Super Enalotto
Super Enalotto is Italy's primary national lottery, operated by Lottomatica under state regulation. It has run since 1997 and draws three times a week. This guide explains the mechanics, prize structure, odds, and the math behind participation.
How the Draw Works
Players select six numbers from a range of 1 to 90. Each ticket costs a fixed amount. Three times per week, on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, Lottomatica draws six winning numbers at random, plus a seventh number called the Jolly (bonus ball).
Winning combinations depend on how many of your six numbers match the drawn six, or whether you match five main numbers plus the Jolly. There is no fixed jackpot pool; prizes are split among winners in each tier, meaning your payout depends on ticket sales and the number of other winners at your prize level.
Prize Structure and Odds
Super Enalotto has six prize tiers. We list them by matching numbers, not by prize rank.
The jackpot (six correct numbers) has odds of 1 in 622,614,630. Five correct numbers plus the Jolly give odds of 1 in 104,435,772. Five correct numbers (without the Jolly) come in at 1 in 7,151,060. Four correct numbers have odds of 1 in 11,907. Three correct numbers have odds of 1 in 327. Two correct numbers have odds of 1 in 27.
The overall odds of winning any prize are approximately 1 in 21. This means about one in every twenty-one tickets wins something, though most wins are small (two or three matching numbers).
Draw Schedule and Timing
Draws occur at 20:00 CET on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Results are published immediately after. Tickets may be purchased up until a set cutoff before each draw, usually around 19:30 CET, though this can vary by retailer.
The three-times-weekly schedule means players have multiple chances per week to match the draw, compared to once-weekly lotteries like some international formats.
History and Regulation
Super Enalotto replaced an earlier lottery game in 1997. Lottomatica, the state-owned operator, runs draws under the supervision of Italian gambling regulators. The game is legal throughout Italy and regulated by Agenzia delle Dogane e dei Monopoli (ADM).
The lottery has produced numerous significant jackpot wins. In 2010, a single ticket claimed a jackpot of approximately 177.7 million euros, one of the largest in European lottery history.
The Maths: Expected Value and Syndicate Logic
From a pure expected value (EV) perspective, Super Enalotto, like most lotteries, has a negative EV for the player. The state takes a percentage of ticket sales as revenue before prizes are distributed. This means the total value returned to all players is less than what all players collectively paid.
However, lotteries operate on pool-based prize distribution. If the jackpot has not been won in previous draws, the prize money rolls forward and grows, which can change the EV for a single draw. A player should note: no public EV calculation will overcome the structural negative edge, but understanding rollover mechanics helps explain why some draws attract more attention than others.
Syndicates amplify odds of winning any prize by purchasing more tickets. If ten people buy ten tickets each instead of one, the syndicate wins a prize roughly ten times more often. The trade-off is sharing each prize ten ways. Syndicates do not improve EV; they trade ticket cost for frequency of small wins instead of chasing one large win.
Tax Treatment
In Italy, Super Enalotto winnings above a certain threshold are subject to national tax. Large prizes typically incur a percentage withholding at the point of payout. Residents and non-residents are taxed differently. Players should verify current Italian tax law or consult a tax professional, as rates and thresholds change. Prizes are usually paid out net of applicable tax.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Jolly number and how does it work?
The Jolly is a seventh bonus number drawn separately from the six main winning numbers. It is used only in one prize tier: matching five of the six main numbers plus the Jolly. This tier sits between matching five main numbers (without Jolly) and matching six main numbers (jackpot). The Jolly increases the number of prize tiers and changes the odds distribution.
How often does the jackpot roll over?
The jackpot rolls over whenever no ticket matches all six main numbers. Prize money from the rolled-over draw is added to the next draw's jackpot pool. Rollover frequency depends on random chance and total ticket sales. High rollover cycles attract more players and media attention, which is why some draws have much larger advertised jackpots.
Do I have to pay tax on Small wins like matching two or three numbers?
Tax thresholds in Italy apply to prizes above a certain value. Very small wins (two or three matching numbers) typically fall below the taxable threshold. However, the exact threshold changes and depends on current Italian law. You should verify with the retailer or Lottomatica directly for the current rules, as thresholds are adjusted periodically.
Can I claim a Super Enalotto prize anonymously?
Italy's lottery regulations require winners to identify themselves to Lottomatica. Claims must be made within a set time frame (typically 90 days from the draw), and identification is mandatory for prizes above certain amounts. Public disclosure of winning tickets varies by region and retailer policy, but anonymity is not guaranteed by law.
What is the difference between the odds of winning any prize and the odds of winning the jackpot?
The odds of winning any prize (approximately 1 in 21) include all six tiers: two numbers, three numbers, four numbers, five without Jolly, five with Jolly, and six numbers. The jackpot odds (1 in 622,614,630) refer only to matching all six main numbers. Most tickets that win do so at the lower tiers, where payouts are small. The gap between any-prize odds and jackpot odds shows why consistent large wins are rare.
How are prize amounts determined if multiple people win the same tier?
Super Enalotto uses a pool-splitting system. The amount allocated to each prize tier is set as a percentage of total ticket sales. That pool is then divided equally among all winners in that tier. If ten tickets match four numbers in one draw, each of those ten tickets receives one-tenth of the four-number prize pool. This means your actual payout depends on how many other winners exist in your tier.
