Lotto – How To Play

About Lotto

Lotto is fixed-prize game of chance which is played using a field of numbers from one (1) to ninety (90). Five (5) winning numbers are randomly drawn for each Lotto draw to determine Prima, Ambo, Terno and Quaterno winning combinations, if one (1), two (2), three (3) or four (4) numbers are drawn, respectively.

An additional option is Terno-Ambo, where three (3) numbers are chosen, and a bet is placed on any two (2) or three (3) of the five (5) numbers drawn. A combination of one Terno bet (3 of 5) and 3 Ambo bets (2 of 5) is created, being the combination of the same three (3) numbers picked for Terno.
Lotto tickets can be purchased at any National Lottery Points of Sale around Malta and Gozo.

How to fill in a Lotto playslip

Learn how to play different playing methods when using a Lotto playslip

To play a Simple Column in Lotto, the player should mark one (1) to four (4) numbers (with an ‘X’) according to the type of game selected, in at least one (1) of the four (4) Playing Board(s) of the playslip.
The game types available are:

  • Prima – where a player must choose one (1) number and mark the box [P]
  • Ambo – where a player must choose two (2) numbers and mark the box [A]
  • Terno – where a player must choose three (3) numbers and mark the box [T]
  • Terno-Ambo – where a player must choose three (3) numbers and mark the box [TA]

Lotto Playslip Simple Column for National Lottery

To play a Simple Column in Lotto Quaterno, the player should mark four (4) numbers (with an ‘X’), in at least one (1) of the four (4) Playing Board(s) of the playslip. The player must also mark the box [Q].

Lotto Quaterno can be played on the same playslip of Lotto. However, this game type cannot be combined with any other Lotto game options. The basic stake of Lotto Quaterno is €2.00.

Lotto Quaterno Playslip for National Lottery

A Fully Expanded System entry is an alternative way of playing Lotto, providing the player with more chances to win by the creation of various columns. A System entry allows the player to select more than the minimum amount of numbers but not more than twenty (20) in a single Playing Board, for each game type, thus providing the player with more chances to win.

  • Prima – where a player must choose more than one (1) number
  • Ambo – where a player must choose more than two (2) numbers
  • Terno & Terno-Ambo – where a player must choose more than three (3) numbers

Terno-Ambo is a game type which is a combination of the two (2) game types Ambo and Terno. In this game type, three (3) numbers are chosen, and a bet is placed on any two (2) or three (3) of the five (5) numbers drawn.

To play Terno-Ambo, a player must choose three (3) numbers and mark the box [TA]. This will create four (4) columns as follows:

  • One (1) Terno column with three (3) numbers
  • Three (3) Ambo columns with two (2) numbers in each.

The basic stake is distributed amongst the different columns as follows:

Stake Terno Ambo Ambo Ambo
€0.50 €0.20 €0.10 €0.10 €0.10
€1.00 €0.40 €0.20 €0.20 €0.20
€2.00 €0.80 €0.40 €0.40 €0.40
€3.00 €1.20 €0.60 €0.60 €0.60
€5.00 €2.00 €1.00 €1.00 €1.00

With the Quick Pick option, the terminal generates all of the numbers according to the game rules of the specific game type selected. To play Quick Pick, the playslip should be filled in as follows:

  • The Quick Pick box should be marked.
  • A game type from [P], [A], [T] or [TA] should be marked, according to the player’s preference.
  • A number (up to 20) should be marked in the Numbers Area, to indicate the amount of numbers that the player would like to be picked by the terminal.
  • A basic stake from; €0.50, €1.00, €2.00, €3.00 or €5.00 should be marked.

Note: In the case of the Quaterno game type, you can only play a basic stake of €2.00

Different playing methods are allowed to be chosen by the player, on the same playslip.
The below example shows a Prima of €2.00 in the first Playing Board, an Ambo of €1.00 in the second Playing Board and Systems play in the third Playing Board.

The player is given the choice to participate with the same playslip in more than one draw by marking the relevant box/es in the CONSECUTIVE DRAWS section. The playslip should be filled in as follows:

  • A number from two (2) to ten (10) should be marked on the playslip to increase the frequency of participation by two (2) and up to ten (10) draws.
  • The boxes [x2] and/or [x3] can be marked to further increase the number of participation draws.
  • The player can participate in up to a maximum of 60 consecutive draws.
  • The total cost must be paid when purchasing the ticket.

