Coronavirus & EuroMillions: How to Play Online
EuroMillions draws have continued as normal throughout the coronavirus outbreak. However, the spread of Covid-19 forced governments around the world to bring in temporary measures to ensure the safety of employees and customers, leading to questions from our users about how to keep playing EuroMillions in the nine participating countries.
Note: This page will be updated as any further information is released that may affect how you can play EuroMillions in any of the participating countries.
The safest way to ensure you don't miss a draw is to take part online. This means you can still enjoy the game from home, while there is also the added security of knowing that your numbers can never get lost or damaged. Find out here about the impact of coronavirus on EuroMillions in different countries and what you need to know about playing the game at the current time.
Select your country from the list below to see up to date information on how you can play EuroMillions:
UK
Spain
France
Ireland
Austria
Belgium
Luxembourg
Portugal
Switzerland
Entering EuroMillions Draws in the UK
It's still possible to buy your EuroMillions tickets online and in-store across the UK.
The game has remained available throughout the crisis, even following the UK Government’s announcement that the country had entered a state of lockdown as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. However, choosing your EuroMillions numbers online rather than in-store is still the safest option.
By entering online, you reduce physical contact with others and your entries will be stored safely in your online account.
FAQs for UK EuroMillions players
Can I still buy tickets in-store in the UK?
Yes, National Lottery tickets can still be purchased in stores. While some shops have shut during the tightest restrictions, many have remained open even during the country’s spells in lockdown. Even when the UK Government has urged people to only leave home for “basic necessities” such as food and medicine, it has still been possible to purchase lottery tickets at the same time as shopping for essential goods.
Many shops have introduced measures to reduce contact, such as only accepting card/contactless payments, rather than handling cash.
Can I pick my EuroMillions numbers online?
Yes, it's possible to choose your numbers online. Use the button below, where you will be taken to select your five main numbers and two Lucky Star numbers the same way you would in a shop.
Buy EuroMillions tickets online
Once you have paid for your entries, you will be able to view them in your online account. In the event of a win, you will receive an email notification, informing you that you should check your account.
Could ticket sales be suspended?
The UK National Lottery has stated since the start of the pandemic that it expects draws to continue as normal, and so far the schedule has been unaffected. If the situation regarding retail stores changes, there is no reason why online sales would cease. Online sales have not been suspended during any previous lockdowns.
You can buy your tickets online, ensuring that your numbers will be entered into all draws for your selected period.
Are any EuroMillions draws being cancelled?
There has been no news to suggest that any EuroMillions draws will be cancelled as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak. Draws take place in Paris every Tuesday and Friday and have continued throughout the pandemic. Should this change, this page will be updated accordingly.
Ticket sales for EuroMillions have continued in all participating countries apart from Spain, where they were suspended temporarily in the spring of 2020 while the country was in lockdown.
What is the National Lottery doing to support people?
The National Lottery has already given £300 million to support community projects battling the coronavirus outbreak. The money for good causes is generated from ticket sales for all National Lottery games, including EuroMillions. It is distributed across various sectors in normal times but the focus at the moment continues to be on providing aid to those that are most vulnerable.
Can I still play in advance as normal?
Yes. You can play up to four weeks in advance. The National Lottery had previously reduced how far in advance you could enter draws during the peak of the outbreak, due to uncertainty over whether they would be able to go on as scheduled for long. For this reason, advance play was limited to the next two draws. However, with the situation constantly assessed and restrictions easing, it was decided to restore the rules to normal.
How to Play EuroMillions Online in Spain
Sales of all lottery tickets, including EuroMillions, were suspended in Spain for two months during the height of the spring 2020 lockdown. Loterias y Apuestas, the official operator of EuroMillions in Spain, suspended all ticket sales on 15th March 2020. Tickets that had already been sold for the EuroMillions draws on 17th and 20th March remained valid, but it was not possible to purchase tickets for further draws until the suspension was lifted and sales resumed on 18th May.
Ticket sales for other lottery games in Spain also resumed at around the same time. Any lottery tickets purchased for draws that were then suspended remained valid and could be used when the rescheduled draw took place. Here’s when draws resumed:
- The week of 18-24 May: EuroMillions and La Primitiva
- The week of 25-31 May: Bonoloto and El Gordo de la Primitiva
- 11 June onwards: All other National Lottery draws
- For prizes won between 1st September 2020 and 29th October 2020 - the deadline was extended by 90 days, giving winners a total of 150 days to come forward.
- For prizes won between 30th October and 29th December 2020 - the deadline was extended by 60 days, giving winners a total of 120 days to come forward.
- For prizes won from 30th December until restrictions are lifted - the deadline was extended by 30 days, giving winners a total of 90 days to come forward.
You can still play EuroMillions online through a concierge service. Online play remains the safer option as it means you do not have to come into contact with other people.
FAQs for Spanish Players
Read some FAQs about the suspension of lottery sales in Spain below:
Can I Still Buy EuroMillions Tickets Online in Spain?
Yes, to purchase EuroMillions tickets online from Spain, click the "Play Online from Spain" button below.
Note: As you are purchasing tickets for the non-Spanish version of EuroMillions, you will not receive your El Millón raffle code and will not be entered into the additional €1 million draw.
You will be directed to one of our recommended concierge websites, where you will be able to choose your numbers, and tickets will be purchased on your behalf in another participating EuroMillions country.
Your tickets will then be scanned and a copy saved in your online account. If you win a prize, your winnings will be paid into your account, or alternatively you will be contacted in the event of a larger prize win.
