Basics and Rules
Each lottery is unique, so knowing how to play Powerball or how to play Daily Lotto may not be enough to make you successful at France Lotto. Our summaries below will quickly get you up to date on the rules and guidelines, so you can play the game like a pro.
Playing France Lotto
You can play France Lotto by buying a ticket in person or going online from the comfort of your own home. Let’s help you budget and ensure you comply with basic rules.
| Feature | Rules | Important Notes |
|---|---|---|
| What is the legal age to play France Lotto? | 18 | Any France Lotto ticket retailer has the right to confirm your age before selling you a ticket. |
| What does a France Lotto ticket cost? | Standard ticket price: €2.20 (~ZAR41.00) |
|
Rules and Structure
France Lotto is an easy game, so even newbies can try it out. Resources like Quick Pick buttons and France Lotto number generator tools make it even more effortless to get in on the action.
Understanding the France Lotto Structure
Here are the basic concepts that will apply whether you play in store in France, or buy a ticket online while in South Africa:
- Two number grids: Players pick numbers from two grids, one numbered 1 to 49 and a second one numbered 1 to 10.
- 6 numbers to pick: Players must select five numbers from the first grid, and one number from the second grid.
- Importance of “Lucky number”: The number from the second grid is also called the ‘Lucky number’. You must have this number correct in addition to the 5 general numbers in order to win the jackpot.
- Second draw: There is a second draw, in which you can play your 5 general numbers a second time. If they match you can win €100,000. However, not all online platforms will support this supplementary game feature.
- France Lotto raffles: The operator, La Francaise des Jeux (FDJ), hosts a raffle feature, for which you’re automatically entered if you buy from registered France Lotto retailers. Note that this is another feature which may not be available when using online lottery sites.
- Joker+: This is only available on the operator’s own platform. It’s an additional way you can win up to €500,000, using your six numbers as well as a randomly generated Joker+ number.
Drawings and Prizes
Similar to popular international lotteries like US Powerball, you can play this game three times a week, with draws taking place at 8:30 pm in France on:
- Mondays
- Wednesdays
- Saturdays
And thanks to South Africa using a similar time zone than France, you don’t have to stay up late just to see the results. The time of the results being published will depend on the time of year though:
- During South Africa’s colder months the draw is at 8:30 pm SA time.
- Due to daylight savings, from November to March you can expect results at 9:30 pm SA time.
You have a total of 10 prize categories in which you can strike it lucky with this European lottery. This table shows what percentage of the prize pool is allocated to each category.
| Tier | General Numbers | Lucky Number | Prize Pool %/Fixed Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5 | 1 | Jackpot (Minimum €2 million) |
| 2 | 5 | 0 | 8.44% |
| 3 | 4 | 1 | 2.06% |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | 7.43% |
| 5 | 3 | 1 | 4.44% |
| 6 | 3 | 0 | 15.98% |
| 7 | 2 | 1 | 12.43% |
| 8 | 2 | 0 | 49.22% |
| 9 | 1 | 1 | €2.20 (fixed) |
| 10 | 0 | 1 | €2.20 (fixed) |
Helpful tips to understand the prize structure:
- Category 9 and 10: They have fixed, guaranteed prizes.
- Category 1: After a main prize win, operators start the jackpot at €2 million (~ZAR 38 million). Then, if there’s no jackpot winner, €1 million is added to the main prize but only for a maximum of 34 times. So, the maximum jackpot is €36 million.
- Category 2 – 8: These prizes depend on the ticket sales, from which a prize pool is drawn. You share the money with others in your tier, so the number of winners in each category will determine how big your prize is.