General FAQs

General information on Lotto

Lotto is a fixed-price game of chance which is played using a field of numbers from one (1) to ninety (90). Five (5) winning numbers are randomly drawn for each Lotto draw to determine the Prima, Ambo, Terno, Terno-Ambo and Quaterno winning combinations.
Lotto may be played at any one of National Lottery’s retail outlets around Malta and Gozo from Monday to Sunday during the allowed playing hours. A complete list of Points of Sales listed by locality may be found here.
You may play Lotto up to thirty (30) minutes before the draw. Lotto draws are held every Tuesday and Saturday after the evening news on TVM at approximately 20:30.
In order to play, just fill in a Lotto playslip indicating your selected numbers, game type, stake and other playing options. Present the completed playslip to one of our Retailers at any one of the National Lottery retail outlet around Malta and Gozo. You may also choose to play by requesting your chosen numbers verbally.
A Column or Simple Column in Lotto is created by selecting your game type option (Prima, Ambo, Terno, Terno-Ambo or Quaterno), and the corresponding amount of numbers.
The minimum stake that can be played in a Playing Board is €0.50. In the case of the Quaterno game type option, the basic stake is €2.00.
A Simple Columns of numbers is created by selecting one game type option and the corresponding amount of numbers per game type. An alternative to the Simple Column is Systems, (known also as a Combination Playslip). This option allows you to select more than the minimum amount of numbers but not more than twenty (20) in a single Playing Board, for each game type. This will increase your chances of winning.
Example, in the case of Prima, you can choose more than one (1) number or for Ambo, you can choose more than two (2) numbers.
Yes, you can split a Lotto playslip with a number of other players. The price of the Lotto ticket is split equally between the number of players. The minimum price of the fraction part shall be €4 and the maximum price shall be €32, per player. The maximum price of the whole Shared ticket shall be €5,000.
Yes, you can split a Lotto playslip with a number of other players. The price of the Lotto ticket is split equally between the number of players. The minimum price of the fraction part shall be €4 and the maximum price shall be €32, per player. The maximum price of the whole Shared ticket shall be €5,000.
Lotto draws are televised live every Tuesday and Saturday after the evening news on TVM at approximately 20:30.
Lotto results and other information can be accessed from this website and The National Lottery Facebook or Instagram page, as well as from all National Lottery retail outlets. The winning numbers are also published on newspapers the following day. You may also contact Helpline by calling on 2600 7777 or send an email to [email protected]
PLAYSLIP

Yes, you can play different game types on each Playing Board on the playslip.

Note: The Quaterno game type category has to always be played on a separate playslip.

Each Lotto playslip contains of four (4) Playing Boards (A, B, C, D). In each of the Playing Boards, you must choose the Game Type and select the desired numbers, or mark the Quick Pick [QP] box if you would like the terminal to randomly select an amount of numbers. A Simple Column or Systems may be played in each Playing Board.
Quick Pick is a fully automatic number selection method where the terminal generates all of the numbers, according to the game rules. To access this option, mark the ‘QUICK PICK’ [QP] box on your playslip and mark a number (up to 20) from the Numbers Area, to indicate the amount of numbers you would like the terminal to randomly pick for you. You should also mark your basic stake and the type of game you would like to play (Prima, Ambo, Terno, Terno-Ambo or Quaterno).
The ‘MULTIPLIER’ option allows you to multiply your basic stake by selecting the box with the multiplier of your choice. By marking the respective box within the ‘MULTIPLIER’ section from two (2) up to ten (10), you have the option to multiply the stake by two (2) up to ten (10) times. You may also additionally mark the box(es) [x5] and/or [x10], together with one more multiplier box from two (2) up to ten (10). With this method you have the option of multiplying your stake up to a maximum of five hundred (500) times.
The ‘MULTIPLIER’ box marked will multiply the total stake for the Numbers Area/s filled on the playslip.

Note: You will not be able to make use of the multiplier if in any playing board of the playslip, you play the Quaterno game.

With the same playslip you may participate in more than one draw with the same numbers. You may increase the frequency of participation by two (2) and up to ten (10) draws, by marking the relevant box/es from two (2) to ten (10) within the ‘CONSECUTIVE DRAWS’ section. You may then additionally mark the box(es) [x2] and/or [x3] to further increase the selected number of participation draws.
You may participate up to a maximum of 60 consecutive draws.
Please note that the CONSECUTIVE DRAWS selection is valid for all Playing Boards of the playslip. The total cost of all the consecutive draws must be paid when purchasing the ticket.
The ‘VOID’ box within a particular Playing Board is marked if, you would like to cancel one of the Playing Boards. For example if you cancel Playing Board A, the choices you marked in Playing Board B would still be valid.
Yes, you may play Lotto with a group of players and participate with more numbers and combinations. This is made possible by splitting the Lotto ticket into 8 to 100 fractions. The price of the total Lotto ticket is split equally between the number of players.
The minimum price of the fraction part shall be €4 and the maximum price shall be €32.
TICKET

It is your entire responsibility to ensure that the selections printed on the ticket are correct as the ones selected. You have the possibility to cancel a ticket from a retailer, within 10 minutes from the time the ticket was issued, but not later than the cancel close time. You have a right to a refund of your stake.

