Playing the lottery is a popular pastime for many people who dream of hitting the jackpot and winning big. Saturday Lotto is one of the most popular lottery games in many parts of the world. With games like Saturday Lotto, players choose a set of numbers and then wait to see if their numbers are drawn. Picking the winning set of numbers is no easy feat, but players may still win smaller prizes even if they don’t hit the jackpot. One common question is whether matching just 3 numbers wins anything in Saturday Lotto.
How Saturday Lotto Works
To understand if hitting 3 numbers wins a prize, it’s important to first look at how Saturday Lotto works. Saturday Lotto is a 6/45 game. This means players choose 6 numbers from a possible pool of numbers from 1 to 45. On draw night, 6 winning numbers plus 2 supplementary numbers are randomly drawn from the same pool of 45 numbers.
To win the Saturday Lotto jackpot, a player must match all 6 of the main winning numbers in a single game panel. The odds of doing this are 1 in 8,145,060. The supplementary numbers give players another chance to win a prize if they missed 1 or 2 of the main numbers.
There are 8 prize divisions in Saturday Lotto:
- Division 1 – Match all 6 winning numbers – Jackpot prize
- Division 2 – Match 5 winning numbers + either supplementary number
- Division 3 – Match 5 winning numbers
- Division 4 – Match 4 winning numbers
- Division 5 – Match 3 winning numbers + either supplementary number
- Division 6 – Match 3 winning numbers
- Division 7 – Match 2 winning numbers + either supplementary number
- Division 8 – Match either supplementary number
As you can see, matching exactly 3 of the main winning numbers falls into Division 6. So the quick answer is yes, matching 3 numbers does win a prize in Saturday Lotto!
Prize Amounts for Matching 3 Numbers
Now that we’ve established that hitting 3 winning numbers is enough to score a Division 6 prize, the next question is – how much can you actually win? Let’s take a look at the prize amounts:
| Prize Division | Matches | Odds (1 in) | Average Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Division 1 | 6 winning numbers | 8,145,060 | Jackpot |
| Division 2 | 5 winning numbers + 1 supplementary number | 648,002 | $20,000 |
| Division 3 | 5 winning numbers | 72,891 | $5,000 |
| Division 4 | 4 winning numbers | 7,384 | $428 |
| Division 5 | 3 winning numbers + 1 supplementary number | 813 | $59 |
| Division 6 | 3 winning numbers | 57 | $20 |
On average, matching 3 winning numbers will score you $20. This is the average Division 6 prize. To match 3 numbers and one of the supplementary numbers nets you around $59 on average – the Division 5 prize.
These prize amounts may fluctuate slightly from draw to draw based on how many winners there are. If there are more Division 6 winners in a particular draw, the prize amount gets split more ways so the individual prizes may be a little lower. But in general, $20 is the ballpark for a Division 6 prize.
Chances of Winning Division 6
Matching exactly 3 numbers may not seem like that tall of an order, so how often can you expect to win a Division 6 prize? With odds of 1 in 57, this prize division actually comes up fairly often.
To put it in perspective, if you play just 1 Saturday Lotto game, you have around a 1.8% chance of matching 3 winning numbers. For a Division 5 prize, your odds are only about 1.2% on a single game. So Division 6 is more likely. If you play every draw, you would expect to win a Division 6 prize about 2-3 times each year on average.
Of course, the chances of matching 3 numbers and winning $20 refers to a single Saturday Lotto game with a single set of 6 numbers. Many people play multiple games or use “systems” that generate multiple sets of numbers on a single ticket. With each additional game panel, your chances of matching 3 numbers improves.
For example, if you play a Saturday Lotto 18 game multi-panel ticket, your chances of winning a Division 6 prize jumps up to about 29%. So by playing multiple games, winning something for matching just 3 numbers becomes even more likely.
Increased Chances of Winning with System Entries
System entries or systems are very popular with Saturday Lotto because they increase your odds across multiple combinations of numbers in a logical and calculated way. Systems guarantee you will match a certain amount of winning numbers.
