Lotteries exist in many countries, but only a handful have produced truly record-breaking jackpots that reached hundreds of millions or even billions. These games dominate global headlines and are often the reference point when people talk about “the biggest lottery in the world.”
Below is a list of the top 10 biggest lotteries in the world, ranked according to their largest jackpot ever recorded.
1. Powerball Lottery (United States) – Largest Jackpot Ever Recorded
The Powerball lottery currently holds the world record for the biggest lottery jackpot in history.
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Record jackpot: $2.04 billion
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Country: United States
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Jackpot structure: uncapped
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Reason for size: long rollovers and very long odds
Powerball is widely regarded as the lottery that creates the wealthiest individual winners in history.
Where to play American Powerball lottery?
2. Mega Millions Lottery (United States) – Second Largest Global Jackpot
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Record jackpot: $1.602 billion
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Country: United States
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Jackpot structure: uncapped
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Known for: frequent billion-dollar jackpots
Mega Millions consistently ranks just behind Powerball in jackpot size.
Where to play MegaMillions American lottery?
3. EuroMillions Lottery (Europe) – Largest Lottery in Europe
The EuroMillions is the biggest lottery in Europe by jackpot size.
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Record jackpot: €250 million
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Countries: 9 European nations
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Jackpot structure: capped
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Tax-free winnings
Although capped, EuroMillions produces some of the richest winners in Europe.
4. Australian Powerball – Largest Lottery in the Southern Hemisphere
The Australian Powerball is one of the world’s most generous non-US lotteries.
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Record jackpot: AU$200 million
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Country: Australia
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Jackpot structure: capped
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Known for: better odds than US lotteries
Australian Powerball offers a strong balance between jackpot size and odds.
5. Eurojackpot Lottery (Europe) – Multi-Country High-Value Lottery
The Eurojackpot is another major European lottery with a growing international reputation.
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Record jackpot: €120 million
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Countries: 18+ European nations
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Jackpot structure: capped
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Known for: better odds than EuroMillions
Eurojackpot creates more frequent multimillionaires, even if jackpots are smaller.
6. El Gordo Spanish Christmas Lottery – Largest Total Prize Pool
The Spanish Christmas Lottery, known as El Gordo, is unique in global lottery history.
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Record total prize pool: over €2.7 billion
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Country: Spain
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Jackpot structure: distributed
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Notable difference: thousands of winners per draw
El Gordo does not create billionaires but distributes more money than any other lottery.
Where to buy coupons for Spanish Christmas lottery ElGordo de Navidad?
7. SuperEnalotto (Italy) – Europe’s Biggest Single-Country Jackpot
The SuperEnalotto holds the record for the largest single-country lottery jackpot in Europe.
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Record jackpot: €371 million
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Country: Italy
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Jackpot structure: uncapped
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Known for: extremely long rollovers
SuperEnalotto produces fewer winners but very large individual prizes.
Where to play Italian lottery Superenalotto?
8. Lotto 6aus49 (Germany) – One of Europe’s Oldest Lotteries
The Lotto 6aus49 is one of the most established lotteries in Europe.
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Record jackpot: €45 million
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Country: Germany
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Jackpot structure: capped
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Known for: strong participation and reliability
While jackpots are smaller, it remains one of Europe’s biggest national lotteries.
9. South African Powerball – High Odds Advantage
The South African Powerball is popular for offering better odds than most major lotteries.
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Record jackpot: over ZAR 232 million
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Country: South Africa
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Jackpot structure: uncapped
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Known for: more frequent wins
Jackpots are smaller in global terms but still significant locally.
10. New Zealand Powerball – Best Odds Among Powerball Lotteries
The New Zealand Powerball rounds out the top ten.
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Record jackpot: NZ$50 million
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Country: New Zealand
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Jackpot structure: capped
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Known for: best odds among Powerball variants
It offers smaller jackpots but much higher chances of winning.
Which Lotteries Produce the Biggest Winners Overall?
Based strictly on record jackpots, the biggest lotteries in the world are dominated by:
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United States lotteries for extreme individual wealth
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European lotteries for tax-efficient multimillionaires
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Raffle-style lotteries for mass wealth distribution
Final Ranking Summary: Biggest Lotteries by Record Jackpot
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Eurojackpot (Europe)
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Lotto 6aus49 (Germany)