Italy has one of the most famous lotteries in Europe, and it is also one of the hardest to win. This SuperEnalotto lottery guide explains the game in plain English: how to pick your numbers, what the Jolly number does, how the SuperStar option works, what the prizes look like, and when the draws happen. SuperEnalotto is known for jackpots that roll over for months and climb into the hundreds of millions of euros, because the odds are the longest of any major national lottery. Please note: you must be 18 or older to play, and lotteries should always be played responsibly, within a budget you can afford.
Table of Contents
- What Is SuperEnalotto?
- How to Play SuperEnalotto
- The Jolly Number, Explained
- The SuperStar Option
- Prize Tiers and Odds
- Draw Days and Times
- Claiming a Prize
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
What Is SuperEnalotto?
SuperEnalotto is Italy’s national lottery, run since 1997. It replaced an older game and quickly became famous for its enormous rollover jackpots. The game has no jackpot cap, so if nobody matches all six numbers, the prize rolls over to the next draw — again and again. That is how the jackpot reached a record of €371.1 million in February 2023, one of the largest lottery prizes ever paid in Europe.
The format is simple to understand but hard to win. You pick six numbers from 1 to 90 — a much bigger pool than most lotteries use. Powerball asks you to pick 5 from 69; the UK Lotto asks for 6 from 59. SuperEnalotto’s 90-number pool is what makes its jackpot odds so long, and what lets the jackpot grow so large. If you enjoy comparing national games, our Eurojackpot guide and our Powerball guide show how other big games are structured.
The game is operated in Italy under the country’s regulated lottery system, and official tickets are sold at licensed retailers and kiosks across Italy. A single line costs €1.00 — the price doubled from €0.50 in February 2026, the first price rise in over a decade.
How to Play SuperEnalotto
Playing SuperEnalotto takes four steps:
- Choose six numbers from 1 to 90. You can pick your own numbers or use a Quick Pick, which generates six random numbers for you. No set of numbers is more likely to be drawn than any other — every combination has exactly the same chance.
- Decide whether to add SuperStar. For an extra fee, you can add a SuperStar number to your line. It is drawn separately and can multiply your prizes (see below).
- Choose how many draws to enter. You can play a single draw or enter several consecutive draws. If you play online, you can also set up a subscription so you never miss a draw.
- Pay and keep your ticket safe. At a retailer, keep the paper ticket safe — without it, you cannot claim a prize. If you play online through an official channel, your ticket is stored securely in your account.
Draws take place in Rome. Six main numbers are drawn first, then a seventh number — the Jolly — is drawn from the remaining balls. You do not choose the Jolly; it is drawn for you, and it only matters if you have already matched five of your six main numbers.
There is also a small Instant Win feature on many tickets. Each ticket carries a “magic square” of four numbers, and if those four numbers match four of your chosen numbers, you win €25 instantly, before the main draw even happens. The chance of that is about 1 in 500.
The Jolly Number, Explained
The Jolly is SuperEnalotto’s bonus ball, and it is the game’s most misunderstood feature. Here is exactly how it works:
- The Jolly is drawn from the same pool of 90 balls, after the six main numbers. It can never be one of your six numbers in the same draw — it comes from the 84 balls that remain.
- It only counts if you have matched exactly five main numbers. If you match five main numbers plus the Jolly, you win the second prize tier instead of the third.
- It does not help you win the jackpot. Matching all six main numbers is the only way to take the top prize.
- If you match fewer than five main numbers, the Jolly does nothing for that line.
The second prize is still a large amount — in a big rollover it can run into millions of euros — because the 5 + Jolly tier takes a fixed share of the prize fund. But the Jolly is a bonus, not a shortcut: the odds of matching 5 + Jolly are about 1 in 103,769,105.
The SuperStar Option
SuperStar is an optional add-on, costing extra per line. When you add it, you choose a SuperStar number from 1 to 90, drawn separately from the main game by a second machine. It works like this:
- Match the SuperStar and a prize is guaranteed. Even if none of your six main numbers comes up, matching the SuperStar alone wins a fixed consolation prize.
- It multiplies existing prizes. If you win a prize tier and also match the SuperStar, your prize is multiplied — for example, the jackpot plus SuperStar adds a fixed €2 million on top of the jackpot.