Some popular Saturday Lotto systems include:
- System 7 – Generates 7 game panels to guarantee you will match 3 winning numbers
- System 8 – Generates 28 game panels to guarantee you will match 3 winning numbers
- System 9 – Generates 84 game panels to guarantee you will match 4 winning numbers
- System 10 – Generates 210 game panels to guarantee you will match 4 winning numbers
As you can see, System 7 and System 8 give you excellent odds of matching 3 numbers and scoring a Division 6 prize. Even though systems cost more to play than standard entries, they may be a good option for players focused on winning small and mid-tier prizes more regularly.
Key Benefits of Playing Saturday Lotto Systems
- Guaranteed to match 3 or 4 winning numbers, depending on the type of system
- Gives you many more chances to win in the lower divisions
- Adds structure and reduces the risk of random number picking
- Allows you to win multiple prizes on a single ticket
- Spreads your numbers across the number field for better coverage
If you want to regularly win prizes like $20 for matching 3 winning numbers, a Saturday Lotto system entry could be the way to go.
Should You Play Saturday Lotto to Win Small Prizes?
Saturday Lotto is best known for its huge Division 1 jackpots, but as you can see, there are plenty of lower and mid-tier prizes up for grabs as well. Matching 3, 4, or 5 winning numbers happens more often and can put some nice small wins in your pocket.
But is it actually worth playing Saturday Lotto if you mainly want to win these smaller prizes? Here are some pros and cons to think about:
Pros
- Prizes like $20-$59 are still exciting to win
- Hitting 3 or 4 numbers happens frequently
- Gives you affordable entertainment and a fun weekly tradition
- Small wins offset the cost of playing over time
- Allows you to dream about winning the jackpot too
Cons
- Hard to make a profit in the long run playing this way
- Have to be extremely disciplined not to reinvest winnings
- Prize amounts may seem insignificant compared to the cost of entry
- Winning frequently creates a gambling habit that can be hard to break
- Unlikely to have life-changing wins targeting only low divisions
As with any form of gambling, playing the lottery with the intent of winning small, lower-division prizes has its risks. The pros may outweigh the cons for casual players, but it’s not a sound strategy for making money.
Tips for Winning Division 6 Prizes
If you do decide to try your luck winning Division 6 Saturday Lotto prizes of around $20, here are some tips that may help:
- Stick to a set budget for playing – don’t reinvest winnings
- Use lottery systems to increase your chances of matching 3 numbers
- Avoid quick pick – choose your own numbers strategically
- Leverage number frequency statistics
- Use both high and low numbers for balance
- Apply hot and cold number theory to your picks
- Join or start a lottery syndicate to buy more system tickets
- Always check your tickets after the draw – unclaimed prizes happen!
While winning Division 6 prizes won’t make you rich, it can add some fun and excitement to your lottery play. Just be sure to gamble responsibly and within your means.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many numbers do you need to win Saturday Lotto?
To win the jackpot prize, you need to match all 6 winning numbers. But you can win smaller prizes by matching just 3, 4 or 5 winning numbers plus a supplementary number.
What is the minimum number of numbers you need to win something?
Matching 2 numbers plus one of the supplementary numbers wins a Division 7 prize. So the minimum needed is 2 numbers and a supplementary to win.
Can you win money for 1 number in Saturday Lotto?
No, you need to match at least 2 numbers and one of the supplementaries to score the minimum Division 8 prize.
What prizes can you win with 3 numbers?
With 3 winning numbers, you can win either a Division 6 prize of around $20 or a Division 5 prize of approximately $59 if you also match one of the supplementaries.
What is the best way to win small prizes in Saturday Lotto?
Using a lottery system entry guarantees you will match at least 3 winning numbers, giving you excellent odds of winning Division 5 or Division 6 prizes.
The Bottom Line
Matching 3 winning numbers is enough to score a Division 6 prize in Australian Saturday Lotto. On average, this prize works out to $20. Though modest, winning a $20 lotto prize is still exciting. Your chances of hitting 3 numbers are around 1 in 57 with a single game. Playing lottery systems gives you multiple combinations of numbers and increases your chances of lower division wins.
Targeting the smaller Saturday Lotto prizes likely won’t make you rich. But it can provide some affordable entertainment. Just be sure to play responsibly and within your budget.