If you realise you’re eligible for a prize, here are some tips for prize claims:
| Method of Play | Claiming a prize |
|---|---|
| Buy physical ticket at retail outlet | Claim in person from a FDJ retailer if it’s €300 or less. Larger prizes may require a visit to payment centres or contacting the operator. |
| Playing online using the FDJ service (app or website) | Payments are automated, but monitor that full amount is transferred. |
| Use lottery sites online | Sites will make automatic payments, but you must have your bank and identification details up to date. |
How to Buy a France Lotto Lottery Ticket
You can play France Lotto from almost anywhere in the world, thanks to lottery sites like theLotter. But how you play will affect pricing, cut off times and more. Here’s a summary to keep in mind.
| Method of playing France Lotto | Cost | Cut off times |
|---|---|---|
| Use an official FDJ retailer, app or website | €2.20 (~ZAR41) | 8:20 pm local French time
|
| Online lottery sites |
| Times are unique to each lottery site. Consult the policies of the platform you’re using. |
As you can see from above, there are multiple ways you can partake in this lottery, and you don’t even have to travel to France. We’ll explain each method in our handy guidelines below:
- Official retail outlets
- FDJ app and website
- Online lottery sites
How to Play France Lotto Online
Online lottery sites offer two types of services:
- They allow you to bet on the outcome of a lottery
- They serve as personal buyer who obtains an official ticket on your behalf
For both types of services, the following steps will usually apply:
1. Identify and register with an appropriate site – Make sure the platform you’re using offers France Lotto as a game option. Open a player’s account.
2. Fund your wallet – Using the available deposit options, add money to your wallet.
3. Pick France Lotto – Use filters or scroll through menu options to open the France Lotto page.
Source: Lotto Agent
4. Select number of lines – Some platforms set a minimum number of lines you must play. Playing more lines may result in discounts.
Source: Lotto Agent
5. Make a number selection – Using a lottery strategy, Quick Pick or your own lucky numbers, confirm the 6 numbers for each line.
6. Consider subscriptions – Automatically play the numbers in multiple draws. You could be eligible for discounts using this feature, if it’s available.
Source: theLotter
7. Confirm your ticket – Add the ticket to your cart and pay, using money in your player wallet.
8. Check results – Platforms usually have France Lotto results pages with updated information. Vendors may also inform winners via text or email.
Your money should arrive in your wallet automatically, but always keep a close eye and make sure you get all your winnings. Vendors can request you to follow a claims procedure for large wins and for jackpot wins you may need to travel to France for in-person claims.
How to Play France Lotto In-Store
All across France, you’ll find FDJ retailers who can sell you a France Lotto ticket. From media outlets to tobacconists, there are many to choose from.
The process in store is simple:
1. Find your closest outlet – FDJ supplies a list of retailers or you can search for the closest one online, by using your location.
2. Ask for ‘Loto slip’ – This is commonly referred to as a paper grid.
3. Pick your numbers – Using a black pen or pencil, tick the numbers you want: 5 on the main grid and 1 for the Lucky Number.
4. Retailer records your slip – Give the slip to the attendant to register it on the system.
Note: in store you can ask the attendant to assign random numbers, instead of picking your own. This is called a ‘Flash Grid’.
5. Pay and get a receipt – The retailer will return your Loto slip and an official receipt to prove purchase.
6. Keep it safe – You’ll need the receipt if you make a prize claim. Do not fold this piece of paper.
7. Wait for results – When results are out you need to claim your prize in person.
How to Play France Lotto via Lottery Apps & More
The operator, FDJ hosts its own website and app which you can use to register your tickets. Many of FDJ’s games are available via these platforms and there are helpful extra features, such as the ability to scan an in store receipt to see if you’ve won anything.
These are more ways to enjoy France Lotto on the go and it’s fairly user friendly. We share step-by-step guides below:
- Access the website
- Provide an identity document as validation to register your account.
- Pick France Lotto from the games menu.
- Select the numbers on the two number grids, five main numbers, and one for the Lucky Number.
- Tick the box if you want to enter the 2nd Option draw.
- Confirm which draw day of that week the ticket is for, by ticking the appropriate box.
- Use subscription buttons to automatically enter the numbers for multiple draws – even unlimited draws.
- Tick the box for the other supplementary game called ‘Joker+’ if you want to.
- Pay for the ticket
- Download and install the app. It’s available for both Android and iOS.
- Open an account, or use your FDJ account you use on the operator’s website
- Put at least €5 in your account in order to buy your first ticket.
- Select France Lotto from the menu of games.
- Confirm if you want to play one grid or multiple ones.
- Select your numbers.
- Confirm supplementary games, such as 2nd Option draw.
- Pay for your ticket.
How to Know if You Won France Lotto?
