Yes. In France Loto, matching only the Chance Number can be enough to win a prize.
That makes the Chance Number rather different from the bonus balls used by several other major lotteries.
To play France Loto, you select:
- 5 main numbers from 1 to 49; and
- 1 Chance Number from 1 to 10.
The Chance Number helps determine several prize categories — including the jackpot — but it can also produce a winning outcome even when none of your five main numbers match.
So what exactly does the Chance Number do, how does it affect your France Loto prize, and what are the real odds of matching all five numbers plus Chance?
Let's break down one of France Loto's most important features.
How Does France Loto Work?
A standard France Loto entry requires six selections in total.
You choose five main numbers from 1 to 49 and then select one separate Chance Number from 1 to 10.
During the main draw, five winning numbers and one winning Chance Number are drawn.
To win the jackpot, one entry must match:
all 5 main numbers + the Chance Number.
France Loto's regular draws take place on:
- Monday
- Wednesday
- Saturday
That gives players three regular draw opportunities each week.
What Is the France Loto Chance Number?
The Chance Number is a separate number selected from 1 to 10.
It is not one of your five main numbers.
For example, a France Loto entry could look like this:
Main numbers: 7, 14, 23, 35, 46
Chance Number: 8
The five main numbers are checked against the five main numbers drawn, while your Chance Number is checked separately against the winning Chance Number.
Both parts of the entry can contribute to determining your prize category.
Is the Chance Number the Same as a Bonus Ball?
No.
This is an important distinction.
In some lotteries, a Bonus Ball is drawn after the main numbers and is relevant only to particular secondary prize categories.
France Loto's Chance Number is different.
You actively select a Chance Number when creating your entry, and matching it is required to win the jackpot.
It also contributes to several lower prize categories.
Most unusually, the Chance Number can create a winning result even when you do not match any of the five main numbers.
Can You Win France Loto With Only the Chance Number?
Yes.
This is one of the most useful France Loto rules for new players to understand.
If your five selected main numbers all miss but your Chance Number matches the Chance Number drawn, your entry still qualifies for a prize tier under the standard game rules.
So an entry does not necessarily need to match a main number to win something.
This also explains why you should always check the Chance Number when reviewing France Loto results rather than looking only at the five main numbers.
Why Is the Chance Number Important for the Jackpot?
Matching all five main numbers is not enough to win the France Loto jackpot.
You must match:
- all five winning main numbers; and
- the winning Chance Number.
Consider an entry that correctly matches all five main numbers but has the wrong Chance Number.
That is still an exceptional result and qualifies for a major lower-tier prize — but it is not the jackpot combination.
The Chance Number is therefore a fundamental part of the jackpot calculation.
What Are the Odds of Winning the France Loto Jackpot?
The mathematics comes from the two separate number pools.
There are 1,906,884 different ways to select five numbers from 49.
Each of those combinations can then be paired with one of 10 possible Chance Numbers.
That creates:
19,068,840 possible jackpot combinations.
The probability of one standard entry matching all five main numbers plus the Chance Number is therefore:
1 in 19,068,840
Those odds do not change simply because the jackpot becomes larger.
Does a Bigger France Loto Jackpot Improve Your Odds?
No.
The jackpot amount and the probability of your numbers being drawn are two different things.
Whether the jackpot has recently reset or has rolled over several times, you still need to match five numbers from 49 plus one Chance Number from 10.
The number of possible jackpot combinations therefore remains the same.
A larger jackpot increases the potential prize. It does not make an individual valid combination more likely to win.
How Does the France Loto Jackpot Grow?
France Loto's standard jackpot begins at a guaranteed minimum level under the official game rules.
If nobody matches all five main numbers plus the Chance Number, the jackpot can roll forward to the next draw.
That is why France Loto jackpots can grow across consecutive Monday, Wednesday and Saturday draws.
Recent 2026 results provide a good example: when nobody won the €2 million jackpot on 2 September, the jackpot rolled forward for the following draw. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}
What Changed in France Loto During 2026?
France Loto received an official rules adjustment during 2026.
From 4 May 2026, FDJ states that the game's overall player-return rate changed from:
54.85% to 54.35%
This refers to the game's overall prize-return structure.
It does not mean that an individual player's chosen numbers suddenly became less likely to be drawn.
The standard main-game number format remains five numbers from 1–49 plus one Chance Number from 1–10.
What Is the France Loto Winning Code?
France Loto has another feature that can easily be confused with the Chance Number: the LOTO winning code.
They are completely different things.
Under the official French game, a code is automatically associated with an eligible Loto entry.
During each regular draw, 10 winning codes are selected, with each winning code worth €20,000 under the current official structure.
The code draw is separate from matching the five main numbers and Chance Number.
That means the standard French game effectively includes both the number draw and a separate code-based opportunity.
Does the Winning Code Improve Your Jackpot Odds?
No.
The code draw and main France Loto number draw are separate.
Your jackpot probability is still determined by matching:
5 numbers from 49 + 1 Chance Number from 10.
The winning code provides an additional prize mechanism but does not alter the probability of your six selected numbers matching the jackpot combination.
What Is France Loto's Second Draw?
France Loto also offers an additional feature known as the Second Draw or 2nd Tirage in France.
This is separate from the main Loto result.
Official France Loto result pages therefore commonly show:
- the five main Loto numbers;
- the Chance Number;
- the Second Draw result;
- winning Loto codes; and
- other applicable game features.
When checking a France Loto result, it is therefore important to understand which part of the published result applies to the type of entry held.
