Rules of the Lotto 6 out of 49 Lottery
On this page we offer a compact, clear overview of the rules of the most common German lottery, Lotto 6 out of 49 (including the add-on lotteries Spiel 77 and Super 6)***.
Playing – How Lotto works, or “how can you win the lottery?” and “lottery rules”.
How do you play Lotto?
The aim in Lotto is to predict the winning numbers drawn from the range 1 to 49 (six regular numbers) plus the so‑called super number (one digit from 0 to 9). There are nine prize tiers. The lowest tier (tier 9) starts at 2 correct plus the super number (fixed prize of €6.00). Without the super number, a prize is only paid from 3 correct (tier 8).
The super number – “where is the super number?” / “what is the super number?”
The super number is the last digit of the 7‑digit ticket number on your playslip.
6 correct plus the matching super number corresponds to prize tier 1 (jackpot).
As the name suggests, the super number is the gateway to the next higher
prize tier and the top prizes. It is drawn separately from digits 0–9 by an additional drawing device after the 6 out of 49 draw.
Costs – “lotto 6 out of 49 costs” / “cost of playing lotto”
From 23.09.2020, one panel costs €1.20 per draw plus fees (the so‑called
“processing fee”
per submitted ticket). Prices may change; the respective retailer’s terms apply.
Quick picks
Quick picks are random number generators on relevant websites or at kiosks
that provide random numbers for the player. We recommend all players use the lottery generator on our homepage.
Spiel 77 and Super 6 – “Super 6 rules” / “Spiel 77 rules” / “ticket number”
Spiel 77 and Super 6 are optional add‑on lotteries
that can be played in addition to Lotto 6 out of 49 (opt in by ticking on the playslip).
The ticket numbers are printed on the slip and activated by ticking.
Payouts are fixed in advance
and depend on matching 7 (Spiel 77) or 6 ending digits (Super 6). The more ending digits match the ones drawn,
the higher the prize. The lowest prize tier is achieved
with the correct 1‑digit ending (the last digit of the ticket number, which usually matches the super number). Spiel 77 and Super 6 cost €2.50 and €1.25 respectively, plus fees.
Because the stakes are relatively small and activation is quick
(often automatically preselected by online providers), players are tempted to join in —
often without considering the odds.
Please note the probabilities; the lowest tier is achieved on average in about 10% of entries
in both add‑on lotteries (typically played together with Lotto 6 out of 49): Spiel 77 and Super 6.
Total payout typically ranges, depending on lottery design, between about 42% and 48%.
Sales cutoff – “until when can you play?”
The cutoff varies nationwide and between online retailers: roughly Wednesdays at 17:30 and Saturdays at 18:30 (regional/online deviations possible).
The drawings
Results are published on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The live drawing is broadcast online
(live drawing on lotto.de).
WHAT MAKES LOTTO INTERESTING?
The jackpot
A jackpot arises when no winner is determined in a prize tier.
The unpaid prize pool remains in that tier and
is added to the same tier in the next draw (see banner at the top of this page). The
jackpot can thus rise to many millions from draw to draw. Since 01.11.2023 the Lotto jackpot grows up to €50 million,
after which any surplus is reassigned to prize tier 1 of the next draw
(and thus remains in the jackpot until at least one player correctly picks the six numbers plus the super number).
The minimum prize in tier 1 should, regardless of the number of winners, be at least €1 million.
PRIZES, PRIZE TIERS, CLAIMS...
The prize tiers
The amounts paid out depend on total stakes.
Only what players stake is distributed; around half of stakes is retained by operators.
Fifty percent of collected stakes are used for prizes and distributed as follows:
First, prize tiers 1 (6 correct plus super number — the top tier and potential jackpot) and 9 (2 correct plus super number — fixed €6.00) are served as follows:
Tier 1 (6 correct + SN): 15% (new: minimum €1 million)
Tier 9 (2 correct + SN): fixed prize of €6.00.
The remaining prize fund is distributed across the other tiers as follows:
Tier 2 (6 correct): 15%
Tier 3 (5 correct + SN): 5.2%
Tier 4 (5 correct): 15.5%
Tier 5 (4 correct + SN): 4.3%
Tier 6 (4 correct): 10.2%
Tier 7 (3 correct + SN): 8.7%
Tier 8 (3 correct): 41.1%.
The jackpot rolls over if no one hits tier 1. A jackpot cap is provided (€50 million); surplus amounts are carried forward or allocated per applicable rules.
How long are prize claims valid?
Prize claims generally expire after three years from the end of the calendar year of the last draw on the play order.
*** – All information without guarantee of completeness or accuracy. The official terms and price information of the respective state lottery companies apply.