To make sure you get your winnings from France Lotto, it’s vital to track results and compare it with your tickets. There’s no live draw to watch on TV or online, so here’s what you can do to find out if you’re a winner in the next draw.
| Method of Play | How to Know You’ve Won |
|---|---|
| Buy ticket at FDJ accredited retailer in France | Check results online and compare with your ticket. |
| Online lottery sites | Look out for messages from the lottery site, or view results online. |
| Operator website | View results pages. |
| Operator app | View results online or by using the app’s results feature. |
What Happens If You Win the France Lotto?
If you’re a winner, your plan of action to get your money will be determined by how you decided to play the game. Consider which of these apply to you:
- In person claims: If you played in store, you must make a claim in person, as no payments will happen automatically. For up to €30,000 you can visit any FDJ retailer or a payment centre and show your ticket and receipt. For prizes between €30,001 and €499,999, make an appointment with a payment centre and for even bigger prizes you must contact the operator by telephone.
- Automated payments: Online services, including lottery sites and the operator’s website and app will usually result in automated payments to your account.
- Travel to claim: When using online lottery sites, they may require you to claim jackpot prizes in person. If you played France Lotto from South Africa via a platform like Lotto Agent, this could mean you’ll have to travel to get our cash.
- Professional assistance: If you win big, you may need advice from financial advisors and tax lawyers. They can help you manage the money so it benefits your life optimally. Tax experts can ensure you pay the least amount of tax on your winnings.
Final Thoughts
A quick comparison between this and other international lotteries like EuroMillions shows why it’s worth adding it to your week’s playing schedule. There are great odds that can help you become considerably richer than you are today. AND there’s a guaranteed jackpot of €2 million.
Thanks to technology and lottery sites, this is achievable for anyone in South Africa. Open an account and try your luck on the French!
FAQs
For anyone in France, tickets are available at local, registered outlets. The lottery operator also has an app and online platform to buy tickets. Then, players around the globe can own a France Lotto ticket by using a lottery site that purchases tickets on your behalf.
Yes, you can use lottery sites to buy your authentic France Lotto ticket, or bet on the outcome of the draw. The operator’s online platforms are also accessible from outside the country’s borders.
France Lotto sets similar rules to what you’re used to if you know how to play games like Lotto. You must be at least 18 years old to legally play the game.
Ticket purchasing from authorised vendors usually closes 35 minutes before the draw. When playing via online platforms, times may differ. Consult your lottery site’s policies so you buy tickets in time. Many platforms will display the time left to buy each lottery’s tickets.
This European lottery costs €2.20 to play the standard game. If you want to enter the second draw, the ticket total is €3. When you play on online lottery sites the cost is a bit more because you’re also paying service fees for the convenience of using an international service.
No matter how you choose to play France Lotto, you can always pick your own numbers. You can base your selection on your own lucky numbers or using lottery strategies. Alternatively, many methods of play offer a Quick Pick option to assign random numbers to your ticket.
You need to select six numbers for each ticket you buy. The set consists of five normal numbers and a sixth Lucky number. To win the jackpot, all six numbers must be the same as the drawn numbers.
There are three draws each week, which is great for increasing players’ chances of winning. The more you play a game the higher the chance of winning. You can buy tickets for Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays.
In France, lottery winnings are exempted from tax payments. If you’re playing from elsewhere in the world, you may be charged tax on money that is paid to you from abroad. You need to ask a tax lawyer to help you manage your winnings so you align with South African tax laws in this regard.
The France Lotto once grew to €26 million, which equates to over ZAR490 million. The prize was won in September 2021.
Yes, the France Lotto rules state the maximum number of rollovers is 34. With the starting jackpot being a guaranteed €2 million and €1 million being added each time the jackpot isn’t won, the maximum jackpot amount is €36 million.
In the case of the jackpot cap being reached, but no winner coming forward after the draw, the money will roll down to the second tier. The jackpot then starts at €2 million again.
When you own a physical France Lotto ticket, you must claim your winnings within 60 days, or your ticket will expire. Online winners can expect automatic payments, but remember it depends on whether your information is up to date and authenticated. You may miss out on a win if you wait too long before doing the necessary security checks or document authentication.