Are France Loto Hot Numbers More Likely to Win?
No.
Historical results inevitably show that some numbers have appeared more frequently than others over a particular period.
Players often call these hot numbers.
Numbers that have appeared less frequently may be called cold or overdue numbers.
But an independent lottery draw does not remember what happened last week or last month.
A number that has appeared repeatedly does not become more likely to appear again simply because it is historically "hot".
Likewise, a number that has been absent for a long period is not mathematically "due".
You can explore historical frequency using the MagicLotto Hot & Cold Numbers, but those statistics should be treated as historical information rather than a prediction tool.
Does Choosing Birthdays Affect France Loto?
Using birthdays is a popular way of choosing lottery numbers.
But birthdays usually restrict selections to numbers from 1 to 31.
France Loto's main number pool extends to 49.
Choosing only birthday numbers does not make your individual five-number combination less likely to be drawn.
Every valid combination has the same probability.
However, concentrating only on 1–31 means ignoring numbers 32–49 when making your selection.
It may also increase the possibility of sharing a major prize with other players who selected similar birthday-based combinations if those numbers happen to win.
Is Quick Pick Better Than Choosing Your Own Numbers?
Neither method has a mathematical advantage.
A randomly generated valid combination has the same probability of winning as numbers selected manually.
The draw does not know whether you selected a number because it is your birthday, because it appeared frequently in previous results, or because a computer generated it randomly.
For the jackpot, every valid combination still faces the same underlying probability.
When Is France Loto Drawn?
Regular France Loto draws take place three times each week:
- Monday
- Wednesday
- Saturday
Special draws can occasionally alter the normal schedule.
MagicLotto customers should therefore always use the current entry deadline displayed for an available draw rather than relying solely on a remembered draw time.
How Do I Check France Loto Results?
After each draw, customers can check the latest France Loto winning numbers through the MagicLotto results section.
When checking a result, remember to compare both:
- your five main numbers; and
- your Chance Number.
Checking only the five main numbers could cause you to overlook a lower-tier winning entry involving the Chance Number.
You can also browse the MagicLotto Lottery Results hub for the latest results from supported South African and international lotteries.
Can South Africans Play France Loto Through MagicLotto?
MagicLotto provides access to supported international lottery games, including France Loto, through its independent ticket-messenger service.
Customers can select their France Loto numbers for an available draw through MagicLotto's international lottery service.
If you are new to the process, read the MagicLotto How to Play Lotto Online guide for an explanation of how online lottery entries work.
You can also browse the full range of lottery tickets available through MagicLotto.
Are France Loto Winnings Taxed?
Lottery taxation can depend on both the country in which an official ticket is purchased and the individual circumstances of the winner.
Customers should therefore avoid assuming that the tax treatment of one international lottery automatically applies to another.
For general information, read the MagicLotto Lottery Tax Guide.
Anyone fortunate enough to win a substantial international lottery prize should obtain independent professional tax and legal advice relevant to their personal circumstances.
France Loto Chance Number Frequently Asked Questions
How many numbers do you choose in France Loto?
You choose five main numbers from 1 to 49 and one Chance Number from 1 to 10.
Do you need the Chance Number to win the jackpot?
Yes. The France Loto jackpot requires all five main winning numbers plus the correct Chance Number.
Can the Chance Number win a prize by itself?
Yes. Under the standard France Loto prize structure, matching the Chance Number alone can qualify an entry for a prize tier.
Is the Chance Number a Bonus Ball?
No. The Chance Number is selected by the player as part of the entry and is required for the jackpot. It also contributes to lower prize categories.
What are the France Loto jackpot odds?
The probability of matching five numbers from 49 plus the Chance Number from 10 is 1 in 19,068,840.
When are France Loto draws?
Regular draws take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, subject to occasional special-draw scheduling changes.
What is the France Loto winning code?
An eligible standard entry receives a separate code. Under the current official structure, 10 winning codes are selected at a regular draw, each paying €20,000.
Is the Loto code the same as the Chance Number?
No. The Chance Number forms part of your selected number combination. The Loto code is a separate code-based prize mechanism.
Do bigger jackpots have better odds?
No. The jackpot amount does not change the five-from-49 plus one-from-10 number matrix.
Are overdue France Loto numbers more likely to be drawn?
No. Historical frequency does not make an otherwise valid number more or less likely to appear in an independent future draw.
Can South Africans play France Loto through MagicLotto?
Yes. France Loto is one of the international lottery games supported through MagicLotto's independent ticket-messenger service.
The Bottom Line
The France Loto Chance Number is much more important than its name might suggest.
Every standard entry consists of five numbers from 1–49 plus one Chance Number from 1–10.
You need the Chance Number together with all five main numbers to win the jackpot.
But the Chance Number can also contribute to lower prize categories — and matching the Chance Number alone can produce a winning outcome.
The complete number matrix creates 19,068,840 possible jackpot combinations, so no number system, hot-number pattern or selection strategy can guarantee a winning entry.
Understanding how the Chance Number works simply makes it easier to read your results correctly and understand exactly what you are playing.
Ready for the Next France Loto Draw?
Choose your France Loto numbers for an available Monday, Wednesday or Saturday draw through MagicLotto.
Or browse the full range of South African and international lotteries available through MagicLotto.
MagicLotto is an independent lottery ticket-messenger service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by FDJ or the French National Lottery. Lottery games involve chance and winning is never guaranteed. 18+ only. Please play responsibly.