The Thrill of Thunderball: An Overview

Overview

The Thunderball is run by the National Lottery and was launched in June 1999. Every Wednesday and Saturday, five main numbers are drawn along with one Thunderball. To win the minimum prize all you need to do is match just one number and the Thunderball. To win the top prize of £250,000 (soon changing to £500,000) you need to match five numbers plus the Thunderball.

Whilst the top prize is fixed the good news is that it never has be shared, as is the case with many other lotteries, in the event that other players also have the winning combination of numbers. Currently, to play Thunderball all you need to do is select five main numbers from 1 through 34 and one Thunderball from 1 through 14. The overall odds of matching five main numbers plus the Thunderball are 1 in 3,895,584. 

In May 2010, Thunderball will undergo some changes including an increased top prize of £500,000 (instead of the current £250,000), an extra draw on Friday and a new prize of £3 for just matching the Thunderball. The price, however, will remain at just £1 per play.

Lottery Schedule

Drawings for this lotto are held on Wednesday, Saturday.

How to Play

A Thunderball playslip has five boards and each board is made up of two boxes. Currently, to play Thunderball all you need to do is select five main numbers from 1 through 34 in the first box and one Thunderball from 1 through 14 in the second box.  However, from 9th May 2010, you be able to pick five main numbers from 1 through 39 and still one Thunderball from 1 through 14. 
You can also choose a 'Lucky Dip' and the terminal will randomly choose your Thunderball numbers for you.
Each board costs £1 to play.

Participating Countries

The following countries participate in Thunderball: UK

Prize Structure

There are eight prize divisions which are as follows:

1. five main numbers plus the Thunderball wins £250,000
2. five main numbers wins £5,000 
3. four main numbers plus the Thunderball wins £250 
4. four main numbers wins £100
5. three main numbers plus the Thunderball wins £20
6. three main numbers wins £10
7. two main numbers plus the Thunderball wins £10
8. one main number plus the Thunderball wins £5

Grand Prize

£101,151 Pound

Jackpots

There are no jackpots or multipliers.

Notable Wins

The first division prize remains fixed at £250,000 until 9th May 2010 when it will become £500,000.

Distribution of Revenue

Due to the fixed prize nature of this game there are no rollovers if the top prize is not won. On average, 54 per cent of sales for Thunderball will be paid out in prizes to players.

Since the National Lottery began, more than £24 billion has been donated towards good causes benefiting the community. 28p of every £1 is added to the National Lottery Distribution Fund, which is a pool of money allocated to arts, sports and charities that bid for it.