How Does SuperEnalotto Work?

How Does SuperEnalotto Work?
Wednesday, June 26, 2019

SuperEnalotto is one of the biggest lotteries in the world, offering jackpots that can go way beyond €100 million. The game has been widely played in Italy since it launched in 1997 but continues to attract new players as the top prize grows or new features are introduced. Find out everything you need to know, from SuperEnalotto ticket prices to how to play and win.

How to Play SuperEnalotto

To play SuperEnalotto, you must select six numbers between 1 and 90. You can also add the SuperStar option to your ticket to increase your chances of winning a prize. To do this, you must choose a number from a separate set of 1 to 90, so you can pick the same number as one of your main six if you like.

SuperEnalotto is available online or through licensed retailers across Italy. Draws take place three times a week - on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 20:00 CET - and you need to get your entries in by 19:30 CET.

You can decide to enter your numbers into multiple draws by filling out the relevant section of your playslip. Choose 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 (three weeks), 12 (four weeks) or 15 (five weeks) to play that number of consecutive draws, or leave blank to enter a single draw.

SuperEnalotto Ticket Price

It costs €1 per entry to play SuperEnalotto, plus an additional €0.50 per entry if you add SuperStar. The ticket price increases proportionally as you submit more entries.

When you play SuperEnalotto, you can choose between various systems to boost your chances of winning. This is a technique where you select more than six numbers on your playslip, automatically generating more combinations.

If you pick seven numbers, for example, there are seven different combinations of six numbers within your selected set. These seven combinations will be entered into the draw and your ticket will cost seven times as much.

How Draws Work

When a SuperEnalotto draw takes place, six main numbers are selected at random, followed by a seventh ball - known as the Jolly - from the same set of 1 to 90. The SuperStar is drawn from another ball machine, containing a separate set of balls between 1 and 90.

How to Win

You win prizes if the numbers you have selected match the winning numbers drawn. You need to predict two balls correctly to win a prize on the main game, and the value of prizes increases as you match more numbers. To win the jackpot, you must match the full line of six winning numbers.

The Jolly is only relevant if you match it along with five of the six main numbers, potentially boosting your payout if you just miss out on the jackpot.

If you play SuperStar and match the winning number, any prizes you win on the main SuperEnalotto game will be significantly enhanced. You will also win a prize just for matching the SuperStar, even if you haven’t matched any of the six SuperEnalotto numbers.

SuperEnalotto prizes work on a pari-mutuel basis, so the value of awards depends on how many tickets are sold and how many players win in each category. A percentage of the prize fund is allocated to each tier and split between the winners. 

How the Jackpot Works

The jackpot rolls over if it is not won, with an even larger amount put up for grabs in the next draw. Unlike some other lotteries there is no jackpot cap, so the top prize keeps growing until at least one ticket matches all six winning numbers.

A percentage of the prize fund is also kept in reserve in each draw to fund the next jackpot if it is won. This means that the starting jackpot can be higher than many other international games if there has been a long run of rollovers, such as in April 2018 when a top prize of €130 million was won and in the next draw it was still worth more than €23 million.

Big SuperEnalotto Wins

The SuperEnalotto jackpot has climbed into six figures several times before it has been won. In October 2010, a syndicate of 70 players scooped a record €177 million on a ticket bought in Milan.

Another big win came in October 2016, when a player from Vibo Valentia in Calabria achieved the remarkable feat of matching all six numbers plus the SuperStar, netting a €2 million bonus on top of their €163 million jackpot.

How to Claim

To claim a SuperEnalotto prize, you must come forward within 90 days of the draw taking place. If you bought your ticket from a retailer, you can pick up winnings of up to €520 from authorised shops, but for larger amounts you will need to visit a dedicated payment centre or one of lottery operator Sisal’s offices in Milan or Rome. If you played online, prizes up to €5,200 will be paid into your online lottery account, but you must claim larger amounts in person.

Playing online also has the advantage that it keeps your numbers more secure, with no danger of your entry getting lost, stolen or damaged. Your ticket will be automatically checked so you do not even have to do it yourself, and you will be notified if you are a winner.