National Lottery is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets. To claim a prize, you have to present the winning ticket. It is important to note that the lottery ticket, which is the only valid proof-of-purchase, is the thermal receipt which the retailer issues after payment is received.
In the case of damaged tickets where both the Barcode Number and QR code are unreadable or destroyed, you can still claim your prizes from the Head Office of National Lottery plc, with the relevant ticket, only IF the ticket contains ALL of the following:

  • CRC Number
  • Draw Date
  • Retailer Number
  • Terminal Number
  • Playslip Number
WINNINGS

To win in Lotto, you have to match your selected numbers with the drawn numbers. The winning amount depends on the Game Type and Stake amount chosen.

The winning amounts depends on the Game Type, Stake and amount of numbers chosen. The more numbers the player plays, the more the player increases his winning probabilities. The corresponding winning amounts and odds of winning for each Game Type are as follows:

Game type Numbers matched Winning amount Odds
Prima One (1) – the first number drawn 70 x the stake 1:90
Ambo Two (2) out of five (5) numbers drawn 250 x the stake 1:400
Ambo (T-A bet) Two (2) out of five (5) numbers drawn 250 x the partial stake* 1:400
Terno (T-A bet) Three (3) out of five (5) numbers drawn 4,000 x the partial stake* 1:11,748
Terno Three (3) out of five (5) numbers drawn 4,000 x the stake 1:11,748
Quaterno* Four (4) out of five (5) numbers drawn €500,000 – Jackpot 1:511,038

* The Quaterno prize of €500,000 will be split equally between each €2 winning combination.

In the case of damaged tickets where both the Barcode Number and QR code are unreadable or destroyed, you can still claim your prizes from the Head Office of National Lottery plc, with the relevant ticket, only IF the ticket contains ALL of the following:

  • CRC Number
  • Draw Date
  • Retailer Number
  • Terminal Number
  • Playslip Number
No capping mechanisms will be used to lower the prizes. If in any draw, there is more than one Simple Column winning the Quaterno category prize, then the prize will be split according to the number of winning columns.
If for example, in a particular draw, the 1st Category prize is €500.000, and Player A plays a Quaterno system of 5 numbers and matches 5 numbers, and Player B plays a Quaterno with 4 numbers and matches all 4 numbers, then both are winners of the Quaterno prize. Player A will win €416,666.67 (5 top winning simple wager) whilst Player B will win €83,333.33 (1 top winning simple wager).
Furthermore, Lotto will support a draw liability limit which shall be configured to a pre-defined amount. Once the liability limit has been reached, National Lottery plc may reject any subsequent attempts to place Lotto bets on the specific combination(s) that would cause the draw liability to exceed the limit.
The printed ticket is the unique valid document for prize payment and only whoever presents the winning ticket may claim the prize. Lotto prizes up to €5,000 are payable at any National Lottery retail outlets. Prizes over €5,000 are payable at the National Lottery plc Head Office against presentation of a valid and unexpired identification document. If you are a winner, you have sixty (60) days from the respective draw date, to claim their prize/s.
The payment of a ticket that participates in consecutive draws and wins in more than one draw can be claimed as follows:

  • After the completion of each draw in which the ticket participates and wins, a payout ticket is printed at any retail outlet. The same is repeated for each of the next winning draws. The prizes can be claimed up to 60 days from the respective draw date.
  • If two or more prizes are won with the same ticket, the winner can claim all the prizes together within 60 days from the first draw date, or individually within 60 days from the date of each draw.
Any winner will not be able to claim his/her prize/s if:

  • The holder of the winning ticket is a minor or a prohibired ticket holder.
  • The ticket has been tampered with in any way.
  • Both the Barcode number and the QR code are unreadable or destroyed. In such circumstances, the players can still claim their prize from the Head Office of National Lottery if they present the actual ticket with the following data:
    • Draw Date
    • Retailer Number
    • Terminal Number
    • Playslip Number

The player must be aged 18 years or older to play and claim a prize.

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How to Play?

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