As tickets are sold in Austria, the validity period for prizes is three years from the date of a draw, so there is no immediate rush to claim your winnings in the event of a jackpot win. You will also be automatically entered into the Austria Bonus draw to give you a chance to win €100,000.
What Happens If I Have Already Bought A Ticket?
If you purchased a EuroMillions ticket in Spain for the draws on Tuesday 17th and Friday 20th March, your tickets were valid for those draws. If you won a prize in those draws you can claim it using the methods below.
If you bought a ticket for any other state lottery game (not EuroMillions), your ticket was still valid for the draw when it took place on the rescheduled date.
Will I Still Be Able to Claim Prizes?
Yes. The claim period for prizes was suspended during the state of alarm, so you did not need to worry about missing out on claiming any winnings on existing tickets you had.
Once draws resumed, it was confirmed that the time limit for claiming prizes would be restored to the usual three-month period.
Playing EuroMillions in France
France is the country where EuroMillions draws are held every Tuesday and Friday evening, and tickets are still on sale. The country has been through a number of lockdowns, but you can purchase entries from points of sale where they remain open. However, playing online is a safer and easier option.
FAQs for Playing EuroMillions in France
Find out more information about playing EuroMillions in France during the pandemic with these frequently asked questions.
Can I Still Play EuroMillions in France?
Yes. You can play EuroMillions from France as normal despite the Coronavirus outbreak.
How do I Buy Tickets if I'm Staying at Home?
While tickets are still available from some points of sale, it is still safest to take part in EuroMillions online. It is simple to play online without leaving home. Your numbers will be kept secure and you will be notified automatically if you are a winner.
Will I Be Given More Time to Claim Prizes?
Yes. The time period for claiming prizes has been extended a couple of times in France when restrictions have been at their strictest. Here are the time limits for prizes won before, during and after the latest lockdown.
Every EuroMillions country is having to cope with coronavirus and various actions have been taken everywhere to try and stem the tide. These measures have made a big difference to everyday life, but lottery draws have not been suspended anywhere yet apart from Spain.
While national lotteries are currently continuing to operate as normal, the health and safety of their employees and players remains the priority and extra restrictions could be introduced in future. You can still buy EuroMillions tickets from authorised retailers, but entering draws online is safer and easier.
Ireland
It is still possible to purchase EuroMillions tickets online and in-store in Ireland. There have, however, been some restrictions set by the Irish National Lottery in relation to prize claims, for the safety of employees and players.
A number of staff have been told to work remotely from home during the outbreak, while a limited number of staff members will continue to work at Lottery headquarters in Dublin to facilitate the draws and the claiming of prizes.
If you win a prize worth more than €15,000, it must be claimed at the Lottery headquarters, however due to the current circumstances, any winners that would need to visit the Dublin offices are asked to contact prior to their visit. You can reach the Irish National Lottery claims team on 1800 666 222 or 01 836 4444.
To help make sure that players do not miss out on prizes, the Irish National Lottery extended its claims period. Any winners from 9th January to 5th July 2020 were allowed an extra three months to come forward. The normal deadline of 90 days is now back in place.
Advance play has now returned to normal, allowing you to enter up to eight consecutive draws. There had been a temporary limit on playing in advance until 5th May.
Austria
While there were restrictions in place in Austria that included a ban on all social gatherings of five or more people, it was still possible to play EuroMillions throughout the peak of the pandemic.
Residents were advised only to visit shops for essentials such as food, so playing online was a much safer option.
The Austrian Lottery (Österreichische Lotterien) said that the nation's Lotto game would continue as usual, however it would not be televised. Sports-related lottery games did experience disruption as a result of wider cancellations to matches aroud the world.
Austrian residents are able to purchase entries online using the link below:
Belgium
A lockdown was enforced from midday on Wednesday 18th March 2020 in Belgium and lasted for several months. Residents were only allowed to leave their homes for essential reasons, in particular to purchase food, for health reasons and to help others.
It was therefore possible to purchase tickets in retail shops that were open and sold EuroMillions tickets, however it was safer to purchase your entries online, to avoid any unneccesary visits to shops or standing in queues. Another national lockdown was introduced in November 2020.
If you are visiting this page from Belgium, you can use the link below to purchase your entries online:
Luxembourg
Like many other nations in Europe, Luxembourg declared a 'state of crisis.' For around eight weeks, residents were asked to stay at home, and should only leave for urgent and unavoidable trips. Measures were also brought in to stop the spread when cases began to increase again in November 2020.
Purchasing entries for EuroMillions online in Luxembourg is quick and easy, while also reducing the need to leave your home:
Portugal
In Portugal, a state of emergency was declared, with new measures coming into place from Thursday 19th March 2020 until the situation improved in early May. A second wave of the virus forced the government to declare another state of emergency in October 2020.
As is the case with other countries, the safest way to play is online as it reduces social contact with others. Entries are stored in your online account after payment, and you will be notified automatically of any wins.
Switzerland
As of Monday 16th March 2020, a state of emergency was declared in Switzerland, which lasted until the end of April. As a result, all shops, bars, restaurants, leisure and entertainment facilities were closed. Food shops, fuel stations, pharmacies and health-related facilities remained open.
As many shops and facilities were closed, the simplest way to get your EuroMillions entries while avoiding queuing and unnecessary contact with others was to play online. It remains the safest way to play, following another sharp rise in cases before the end of 2020.
This page was last updated on 05/01/2021.