Thunderball
Check all the essential information about the Thunderball: latest results, winning numbers, next draw date, and jackpot amount. You can also access the complete draw history to analyze the results and track the progression of the prizes.
Thunderball
Latest results
£500,000Information
Play UK Thunderball – Win Up to £500,000 Every Week
If you're looking for a UK lottery that combines great odds with a life-changing fixed jackpot, Thunderball is the game for you. With four draws every week, a guaranteed top prize of £500,000, and nine different ways to win, Thunderball stands out as the most accessible and player-friendly game in the UK National Lottery family. Whether you're a seasoned lottery player or picking your numbers for the first time, this guide covers everything you need to know.
A Brief History of Thunderball
Thunderball was launched on 12 June 1999 as a companion game to the main UK Lotto, initially running on Saturdays only. At the time, the jackpot was set at £250,000 and players chose from a pool of 34 main balls.
The game underwent its most significant overhaul on 12 May 2010: the main ball pool was expanded from 34 to 39 numbers, the jackpot was doubled to its current £500,000 cap, a Friday draw was introduced, and a new prize tier for matching only the Thunderball was added.
A further expansion came in 2021, when Tuesday draws were added to the schedule, bringing Thunderball to four draws per week and cementing its status as one of the most frequently drawn lottery games in the United Kingdom. Since 2024, the National Lottery has been operated by Allwyn Entertainment, which took over from the long-standing operator Camelot Group.
How to Play Thunderball
Pick Your Main Numbers
For each line, choose 5 main numbers from 1 to 39. You can select your own lucky numbers or opt for a Lucky Dip, which generates a random set automatically.
Pick Your Thunderball
In addition to your 5 main numbers, you must select 1 Thunderball number from 1 to 14. This is a separate pool, completely independent of the main numbers. Your Thunderball cannot be substituted by any of your main numbers — they are always treated as distinct picks.
Ticket Price
Each line costs £1. You can play multiple lines on a single ticket.
No Rollover System
Unlike the main UK Lotto or EuroMillions, Thunderball has no rollover. All prizes — including the £500,000 jackpot — are fixed amounts. If the jackpot is not won in a given draw, it does not carry over to the next one; it simply remains available at the same fixed value. Importantly, if multiple players match all numbers in the same draw, each winner receives the full £500,000 independently — prizes are never shared or split. All payouts are tax-free and paid as a lump sum.
Thunderball Prize Tiers & Odds
Thunderball offers 9 prize tiers, giving you an overall chance of winning any prize of 1 in 13 — the best odds of any UK National Lottery draw game. The table below details every winning combination, the corresponding prize, and your odds of hitting it.
| Numbers Matched | Prize | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|---|
| 5 main numbers + Thunderball | £500,000 | 1 in 8,060,598 |
| 5 main numbers (no Thunderball) | £5,000 | 1 in 620,046 |
| 4 main numbers + Thunderball | £250 | 1 in 47,415 |
| 4 main numbers (no Thunderball) | £100 | 1 in 3,647 |
| 3 main numbers + Thunderball | £20 | 1 in 1,437 |
| 3 main numbers (no Thunderball) | £10 | 1 in 111 |
| 2 main numbers + Thunderball | £10 | 1 in 72 |
| 1 main number + Thunderball | £5 | 1 in 13 |
| Thunderball only | £3 | 1 in 29 |
All prizes are fixed amounts. In exceptional circumstances, prizes may be capped if the total payout value exceeds four times the total ticket sales for a given draw — an extremely rare scenario.
Draw Schedule
Thunderball draws take place four times a week, every week of the year:
- Tuesday – draw at approximately 20:00 (UK time)
- Wednesday – draw at approximately 20:00 (UK time)
- Friday – draw at approximately 20:00 (UK time)
- Saturday – draw at approximately 20:00 (UK time)
Results are published immediately after each draw. Players must be at least 16 years of age to participate. Prize claims must be submitted within 180 days of the draw date.
Play responsibly. Lottery games are for entertainment only. For help and advice about gambling, visit BeGambleAware.org.