What are top 10 Biggest Lotteries in the World Ranked by Record Jackpots?

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.

Record jackpot: $2.04 billion
Country: United States
Jackpot structure: uncapped
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

The Mega Millions lottery is Powerball’s main competitor in the U.S. and the only other lottery to exceed $1.5 billion.

Record jackpot: $1.602 billion
Country: United States
Jackpot structure: uncapped
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.

Record jackpot: €250 million
Countries: 9 European nations
Jackpot structure: capped
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.

Record jackpot: AU$200 million
Country: Australia
Jackpot structure: capped
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.

Record jackpot: €120 million
Countries: 18+ European nations
Jackpot structure: capped
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.

Record total prize pool: over €2.7 billion
Country: Spain
Jackpot structure: distributed
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.

Record jackpot: €371 million
Country: Italy
Jackpot structure: uncapped
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.

Record jackpot: €45 million
Country: Germany
Jackpot structure: capped
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.

Record jackpot: over ZAR 232 million
Country: South Africa
Jackpot structure: uncapped
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.

Record jackpot: NZ$50 million
Country: New Zealand
Jackpot structure: capped
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:

United States lotteries for extreme individual wealth
European lotteries for tax-efficient multimillionaires
Raffle-style lotteries for mass wealth distribution