Summary at a glance
| Game | Field | Jackpot odds | Column cost | Draws / week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TZOKER | 5/45 + 1/20 | 1 in 24,435,180 | €1.00 | 3 (Tue/Thu/Sun) |
| JOKER (intl. name) | - | - | - | - |
| LOTTO | 6/49 | 1 in 13,983,816 | €0.50 | 2 (Wed/Sat) |
| EXTRA 5 | 5/35 | 1 in 324,632 | €0.50 | 7 (daily) |
Note: in Greece, "TZOKER" refers to the 5/45 + 1/20 game. "JOKER" is the international term sometimes used for similar bonus-ball games.
1. Jackpot probability
LOTTO has the best raw jackpot odds of the three (~1 in 14 million) because it uses a single 6/49 field. TZOKER's odds are worse (~1 in 24.4 million) because winning requires hitting two independent fields (5/45 plus 1/20) - but for the same reason it routinely reaches the largest jackpots. EXTRA 5 has by far the best odds (~1 in 325k) and proportionally smaller payouts.
2. Prize structure
In TZOKER, only tier 1 (5+1) is pari-mutuel and rolls over to the next draw when nobody wins it. Tiers 2–9 pay fixed prizes, with tier 9 paying €1.00 for matching 2 main numbers without the Tzoker.
3. Draw frequency
TZOKER draws three times a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 22:00 Athens time), giving more opportunities than LOTTO (twice). EXTRA 5 draws daily, but with much smaller prizes.
4. When TZOKER makes sense
- When the jackpot is large (typically > €5–10 M) - expected value per € wagered improves.
- When you want the most frequent shot at a genuinely life-changing top prize.
- When you prefer more prize tiers (9 vs 5–6).
5. When LOTTO or EXTRA 5 wins
LOTTO offers the best raw top-prize odds - sensible if you exclusively chase the jackpot. EXTRA 5 suits players who prefer frequent small wins and lower variance - odds are ~75× better than TZOKER, but payouts scale down accordingly.
Bottom line
There is no single "best" Greek lottery - only the game that fits your goal. For the largest jackpot at the highest frequency: TZOKER. For the best raw top-prize odds: LOTTO. For frequent small wins: EXTRA 5.