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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Business
James Andrews

EuroMillions jackpot: All you need to know as huge £169m prize must be won tonight

The last time someone correctly picked five numbers and two stars to win the Euromillions Jackpot was Friday, 19 July.

For their efforts, they took home £96,710,509.

Since then 24 draws have taken place where the jackpot has been rolled over to the next week.

Five draws ago the jackpot maxed out - with the Euromillions rules stating it can't exceed €190 million - and still no one won.

Instead, the money that would normally have been added to the prize fund was "rolled down" and distributed to the next highest level where someone did win.

The jackpot will be gone by 8pm, no matter how many people see their numbers come in (Getty)

On Friday, for example, eight players got bigger than normal prizes for matching five numbers and just one Lucky Star - three of them in the UK - picking up £1.8million each.

That compares to the £277,001 people picked up for matching five numbers  plus one star on August 6th, for example.

Euromillions "must be won" explained

There will definitely be at least one winning ticket this time (AFP/Getty Images)

The rules state that - once it has reached its cap - the jackpot can only rollover a four more times before the cash is distributed.

That limit has now been reached.

Andy Carter, the senior winners' adviser at The National Lottery, said: "This means, if the jackpot isn't won on Tuesday, it will roll down into the next prize tier where there is at least one winner.

"If the jackpot is won, it could make the UK's biggest ever winner."

Who gets the jackpot money if no one matches all 7

The champagne may be flowing for you tonight (PA Archive/PA Images)

If there are no players who match five numbers plus one lucky star, the entire amount will again roll down to the next winning tier which is for those who match five numbers.

And that means your odds of a payout just soared.

While it's a long 139,838,160 to one to pick all 7 numbers, the chances of getting six are far higher.

You are 20 times as likely to get five numbers plus one lucky star, at 6,991,908 to one, and 45 times more likely to correctly pick 5 numbers at 3,107,515 to one.

When does the Euromillions draw happen?

(PA)

The Euromillions draw takes place at 19:45, with results generally in by 20:00 UK time.

But ticket sales stop earlier.

To be in with a chance of picking up a prize, to need to buy your ticket by 19:30 on the day of the draw.

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