New Lotto Format Explained: What’s Changed With the Two-Round Draw?

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Note: *The following article is purely for fun. It is based on individual opinions and does not constitute advice. The drawing of lottery numbers is entirely random. Please always gamble responsibly. #Ad. Find out more on our How Our Site Works page.

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The National Lottery has given its flagship Lotto game its biggest shake‑up in years. Since Sunday 7th June 2026, every £2 Lotto line has been entered into two separate draws — Round 1 and Round 2 — for the same price. The first draws under the new format took place from Wednesday 10th June 2026.

If you play Lotto regularly, here’s what’s actually changed, how it affects your odds and prizes, and what it means for your strategy going forward.

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How the New Two-Round Format Works

The mechanics of picking numbers haven’t changed — you still choose six numbers from 1–59, just as before. What’s different is what happens on draw night.

• Two sets of six main numbers (plus a bonus ball) are now drawn on separate machines — Round 1 and Round 2
• Your single line is automatically checked against both rounds
• You can win in Round 1, Round 2, or both — from the same £2 ticket
• Ticket prices have stayed the same at £2 per line
• Draws still take place on Wednesdays and Saturdays

In short, you’re effectively getting two chances to match your numbers instead of one, without paying any extra.

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How Have the Odds Changed?

This is the headline change for most players. Because every line is now checked against two draws, your overall odds of winning any prize on a given night have roughly doubled — improving from around 1 in 9.3 to approximately 1 in 4.9.

The National Lottery has said the change is expected to more than double the number of Lotto millionaires created each year — from around 140 to roughly 345.

Jackpot odds for each individual round remain the same as the old single-draw format (around 1 in 45 million per round), but because you now get two attempts at the jackpot from one line, your combined chance of landing the top prize on any given night is roughly double what it was before.

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What About ‘Must Be Won’ Draws?

Must Be Won draws — where the jackpot rolls down to lower tiers if nobody matches all six numbers — are still part of the game. One notable addition: players who match just two numbers in a Must Be Won draw now receive a £5 cash prize, on top of the free Lucky Dip they previously received for that tier. It’s the first time a cash prize has been offered at that level.

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Lotto HotPicks Has Changed Too

Lotto HotPicks — the side game where you pick how many numbers you want to match rather than playing a full line — has been updated to mirror the new two-round structure. Every HotPicks play now gets two chances to win per line, effectively doubling the odds of winning. To balance this out, the fixed prize amounts for each play type have been roughly halved.

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Why Has the Format Changed?

Lotto ticket sales and player engagement have been gradually declining for years, partly due to competition from EuroMillions, scratchcards, and other instant-win games with better-publicised odds. Doubling the number of draw opportunities — without raising the ticket price — is a fairly direct way to make the game feel more rewarding and create more winners, which in turn should mean more money raised for National Lottery good causes.

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What Should Lotto Players Do Differently?

Honestly — not much. You don’t need to change how you pick your numbers, and there’s no extra cost. The main thing to bear in mind is that the published odds you might be used to from previous years have changed, so it’s worth checking up-to-date odds and results rather than relying on old figures.

If you enjoy tracking which numbers have come up most (and least) often, our Hot & Cold Balls tool has been updated to reflect results from both rounds, so you can see frequency data across the new format. As always, remember that every draw is independent — past results never influence future ones — but it’s a fun way to explore the data.

If the bigger prize pool and improved odds have got you thinking about other ways to play, it’s also worth comparing the wider instant-win market. Our scratchcard comparison tool lets you weigh up National Lottery and online scratchcards side by side by RTP, price and remaining prizes — useful if you fancy a different kind of flutter alongside your Lotto line.

You can also check the latest Lotto results on our site, covering both rounds under the new format.

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Final Thoughts

The new two-round Lotto format is a rare example of a lottery game getting better odds for players without a price increase. It won’t change anyone’s strategy overnight, but it should mean more winners, more frequently — which is good news whichever way you look at it.

As ever, Lotto (and any lottery product) should be played for fun, never as an investment strategy. Only ever play with what you can comfortably afford to lose.