Lowest and highest payout for 6 matches
Since the latest lotto rules change for Saturday draws on 23.09.2020 (notably raising the maximum jackpot to €45 million), many ask:
What are the lowest and highest payouts for six matches without the super number (prize class 2)?
For the period 04.05.2013–07.09.2023, the following notable draws occurred in German Lotto 6aus49 (as always, information without guarantee):
Lowest payout for 6 matches without the super number:
On Wednesday, 09.05.2018 the numbers 3, 9, 25, 31, 37, 43 with super number 5 paid only €99,595.40 for 6 matches.
There were 8 winners in this class. Interestingly, one ticket also had the correct super number (jackpot winner in prize class 1), so the top-class payout was fine compared to class 2.
The explanation is similar: very popular numbers forming an appealing geometric pattern were drawn, producing many winners in class 2. These numbers sit close together on the grid, creating an attractive pattern.
Highest payout for 6 matches without the super number:
On Wednesday, 14.05.2014 the numbers 2, 7, 22, 30, 32, 39 with super number 8 paid a full €3,667,344.80 for 6 matches.
Here again, comparatively unpopular numbers formed a rare pattern, reasonably separated on the grid (39 sits directly under 32).
In two further cases, forced jackpot payout (“Zwangsausschüttung”, before 23.09.2020: if there was no prize class 1 winner for 13 consecutive draws, the jackpot was paid to class 2) produced even higher class‑2 payouts:
second‑highest on Wednesday, 14.09.2016 and the absolute peak of €37,050,634.80 on
Saturday, 14.05.2016.
It’s somewhat debatable whether to count these as class 2 or class 1, since the entire jackpot is paid out. The same occurred in 2020 on
Wednesday, 03.06.2020 with €32,468,743.60 in class 2; this may have influenced the later rule change.
And here’s a relevant link to the current 6 matches. Good luck!
