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What Are the Odds of Winning the Lottery? A Guide to the Best Lottery Odds in Australia

By Catherine
4 min read
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Ever wondered what are the odds of winning the lottery in Australia?

With so many lottery games available, the answer depends on which game you play. Some lotteries offer enormous jackpots but poorer odds, while others are designed to give players a better chance of winning a substantial top prize.

If you're comparing Australian lottery odds, one of the most important things to look at is the chance of winning Division 1, also known as the jackpot.

Which Lottery has the Best Odds of Winning the Top Prize in Australia?

Lottery draws are games of chance, meaning there is no strategy that can guarantee a win.

The odds of winning vary considerably between different lottery games.

For example, the Division 1 odds for some of Australia's major lottery games as of September 2026 are:

  • FutureBall - Division 1 Odds of 1 in 4,034,712

  • Saturday Lotto - Division 1 Odds of 1 in 8,145,060

  • Set for Life - Division 1 Odds of 1 in 38,320,568

  • Oz Lotto - Division 1 Odds of 1 in 62,891,499

  • Powerball- Division 1 Odds of 1 in 134,490,400

These figures demonstrate just how different the odds can be.

Which Australian Lottery Has the Best Odds?

If you're specifically looking for a lottery with a $1 million top prize, FutureBall currently offers the best Division 1 odds among the leading nationally available Australian lottery games.

FutureBall has odds of 1 in 4,034,712 per game/line for the $1 million prize.

Or, to put it another way, the chance of winning the $1 million Division 1 prize is more than twice as likely when compared to other leading national Australian lotteries^.

FutureBall was designed specifically around the idea of offering a meaningful $1 million top prize with more favourable odds than other traditional Australian jackpot lotteries.

FutureBall: Quick Facts

  • $1 million Division 1 prize

  • 1 in 4,034,712 Division 1 odds

  • Two draws every week

  • Six main numbers chosen from 34

  • One FutureBall number chosen from 3

  • $0.95 per game (Min. 5 games)

In the event of a win, the $1 million prize is never shared, it’s winner-take-all!

Read our complete guide to the new Australian lottery FutureBall.

Why Does FutureBall Have the Best Odds?

The structure of a lottery determines its odds.

With FutureBall, players choose six numbers from a pool of 34 and one FutureBall number from a pool of three. There are 4,034,712 possible combinations.

The game's unique combination-locking system means that each number combination can only be issued once in a draw. If your combination is drawn as the winner, you get the entire $1 million Division 1 prize to yourself.

FutureBall also has three other prize divisions, allowing more of the prize pool to be concentrated across fewer divisions rather than spreading it across a larger number of prize categories.

FutureBall vs Saturday Lotto: Which Has Better Odds?

For players comparing the odds of winning a first division prize, the difference is significant.

Saturday Lotto has Division 1 odds of 1 in 8,145,060, whereas FutureBall offers 1 in 4,034,712 odds of winning its $1 million Division 1 prize.

Of course, a more favourable probability doesn't mean a win is guaranteed. Every lottery draw is random, and each individual entry has the same odds of winning.

What Are the Odds of Winning Powerball?

Powerball is famous for its huge jackpots, but the odds of winning Division 1 are much longer than FutureBall.

To win Powerball Division 1, you must match all seven winning numbers plus the Powerball. The odds are 1 in 134,490,400.

That's one reason it's important to consider more than just the size of a jackpot when comparing lottery games.

A bigger advertised jackpot doesn't necessarily mean a better chance of winning.

What Are the Odds of Winning Oz Lotto?

Oz Lotto also offers the possibility of very large jackpots, but its Division 1 odds are longer when compared to that of FutureBall.

The odds of winning Oz Lotto Division 1 are 1 in 62,891,499 for a single game.

Again, this highlights the trade-off between chasing a potentially enormous jackpot and choosing a lottery with more favourable odds of winning a smaller, but still substantial, top prize.

So, What Are the Best Lottery Odds in Australia?

It depends on the game and the prize you're targeting.

If your priority is the best chance of winning a $1 million Division 1 prize, FutureBall currently stands out with odds of 1 in 4,034,712 more than twice as favourable^ as Saturday Lotto's 1 in 8,145,060 Division 1 odds.

For players who prefer the possibility of a much larger jackpot, games such as Powerball and Oz Lotto offer bigger potential prizes, but with substantially longer Division 1 odds.

Ultimately, the “best” lottery depends on what matters most to you: the size of the top prize, the odds of winning, the type of prize, or how frequently you want to enter.

The Bottom Line

If you're searching for the lottery with the best odds in Australia, it's worth looking beyond the size of the jackpot.

For more detailed information, check out our simple guide to explaining how lottery odds work.

FutureBall offers a $1 million Division 1 prize with odds of 1 in 4,034,712, making it Australia's most winnable million-dollar lottery^ based on a comparison with other leading nationally available Australian lotteries.

Remember, lottery outcomes are entirely based on chance. There is no guaranteed way to win, so always play responsibly and within your limits.

^1 in 4,034,712 chance of winning the AU$1 million FutureBall division 1 prize. Based on a comparison of odds for the FutureBall division 1 prize versus winning the division 1 prize of other leading nationally available Australian lotteries, as of April 2026. Minimum spend $4.75.