Guide

Lucky Stars, Thunderballs and other extra balls explained

What each game's extra number is, which pool it comes from and why it matters for matching.

By the LotteryUK editorial team. Published Sunday, 1 November 2026.

Why extra balls exist

Extra balls create more prize combinations from a single draw. They also change the odds of the top prize dramatically, which is why games with a separate extra pool can offer very large jackpots.

Separate pool or same pool

EuroMillions Lucky Stars, the Thunderball and the Set For Life Life Ball are drawn from their own, smaller pools. The same number can therefore appear as both a main number and an extra in one draw.

The UK Lotto Bonus Ball is drawn from the remaining main balls, so it can never duplicate a main number in the same draw.

International extras

EuroJackpot uses two Euro numbers, US Powerball a red Powerball, and Lotto 6aus49 a Superzahl that can be zero. 2by2 is unusual: it draws two red and two white balls, which we show as a main pair and a special pair.

Rules can change

Pool sizes have changed over the years for several games. Our draw pages store the structure each draw was validated against, so older draws are shown with the rules that applied when we recorded them.

Putting this guide into practice

Why matching numerals can mean different things

Imagine a main number and a Lucky Star both displaying the same numeral. They are still two different selections because their pools are separate. A ticket selection in the main group must be compared with main results, while its star selection belongs with the stars. Sorting all seven EuroMillions values into one list would hide that distinction and produce incorrect comparisons. Read the pool label as carefully as the number itself.

Lotto and HotPicks need separate treatment

Lotto’s Bonus Ball is drawn after the main numbers from the balls left in the same pool. It cannot duplicate a main ball in that round, and it is not a seventh number selected on an ordinary six-number ticket. Its role depends on the applicable prize rules. HotPicks removes the extra pool entirely: only the parent game’s main numbers are used, alongside the ticket’s chosen Pick option. Do not import a Bonus Ball or Lucky Star to make up a missing HotPicks number.

Read an overseas result using its own labels

For UK readers exploring international lotteries, familiar shapes can conceal different formats. EuroJackpot’s Euro numbers are not EuroMillions Lucky Stars. The German Superzahl can be zero, which must not be mistaken for an empty field. In 2by2, the red and white pairs remain separate even where a numeral occurs in both. Check the game identity and stored draw structure before borrowing a checking method from another lottery.

A final check for UK readers

Use this explanation alongside the original entry and the operator’s current information, not instead of them. The same game name can appear on different products, and an overseas draw can use a different local date from the one in Britain. An apparent match on an independent website is not evidence of purchase or a payment guarantee. Keep relevant receipts safe, avoid sharing sensitive ticket details and seek official confirmation before making plans based on a possible prize.

Frequently asked questions

Does an extra ball replace any missing main number?

No. It has the role specified by the particular game and prize category. A general extra-ball match should not be treated as a wildcard. Use the operator’s rules for the dated entry and compare the pools separately.

Why are there no stars on the HotPicks page?

EuroMillions HotPicks uses only the five main numbers from EuroMillions. Lucky Stars do not participate in that comparison. Lotto HotPicks similarly excludes the Bonus Ball, even though it appears on the parent Lotto result.

Can I compare old results using today’s ranges?

Not automatically. Games can change their number pools or rules. Use the structure recorded for the relevant draw and confirm older ticket conditions with the operator. Combining different eras can also make a frequency table misleading.