Thunderball Jackpot & Prizes - Chances of Winning
Odds are based on 1 play. Payout percentages may vary.
Thunderball Jackpot & Prizes - Chances of Winning
Thunderball is one of the United Kingdom's national lotteries. This lottery is not the largest in the country, but it has millions of devoted fans who attend every draw. Thunderball is run by Allwyn, the operator of the UK National Lottery since February 2024, and is fully licenced and regulated by the Gambling Commission. The first Thunderball drawing took place on June 12, 1999.
A large portion of the money spent on Thunderball is donated to "good causes" in the United Kingdom.
Lottery players in the United Kingdom can purchase Thunderball tickets at their local lottery retailer. They are widely available, even in grocery stores and post offices.
At LottoPark our players from the UK and from other countries can play Thunderball online whenever they want. On our website, Thunderball tickets are available 24 hours per day, 365 days a year. When you want to play - just register at LottoPark and select your numbers to win Thunderball prizes in the nearest draw.
The draw of Thunderball results and winning numbers takes place every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at 8.15 p.m. local time in London, UK.
Let's find out more about Thunderball prizes and the odds of winning.
Thunderball Jackpot & Prizes - Chances of Winning
How Do You Play Thunderball?
Thunderball is one of the draw games of the UK National Lottery. The rules are simple: on every line you choose 5 main numbers from 1 to 39 and 1 Thunderball from 1 to 14. The two sets of numbers are drawn from two separate machines, so the Thunderball can have the same value as one of your main numbers. You can mark your numbers yourself or use the Quick Pick option on the Thunderball play page.
Draws take place four times a week – on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings. That gives you more than 200 chances to win every year. The game has been running since 12 June 1999 and is operated under the UK National Lottery licence, since February 2024 by Allwyn.
What Is the Thunderball Jackpot?
Unlike most lotteries, Thunderball does not have a rolling jackpot. The top prize is a fixed £500,000 for matching all five main numbers plus the Thunderball. All the other prizes are fixed amounts as well, so you know exactly what every tier pays before the draw. Because the top prize never rolls over, a question like "what was the biggest Thunderball jackpot?" has a simple answer: every Thunderball top prize is worth the same £500,000.
What Are the Thunderball Odds?
The Thunderball odds are among the best of all lotteries with a six-figure top prize. The chance of winning the £500,000 prize is 1 in 8,060,598, and the overall chance of winning any prize is about 1 in 12. Here is the full prize table:
| Match | Prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 5 + Thunderball | £500,000 | 1 in 8,060,598 |
| 5 | £5,000 | 1 in 620,046 |
| 4 + Thunderball | £250 | 1 in 47,416 |
| 4 | £100 | 1 in 3,648 |
| 3 + Thunderball | £20 | 1 in 1,437 |
| 3 | £10 | 1 in 111 |
| 2 + Thunderball | £10 | 1 in 135 |
| 1 + Thunderball | £5 | 1 in 35 |
| 0 + Thunderball | £3 | 1 in 29 |
As you can see, the Thunderball number matters a lot: it turns a line with no main numbers at all into a winning line, and it lifts every tier where it appears. Four of the nine prize tiers need only the Thunderball plus two or fewer main numbers.
How Are Thunderball Prizes Paid at LottoPark?
All the prizes won with tickets bought at LottoPark are credited to your account. Winnings up to $2,500 (or the equivalent in your currency) are added to your balance automatically after the draw. Larger prizes, such as the £5,000 second tier or the £500,000 top prize, are handled individually by our team, who will contact you and guide you through the payout.
Did You Know?
Thunderball is often called the lottery for players who prefer realistic odds over huge jackpots. With odds of 1 in 8,060,598 for the top prize, your chance of hitting the £500,000 prize is more than five times better than the chance of winning the UK Lotto jackpot (1 in 45,057,474). And since the top prize is fixed, it is not shared: every ticket that matches all six numbers wins the full amount. If you are looking for bigger prizes from the UK, have a look at UK Lotto or Set For Life, or check the latest Thunderball results to see if your numbers have already come up.
