Lotto Set to Hit Jackpot Cap Again
Last Updated: Thursday 24th September 2020, 14:20
Lotto is expected to pass its jackpot cap on Saturday night, with an estimated top prize of £24.2 million up for grabs. Once Lotto passes £22 million, it can only roll over once before the entire jackpot has to be won, with the full amount rolling down to the next prize tier with winners if no one matches all six main numbers.
It will be the second time Lotto has reached its cap in two months, having passed that landmark in the draw on Saturday 10th September. There was no jackpot winner in either that draw or in the following draw on Wednesday 14th September, meaning three players who matched five main numbers and the Bonus Ball scooped £8.1 million each.
The jackpot cap was introduced in October 2015 when a number of Lotto changes were made. It replaced a four-rollover limit that had stood since the game started in 1994, and was initially set at £50 million. That figure was reached earlier this year, when there was a rollover at £52.9 million on Wednesday 6th January. The draw on Saturday 9th January offered a jackpot worth a staggering £66 million, which was shared between Carol and David Martin of Hawick in the Scottish Borders and an anonymous player who bought their ticket in Worcester.
The cap rose to £55 million briefly, before being lowered to £22 million a few months ago. The National Lottery can set the Lotto jackpot cap level at its discretion, advertising the current value before it is reached. Find out more on the jackpot cap at the Rollovers page.
You can play Lotto online or by visiting authorised retailers across the UK for Saturday’s £24.2 million draw. Make sure you have your entries placed before the cut-off point of 7:30pm and check the Lotto Results page soon after the draw takes place to see if you are a winner!