UK 49's guide
UK 49's odds: the real chance of each pick
The exact chance of matching 1 to 5 numbers in a UK 49's draw, with and without the Booster ball, and why bookmaker prices are lower.
Updated Saturday 7 November 2026
These are the true mathematical chances that all of your numbers come up, for each pick size. They are the same for every draw and for every set of numbers you choose.
| Numbers backed | 6-ball (main numbers) | 7-ball (with the Booster) |
|---|---|---|
| Pick 1 | 1 in 8.17 | 1 in 7 |
| Pick 2 | 1 in 78.4 | 1 in 56 |
| Pick 3 | 1 in 921 | 1 in 526 |
| Pick 4 | 1 in 14,125 | 1 in 6,054 |
| Pick 5 | 1 in 317,814 | 1 in 90,804 |
How these are worked out
Take Pick 2 on 6-ball. There are 1,176 different pairs of numbers from 1 to 49, and 15 of them are pairs from the six numbers drawn. So the chance is 15 in 1,176, or 1 in 78.4. With 7-ball there are 21 winning pairs among the seven balls, so the chance is 1 in 56.
Why bookmaker prices are lower
A fair price would pay back, on average, exactly what is staked. Bookmakers set their prices below these fair odds; the difference is how they make money over time. For example, the fair price for Pick 1 on 6-ball would be about 7.17 to 1; compare that with the price you are offered.
Does it matter which numbers you pick?
No. Every number from 1 to 49 has the same chance, 6 in 49, of being a main number in every draw, whatever happened before. Hot and cold numbers explained