How to Play France Lotto
To play France Lotto you pick 5 main numbers from 1 to 49 and one "Chance" number from 1 to 10, for a draw held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evening. That is how it works inside France. From South Africa you cannot buy a real FDJ ticket, so you play a different way: you place a fixed-odds bet on the same official draw through a licensed local operator, and you can win on as little as a single number. This guide explains both, step by step, with the odds, the payouts and the catches.
What France Lotto actually is
France Lotto, officially "Loto", is the flagship draw game of La Française des Jeux (FDJ), the operator that runs France's national lottery under licence from the regulator ANJ (Autorité Nationale des Jeux). It has run since 1976 and was redesigned to its current 5/49 + Chance format in October 2008. It is not the same thing as EuroMillions, and it is not "France Powerball" (a nickname some South African betting sites use). It is the French Loto.
A single entry costs €2.20 in France and gives you one line: five numbers from 1 to 49 and one Chance number from 1 to 10. The Chance number is drawn from a separate machine, so it does not need to be different from your main five.
The draw: format, days and times
| Detail | France Lotto |
|---|---|
| Main numbers | 5 drawn from 1–49 |
| Bonus number | 1 "Chance" number from 1–10 (separate draw) |
| Draw days | Monday, Wednesday, Saturday |
| Draw time | ~20:20 Paris = 8:20pm SAST (9:20pm in the SA winter); sales close 20:15 |
| In South Africa | Early evening SAST, shifting an hour with French daylight saving |
| Minimum jackpot | €2 million |
Results land on this site within minutes of the official FDJ draw. Because France moves its clocks and South Africa does not, the exact SAST time drifts by an hour between the French summer and winter — we keep the full timezone breakdown in a separate guide.
How you actually play from South Africa
Here is the part that trips people up. You cannot open an FDJ account from South Africa. The official site, fdj.fr, is geo-blocked and requires a French address and bank account (here's why). So instead of buying a ticket, South Africans place a fixed-odds "Lucky Numbers" bet on the outcome of the official France Lotto draw with a licensed local operator such as YesPlay.
That difference matters, and it is actually good news:
- You are not trying to match all six numbers for a jackpot. You bet on whether the numbers you pick will be drawn, and you are paid at fixed odds set before the draw.
- You can bet on as few as one number. Match it and you win, at odds of roughly 8 to 1.
- Your winnings are paid in rand, into your betting account, with no French tax forms and no claiming process.
Step by step
- Open an account with a licensed South African operator that offers France Lotto (also listed as "France Loto" or "France Lotto Plus"). We recommend YesPlay, which is licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board.
- Deposit in rand. New players currently get a 100% deposit match up to R3,000 — a bonus, not free money, with the usual conditions.
- Choose the France Lotto draw and how many numbers you want to bet on (1 to 5).
- Pick your numbers, set your stake, and place the bet before the draw closes (early evening SAST).
- Watch the result — it's published here within minutes — and any winnings are settled to your account automatically.
The bet types and what they pay
Fixed-odds payouts are set by the operator, not by France, so treat these as typical ranges and always check the live odds before you bet. The more numbers you ask to come up, the bigger the payout and the longer the odds.
| Bet | What must happen | Typical fixed odds |
|---|---|---|
| 1 number | Your number is among the 5 main balls | ~8 to 1 |
| 2 numbers (pair) | Both your numbers are drawn | ~80 to 1 |
| 3 numbers (trio) | All three are drawn | ~450 to 1 |
| 4 numbers | All four are drawn | ~3,500 to 1 |
| 5 numbers | All five are drawn | ~25,000 to 1 |
A single-number bet landing about 8 to 1 is the workhorse of fixed-odds lottery betting: short enough odds to hit regularly, long enough to be worth it. Multi-number bets are where the big payouts live, but the odds climb fast.
Where the jackpot fits in (and why it mostly doesn't, for you)
Inside France, the prize is pari-mutuel at the top tiers — the jackpot starts at €2 million and rolls over with about €1 million added each draw it isn't won, so it can climb into the tens of millions. France also runs "Super Loto" events and the famous Vendredi 13 (Friday the 13th) special draws, with guaranteed jackpots well above the €2 million floor.
| Match (in France) | Prize type |
|---|---|
| 5 + Chance | Jackpot (pari-mutuel, from €2m) |
| 5 | 2nd tier (large fixed amount) |
| 4 + Chance / 4 | Mid tiers |
| 3 + Chance / 3 | Small fixed prizes |
| 2 + Chance / 2 | Smallest prizes |
| Chance only | A free or near-free replay |
For a South African betting on fixed odds, none of this changes your bet — you're paid on your own numbers at your operator's odds, not from the French prize pool. The jackpot figure matters mainly as a measure of how much attention a given draw is getting.
A few things worth knowing
- The odds never change. Jackpot odds in France are 1 in 19,068,840 for the top prize. The balls have no memory, so "hot", "cold" and "overdue" numbers are interesting history, not predictions (the maths, honestly).
- Special draws are worth watching. Vendredi 13 and Super Loto events offer the biggest guaranteed jackpots of the year.
- Play within your means. France Lotto is entertainment, not an income. Set a budget before you start, and stick to it.
The bottom line
France Lotto is simple to play and, from South Africa, more flexible than the French version: pick from one to five numbers, bet at fixed odds with a licensed operator, and get paid in rand. Tune in here for results within minutes of every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday draw — and if you do play, use a licensed operator so your bet and your winnings are protected.
Frequently asked questions
How do I play France Lotto from South Africa?
You place a fixed-odds "Lucky Numbers" bet on the official France Lotto draw through a licensed South African operator such as YesPlay, rather than buying a French FDJ ticket (which you can't do from South Africa). You choose between one and five numbers, set a stake, and are paid at fixed odds in rand if your numbers are drawn.
How many numbers do you pick in France Lotto?
In France you pick five main numbers from 1 to 49 and one Chance number from 1 to 10. Betting from South Africa, you can choose to bet on as few as one of those five main numbers, or up to all five.
What days is the France Lotto draw?
France Lotto is drawn three times a week: every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evening, at around 20:20 Paris time (betting closes at 20:15). In South African time that's about 8:20pm SAST, drifting to 9:20pm in the SA winter as France shifts its clocks.
How much does a single number pay?
A bet on a single number coming up among the five main balls typically pays around 8 to 1 with South African fixed-odds operators. Exact odds are set by the operator and can change, so check the live odds before you bet.
Is it legal to bet on France Lotto in South Africa?
Yes, when you bet through an operator licensed by a South African provincial gambling board. YesPlay, for example, is licensed by the Western Cape Gambling and Racing Board. You must be 18 or older to bet.
What are the odds of winning the France Lotto jackpot?
The odds of winning the France Lotto top prize (5 main numbers plus the Chance number) are 1 in 19,068,840. Betting fixed odds on fewer numbers gives you far shorter odds for smaller, fixed payouts.