Vikinglotto is a multinational lottery: since 1993 several Northern European countries have played together for one jackpot, which can now grow to as much as €25 million. It is drawn once a week, every Wednesday. This guide explains how the game is built, what the Viking number does, which prize tiers exist and how the odds compare with EuroJackpot and Germany's Lotto 6aus49. As of October 2026.
📋 Vikinglotto at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | 6 from 48 main numbers + 1 Viking number from 1–5 |
| Jackpot odds | 1 : 61,357,560 (6 correct + the right Viking number) |
| Draw | Every Wednesday |
| Jackpot range | Starts at €3 million, capped at €25 million |
| Ticket price | Set nationally and different in each country (e.g. Belgium: €2 per combination, sold there as a €10 package) |
| Operator | Vikinglotto alliance of 10 national lottery operators (including Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Slovenia, Belgium) |
| Since | 17 March 1993; current format with a 1–5 Viking number since May 2017 |
Only the top two prize tiers are pooled across countries. All lower tiers are funded and paid out nationally by each country, which is why prize amounts differ depending on where you play.
🎯 How Vikinglotto Works Step by Step
The rules
- Pick 6 main numbers from 1 to 48.
- Also pick 1 Viking number from its own pool of 1 to 5.
- Play with an operator in one of the participating countries (or an authorised intermediary).
- The draw takes place on Wednesdays; the results apply to all member countries.
- You can win a prize from 3 correct main numbers upwards.
A Belgian peculiarity: each participation there consists of five combinations with the same six numbers, each with a different Viking number, so you automatically cover all five Viking numbers (€10 per participation, i.e. €2 per combination).
🔑 The Special Features in Detail
🪖 The Viking number
The Viking number comes from its own number pool (1–5) and is drawn independently of the six main numbers. Until May 2017 the pool was 1–8; at that time two bonus numbers and a special number were also drawn, and these were replaced by today's single Viking number. Because the pool is smaller, the jackpot odds improved compared with the old system.
🌍 A shared, capped jackpot pool
The jackpot starts at €3 million and can rise to a maximum of €25 million (the cap used to be €35 million). If the cap is reached and nobody wins, the excess goes to the second tier. According to the Norwegian gaming supervisor (Lotteritilsynet, 2023 audit report), €0.185 of every line played goes into the international pot for tiers 1 and 2; the payout ratio is at least 47% of stakes and was recently around 51% in Norway.
💰 All Prize Tiers
The table shows the six prize tiers as they apply in Norway, with exactly calculated odds for a single line. In other member countries the lower tiers may be cut differently.
| Tier | Match | Odds (per line) | Prize pool |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (Jackpot) | 6 correct + Viking number | 1 : 61,357,560 | international |
| 2 | 6 correct (wrong Viking number) | 1 : 15,339,390 | international |
| 3 | 5 correct + Viking number | 1 : 243,482 | national |
| 4 | 5 correct (wrong Viking number) | 1 : 60,871 | national |
| 5 | 4 correct | 1 : 950 | national |
| 6 | 3 correct | 1 : 53 | national |
How large a prize in tiers 3 to 6 is depends on turnover and the rules of each country. The operators do not publish uniform percentage shares per tier, so we deliberately give none here. The chance of winning something across these six tiers is about 1 in 51.
📊 Explore Vikinglotto statistics
Frequency, overdue numbers and distribution of all main numbers and Viking numbers, transparent and free.
Register for free🆚 Vikinglotto Compared
| Lottery | Format | Jackpot odds | Draws/week |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🪖 Vikinglotto | 6 from 48 + 1 from 5 | 1 : 61.4M | 1 (Wednesday) |
| 🇪🇺 EuroJackpot | 5 from 50 + 2 from 12 | 1 : 139.8M | 2 (Tuesday, Friday) |
| 🇩🇪 Lotto 6aus49 | 6 from 49 + Superzahl (0–9) | 1 : 139.8M (tier 1) | 2 (Wednesday, Saturday) |
| 🇨🇭 Swiss Lotto | 6 from 42 + 1 from 6 | 1 : 31.5M | 2 (Wednesday, Saturday) |
On jackpot odds Vikinglotto sits between Swiss Lotto and the big two-pool games. In return its jackpot is capped much lower, at €25 million, than EuroJackpot's. More on how international games differ is in our article New International Lotteries 2026.
⚖️ Honestly: Random Is Random
Every Vikinglotto draw is an independent random event. The draw machine has no memory, so neither "hot" nor "overdue" numbers improve your chances. No strategy, no statistic and no AI model can predict the jackpot. Statistics can at most help you choose tickets consciously (for example by avoiding popular number patterns so you share prizes less often). Also read Lottery odds explained and Lottery strategies: what really works. Only play with money you can afford to lose and use the support services in your country if needed. This article is not legal, tax or investment advice.
✅ Pros and Cons: Who Is Vikinglotto For?
- Better jackpot odds than EuroJackpot or Lotto 6aus49 (tier 1)
- Jackpot guaranteed from €3 million
- Prizes from just 3 correct numbers
- Transparent shared draw across many countries
- Only one draw per week
- Jackpot capped at €25 million
- Lower tiers differ in size by country
- From Germany only online via providers you must check yourself
Playing from Germany or elsewhere in Europe: From abroad, participation is usually only possible through third-party intermediary services. Check yourself whether this is permitted in your country, and verify the provider's reliability, fees and legal situation.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
When is Vikinglotto drawn?
Every Wednesday. The numbers apply to all participating countries.
Why aren't winnings the same everywhere?
Only tiers 1 and 2 are paid from an international pot. Each country funds all other tiers from its own stakes, so the amounts, and sometimes even how the tiers are cut, differ.
What is the Viking number?
An extra number from a separate pool of 1 to 5. It is drawn independently of the main numbers and decides between tier 1 and tier 2 as well as between tier 3 and tier 4.
How high can the jackpot get?
It starts at €3 million and is capped at €25 million (previously €35 million). When the cap is reached, the excess goes to the second tier.
Can I improve my chances?
No. You can buy more lines, but every single line has the same chance. Your probability rises in proportion to your stake, and so does your expected loss.
💡 Summary
- ✅ At 1 : 61.4 million, Vikinglotto offers better jackpot odds than Europe's big two-pool games.
- ✅ The Viking number (1–5) and the shared pot for tiers 1 and 2 are its key features.
- ⚠️ Lower prizes depend on the country, and the jackpot is capped at €25 million.
- ⚠️ As with every lottery: pure chance, no system guarantees wins, so play responsibly.
Sources: Norwegian gaming supervisor audit report on Vikinglotto (2023), Belgian Nationale Loterij participation rules for Vikinglotto, Vikinglotto overview (Wikipedia). Odds calculated exactly.