Every week, players at outlets across the country ask the same question: which lotto has the best chance? The answer is pure math, and it’s easier than you think.
The formula
In a 6-number lotto, order doesn’t matter. The number of possible tickets is a “combination”, written C(n, 6), where n is the size of the pool. You can read more about it in the explanations of lottery mathematics and the binomial coefficient.
C(58, 6) = 58 × 57 × 56 × 55 × 54 × 53 ÷ (6 × 5 × 4 × 3 × 2 × 1) = 40,475,358
Odds table for every game
| Game | Pool | Jackpot odds (1 line) | vs. 6/42 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotto 6/42 | 1–42 | 1 in 5,245,786 | 1× |
| Mega Lotto 6/45 | 1–45 | 1 in 8,145,060 | 1.6× harder |
| Super Lotto 6/49 | 1–49 | 1 in 13,983,816 | 2.7× harder |
| Grand Lotto 6/55 | 1–55 | 1 in 28,989,675 | 5.5× harder |
| Ultra Lotto 6/58 | 1–58 | 1 in 40,475,358 | 7.7× harder |
Digit games work differently because order matters. A 3D Straight bet is 1 in 1,000, 4D is 1 in 10,000 and 6D is 1 in 1,000,000. See the Swertres & EZ2 guide for details.
Ultra vs Grand: the verdict
Grand Lotto 6/55 is about 1.4 times easier to win than Ultra Lotto 6/58. However, Ultra Lotto usually carries the biggest jackpot because more money rolls over when nobody wins. Here is a simple way to choose:
- Want the best odds? Play 6/42 or 6/45.
- Want the biggest dream? Ultra 6/58, but go in knowing the odds are extremely long.
- Want frequent small wins? Digit games like 3D, explained in our Swertres guide.
Buying more lines raises your chances in a straight line: 10 lines of 6/58 is 10 in 40,475,358. That is still astronomically small, which is why we suggest a fixed lotto budget.
Putting 1 in 40 million in perspective
The Philippines has well over 100 million people. Winning Ultra Lotto with one line is roughly like being picked from a list of 40 million names, about a third of the whole country. It is possible, people do win, but it’s entertainment, not a plan.
Try the odds in action with our Lucky Pick generator, check tonight’s draws, or read what happens if you win.
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