France loto is the continuation of French National Lottery evolution. Its history accounts for more than six centuries today.
The first lottery in France appeared in 1505, thanks to Francis I. However, the attempt failed resulting in a 2-centuries ban on any lotteries in France. In the 1790s, the lottery came to France again as the national game Loterie de L’Hôtel de Ville.
In the eighteenth century, lotteries became essential for sustaining religious communities. The proceeds were used to build and restore 15 churches in Paris, including Saint-Sulpice and the historic Pantheon.
First governed lottery
- In 1754, the Loterie de L’Eacute Militaire was established at the initiative of the Marquise de Pompadour. It was the first attempt to create the country’s national lottery to finance the construction of a military academy. In 1776, the lottery was renamed the Loterie Royale de France (Royal Lottery of France) and the General Directorate of Lotteries was created.
- In 1933, the Loterie Nationale France was created and considered the Royal Lottery’s successor. The first lottery draw was broadcast live on radio in Place du Trocadero. The jackpot of 5 million francs went to Paul Bonsoir. For a resident of Paris at the beginning of the twentieth century, such a sum is a considerable fortune. When reporters asked what he felt, Paul replied: “I am 50 years old, and I have given 32 years to hairdressing. I am happy”. Subsequently, Paul bought a car and a residence of 50 hectares near the town of Boker.
- On July 10 1975, Jacques Chirac, Prime Minister of France, signed a decree creating France Loto’s national lottery game. On May 19, 1976, the first drawing took place at the Théâtre de l’Empire with 6 out of 49 formulas. The winning numbers were: 31, 15, 33, 27, 36, 48 and the bonus ball 34. The FNL used this formula until September 2008.
The lottery was initially televised twice a week on TF1 on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The tickets were only available in Paris. Only in 1977 that bets became accessible nationwide.
Lottery winning categories and probability of winning
- 6. Six numbers – 1/13983816
- 5 + bonus. Five numbers + bonus ball – 1/2 330 636
- 5. Five numbers – 1/55491
- 4 + bonus. Four numbers + bonus ball 1/22197
- 4. Four numbers – 1/1083
- 3+bonus. Three numbers + bonus ball – 1/812
- 3. Three winning numbers -1/61
France Loto 2008-2022
Today, Loto is one of the famous national French lotteries run by La France des Jeux (FDJ).
In October 2008, the organizers announced a change in the game formula. Since then in France Loto, you must guess five winning numbers from 1 to 49 and a bonus ball (nume acute) from 1 to 10. The ticket cost is 2 euros. Draws are held on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Jackpot
The minimum jackpot is 2 million euros. If the jackpot is not played in a draw, it will increase by 1 million euros until the amount reaches 36 million. If there are no winners by this time, 36mln will be divided between the winners of the “5 numbers” category.
To increase the chances of winning, participants can use the expanded bet option – to mark all bonus numbers along with selecting 6/7/8/9 out of 49. However, such tickets will cost much more. For example, “9 out of 49 + bonus” bet price is €252.
Jackpot prominent winners
In Montpellier, a town in the south of France, a unique case was when a player managed to win the jackpot twice. In 1996, the lucky winner won 18.9 million francs (the equivalent of today’s €2.8 million). And in 2011 he won again 3 million euros. “The odds are 1/363bln! It’s just unbelievable,” the organizers noted. In February 2016, a family from Côte d’Or hit a 17 million euros jackpot at Loto. The winners used the same numbers from draw to draw: 5, 24, 25, 28, 44 plus 3. It brought the long-awaited jackpot.
French sociologists Michel and Monique Panson interviewed jackpot winners for two years. Сollected data was the basis of their book “Les Millionnaires de la chance” (The Luck of Millionaires).
The lottery gives everyone a chance because it is a pure chance. For ordinary people, it is always luck.
