Lotto Hotpicks: This is designed as an addition to the main lottery numbers. Participants choose whether to guess one, two, three, four or five numbers from the main lotto draw. For example if you selected to pick two numbers, the participant would choose two numbers and both would have to be present in order for a payout.
The total prize money is dependent on how many numbers are successfully picked with a sliding scale of prizes ranging from 5 ($10) up to approximately 130,000 ($260,000).
Thunder Ball: This is a variation on the main lotto game that offers better lottery odds for winning the prize money. Participants choose five numbers plus a bonus ball (the Thunder Ball). Small prizes can be won if a player gets one number plus the bonus ball and the value rises incrementally up to 250,000 ($500,000), if the player gets all five numbers plus the Thunder Ball.
The National Lottery also runs a number of smaller games such as scratch cards that can be bought in most shops and supermarkets. Since 2004, a European version of the original lottery has also been in operation. The draw takes place every Friday evening and is currently played in nine European countries including France and Spain.