- It makes the odds much longer. Matching all six numbers plus the SuperStar is about 1 in 56 billion. The add-on trades a much longer shot for much bigger possible prizes.
Whether SuperStar is worth it is a personal choice. It raises the cost of every line, and most of the time it will not change your result. Treat it as an optional extra, not as a way to improve your chances — because it does not improve the odds of matching your six main numbers at all.
Prize Tiers and Odds
SuperEnalotto is pari-mutuel: each tier takes a fixed share of the prize fund, split between however many winners there are in that draw. There are six prize tiers:
| Match | Odds (per line) | Share of prize fund |
|---|---|---|
| 6 numbers (jackpot) | 1 in 622,614,630 | 17.4% |
| 5 + Jolly | 1 in 103,769,105 | 13.0% |
| 5 numbers | 1 in 1,250,230 | 4.2% |
| 4 numbers | 1 in 11,907 | 4.2% |
| 3 numbers | 1 in 327 | 12.8% |
| 2 numbers | 1 in 22 | 40.0% |
The jackpot odds come from the number of ways to choose six numbers from ninety: C(90,6) = 622,614,630. That is the longest jackpot odds of any major national lottery in the world, which is exactly why the jackpot can roll over for months. The minimum jackpot is €2 million, and there is no cap.
The overall chance of winning any prize on a single line is roughly 1 in 20. That sounds encouraging, but most of those wins are the lowest tier — matching two numbers — which pays a small fixed amount. For a clear explanation of what odds like these really mean, read our lottery odds explained for beginners.
On tax: SuperEnalotto prizes above €500 are taxed at 20% in Italy. Rules change, so confirm current details with the official game documentation before you play.
Draw Days and Times
SuperEnalotto draws take place four times a week — on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 20:00 CET (8pm Italian time), in Rome. A fourth weekly draw, on Fridays, was added in July 2023. Ticket sales for each draw close 30 minutes earlier, at 19:30 CET.
Results are published on the official site after each draw. Because the jackpot rolls over so often, the jackpot figure is updated after every draw, and it is the headline number that most players follow.
Claiming a Prize
Winning receipts must be presented within 90 calendar days of the draw. Prizes up to €5,200 are collected at the retailer where the winning ticket was bought. Larger prizes are claimed through the operator’s claim process, and jackpot winners can usually choose between a lump sum and regular annual payments.
If you played online, smaller prizes are normally credited to your account automatically. For any large prize, keep your ticket or your account confirmation safe, and follow the official claim instructions — never pay anyone a fee to “release” a prize, and never share your ticket details with strangers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does SuperEnalotto cost?
One line costs €1.00. The price rose from €0.50 to €1.00 in February 2026. Adding the SuperStar option costs extra per line.
What are the odds of winning the SuperEnalotto jackpot?
About 1 in 622,614,630 for a single line — the longest jackpot odds of any major national lottery. The odds of winning any prize are roughly 1 in 20.
What is the Jolly number in SuperEnalotto?
The Jolly is a seventh number drawn after the six main numbers. It only matters if you have matched exactly five main numbers — then it lifts you from the third prize tier to the second. It cannot help you win the jackpot.
When are the SuperEnalotto draws?
Draws are held in Rome on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 20:00 CET, with ticket sales closing at 19:30 CET.
Can I play SuperEnalotto from outside Italy?
Official tickets are sold at licensed retailers inside Italy. Players outside Italy generally use licensed online services that offer international games, and rules differ by country — check the rules that apply where you live, and only use services you have verified.
How long do I have to claim a SuperEnalotto prize?
You have 90 calendar days from the draw date. Prizes up to €5,200 are collected at the retailer where the ticket was bought.
Conclusion
SuperEnalotto is a simple game with extraordinary numbers: six numbers from 1 to 90, the longest jackpot odds in the world, and jackpots that can roll over until they reach hundreds of millions of euros. This SuperEnalotto lottery guide has covered the format, the Jolly number, the SuperStar add-on, the prize tiers and the draw schedule — everything a beginner needs to understand the game before deciding whether to play. If you do play, set a budget, treat it as entertainment, and remember that no system or strategy can change the odds. You must be 18 or older, and you should always play responsibly.
Sources: How to Play SuperEnalotto (superenalotto.net); SuperEnalotto explained — the world’s longest lottery odds; SuperEnalotto odds and prizes (LotteryGuru)