Buy Germany Lotto Tickets Online

With regular draws, rollover jackpots and a long, successful history, Germany Lotto 6aus49 is a consistent national lottery game.

The familiar format makes this an easy game for lotto enthusiasts to take part in, both in Germany and beyond.

In this guide, we’ll tell you all about this popular game and how you can buy Germany Lotto tickets online no matter where you live.

About Germany Lotto

Launched in 1955, Germany Lotto, also called Lotto 6aus49, is a national game run by Deutscher Lotto-und Totoblock (DLTB).

DLTB is a partnership between 16 independent lotto companies across Germany in each state in the country.

Each member takes a turn running the game for a period of three years as it assumes the presidency and chair of DLTB.

Germany Lotto Draws

Germany Lotto 6aus49 is a bi-weekly game. Draws are held on Wednesdays at 6:25 pm CET and Saturdays at 7:25 pm CET at Saarland Radio in Saarbrücken.

The results are broadcast live on the game’s website, lotto.de. They are also broadcast on television on ZDF TV and ARD TV approximately half an hour after the draws.

How to Play Germany Lotto

Germany Lotto follows the familiar 6/49 format, where players choose six numbers from a main ball pool of numbers 1 through 49.

However, there is also a bonus number, called the Superzahl, which players choose from a ball pool of numbers 1 through 9.

To win the jackpot, players must match all six main numbers as well as teh Superzahl.

Players can purchase tickets from lotto retailers across the country or buy lotto tickets for (or bet on the outcome of) its draws online through independent retailers.

Tickets cost €1 per line in Germany.

Players can either choose their own numbers or use the Quick-Tipp option. This is the equivalent of the Quick Pick option of many other lotteries around the world. 

Germany Lotto Prizes and Odds

In total, there are nine prize tiers that players can win, so long as they match a minimum of two numbers and the Superzahl number.

Jackpots start at a minimum of €1 million, and the prize rolls over to the following draw if there is no winner.

The jackpot will continue to roll over for 13 draws, at which point the jackpot prize is split amongst the winners of the second-highest prize tier.

If there are no winners in that tier, it will be split amongst the next tier.

The prize amount per tier varies by draw, as prizes are determined based on a percentage of overall ticket sales per draw.

While there is a lot of potential for big jackpots, winning the top prize is tough, with odds of 1 in 139,838,160.

There are only a few lotteries around the world with tougher odds, including US Powerball and Italy SuperEnalotto.

The overall odds of winning any prize are 1 in 31.

The odds of winning and expected prize amount for each prize tier is as follows:

Claiming Germany Lotto Prizes

All Germany Lotto prizes are paid out as a lump sum, with no annuity offered for jackpot winners. Prizes are also tax-free.

However, players residing outside of Germany who purchase tickets from independent online lotteries may be subject to the tax laws of their country of residence should they win.

Notable Germany Lotto Winners

Germany Lotto regularly awards jackpots of a decent size. On average, jackpots reach around €10 million, and the jackpot is typically won about 26 times per year.

The biggest jackpot ever won from Germany Lotto was awarded in December 2007, when three lucky players split a €45,382,458 prize.

This was the highest jackpot ever won in the country up until October 2016, when a lucky Eurojackpot player from Germany won a €90 million jackpot.

Germany Lotto-Should You Play?

Germany Lotto has had a long history of success in Germany since it first launched over 60 years ago.

The familiar 6/49 format makes it an easy game to understand and participate in, and the consistent bi-weekly draws offer many opportunities to win.

Though the odds of winning the jackpot are pretty tough, the lump-sum, tax-free payments make this game very appealing.

In addition, many of our favourite lottery sites offer it, making the decision to play it a no-brainer.