What does a bonus ball mean?
A bonus ball is an extra number drawn after the six main winning numbers in a lottery, such as the UK National Lottery’s Lotto.
It is not chosen by players and doesn’t affect the jackpot. Instead, it is used to determine specific prize tiers, giving players who have already matched most of the main numbers a chance to win a higher prize.
How does a bonus ball work?
Here’s a clear breakdown of how the bonus ball works in a typical UK National Lottery Lotto draw:
- Step 1: You buy a ticket and pick six numbers
For example, let’s say you choose: 3 – 15 – 22 – 28 – 42 – 49. - Step 2: The Lotto draw happens
Six main numbers are drawn first from a pool of 1–59. Suppose the draw produces: 3, 15, 22, 28, 42, 12. - Step 3: The bonus ball is drawn
Once the six main numbers are picked, one more ball is drawn from the remaining numbers. This is the bonus ball. Let’s say the bonus ball is 49. - Step 4: Check how many main numbers you matched
In this example, you matched five of the six main numbers (3, 15, 22, 28, 42). - Step 5: See if your remaining number matches the bonus ball
Your sixth chosen number, 49, also matches the bonus ball drawn.
Result:
Because you matched five main numbers plus the bonus ball, your ticket qualifies for the Match 5 + Bonus prize tier. That pays significantly more than just matching five main numbers. For example, the Match 5 prize might be a few thousand pounds, while the Match 5 + Bonus prize can be up to £1 million.
Important details:
- The bonus ball only matters when you’ve already matched exactly five of the main numbers.
- It does not count towards the jackpot. The top prize is only won by matching all six main numbers.
- Matching fewer than five main numbers plus the bonus ball doesn’t create a separate prize on its own.
How the bonus ball fits into the payout structure
Here is the prize tier table for the UK Lotto, showing how the bonus ball fits into the payout structure.
Prize tier | What you match | Approximate prize/outcome |
|---|---|---|
Match 6 | All six main numbers | Jackpot (varies by draw) |
Match 5 + bonus ball | Five main numbers plus the bonus ball | ~£1,000,000 |
Match 5 | Five main numbers | ~£1,750 |
Match 4 | Four main numbers | ~£140 |
Match 3 | Three main numbers | ~£30 |
Match 2 | Two main numbers | Free Lucky Dip ticket |
Odds of matching the bonus ball
When you’re playing the UK Lotto, the bonus ball itself doesn’t have a standalone odds figure; it matters only if you have already matched five of the six main numbers.
The odds of winning the prize tier that involves the bonus ball, Match 5 + Bonus Ball, are about 1 in 7,509,579. That means out of roughly 7½ million tickets with six numbers, only one would be expected to match five main numbers and the bonus ball.
To put that in perspective with other prize tiers in the same draw:
- Match 6 (jackpot): 1 in 45,057,474
- Match 5 + Bonus Ball: 1 in 7,509,579
- Match 5 (without bonus): 1 in 144,415
- Match 4: 1 in 2,180
- Match 3: 1 in 97
- Match 2 (free Lucky Dip): 1 in 10.3
These stats show that matching the bonus ball along with five main numbers is much less likely than matching five main numbers alone, which is why the boosted prize is significantly larger.
Bonus ball vs. Thunderball
Game type:
- A bonus ball is an extra number drawn as part of the main Lotto game. It is not a separate lottery on its own.
- A Thunderball is a separate National Lottery game with its own draw, rules, and prize structure.
Role in the draw:
- A bonus ball is drawn after the main Lotto numbers and is used to determine certain lower-tier winning outcomes, such as matching five main numbers plus the Bonus Ball.
- A Thunderball is a core part of the Thunderball game itself, not an extra number added to another lottery draw.
Impact on the top prize:
- A bonus ball does not decide the Lotto jackpot. It mainly affects smaller prize tiers below the top prize.
- A Thunderball is directly tied to the game’s top prize structure, so it plays a central role in how winners are determined in Thunderball.
How players use it:
- With a bonus ball, players enter the standard Lotto draw, and the bonus ball appears only as part of the final result.
With Thunderball, players are entering a game built around that format from the start, so the Thunderball is part of the ticket rather than an added result feature.
Conclusion
The bonus ball is a special extra number drawn after the six main numbers in UK lottery‑style games like the UK National Lottery’s Lotto. Its role is simple but specific: if you have already matched five of the six main numbers, then matching the bonus ball can raise your prize into a much higher tier.
Understanding how the bonus ball fits into the Lotto prize tiers can help players interpret their results more clearly, but the outcome of every draw remains entirely determined by chance.
For more insights into betting rules and markets, visit The Advantage blog.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pick a bonus ball when I buy my ticket?
No, you only choose six numbers when buying a UK Lotto ticket. The bonus ball is drawn automatically after the main six numbers and is not something you select yourself.
Can any of my numbers match the bonus ball?
Yes. Because the bonus ball is drawn from the same pool of 59 numbers as the main draw, any of the six numbers on your ticket could match it if the other five match the main numbers.
Why is the bonus ball drawn after the main numbers?
The bonus ball is drawn after the six main numbers to give players who nearly hit the jackpot (five main numbers) an extra chance at a higher payout. It cannot duplicate any of the main numbers because it’s drawn from the remaining balls.
Does the bonus ball help me win the jackpot?
No. To win the jackpot in the UK Lotto, you must match all six main numbers; the bonus ball doesn’t change that rule. It only affects the prize tier immediately below the jackpot.
What if I match one main number and the bonus ball?
Matching just one main number and the bonus ball doesn’t qualify for a win. Prizes start with matching at least two main numbers, and the bonus ball only boosts the prize once you have five correct.