Historical facts: Eurojackpot and Viking Lotto
Here are the key moments of both lotteries: how they started, how the rules changed and some big top prizes. We only include events with an official source.
Timeline
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Viking Lotto begins
Viking Lotto started in March 1993. It was the world’s first multinational lottery, where players in several countries play for the same jackpot.
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The first Eurojackpot draw
Eurojackpot was drawn for the first time on 23 March 2012. A row already had five main numbers from 1–50, but the euro numbers came from just 1–8.
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More euro numbers
The euro number range grew from 1–8 to 1–10. The main numbers stayed the same: five numbers from 1–50.
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€3–35 million · Viking Lotto
Viking Lotto is redesigned
A Viking number from 1–8 replaced the old extra numbers, and the jackpot was set at €3–35 million. The change applied in every participating country.
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Belgium joins Viking Lotto
A Belgian royal decree of 17 November 2020 brought Belgium into Viking Lotto. Today 10 countries take part, Finland among them.
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€25 million · Viking Lotto
Viking number 1–5 and a new cap
The Viking number is now chosen from 1–5, and the jackpot cap became €25 million instead of €35 million. The Viking number range and the cap are still the same.
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€120 million · Eurojackpot
Euro numbers 1–12 and a Tuesday draw
The euro number range grew to 1–12 and the cap rose from €90 million to €120 million. The first Tuesday draw took place on 29 March 2022, so there are now two draws a week.
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€120,000,000 · Eurojackpot
A top prize at the full cap
In the first such draw in our data, the tier 1 prize was the full cap of €120 million. Between 2024 and 2026 this happened in eight draws.
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€4,119,909.50 · Viking Lotto
Viking Lotto top prize goes to Finland
The top prize went to a Finnish syndicate. Because the jackpot was won, the next draw’s jackpot went back to its minimum of €3 million.
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A new rule for the jackpot cap
Money above the cap now goes to Viking Lotto’s shared prize fund instead of tier 2 of the same draw. The fund returns it to the jackpot when the jackpot is below the cap.
Eurojackpot at a glance
- First draw
- 23 March 2012
- Countries
- 19
- Jackpot cap
- €120 million
- Draws
- Tuesdays and Fridays
Sources: Lotto Bayern, Veikkaus
Viking Lotto at a glance
- Started
- March 1993
- Countries
- 10
- Jackpot cap
- €25 million
- Draws
- Wednesdays
Sources: Veikkaus, Norsk Tipping