The Portugal EuroMillions draw from Tuesday night missed its €69M jackpot yet again, pushing the top prize to an estimated €80M for Friday's draw—but a handful of ticket holders across Europe, including at least one in Portugal, are waking up significantly richer after landing secondary prizes worth thousands.
Why This Matters
• One Portuguese player won €15,689.78 (third-tier prize), though after the 20% stamp duty on winnings over €5,000, the net take-home drops to roughly €13,551.
• Two international players each claimed the second-tier prize of €268,526.74—before local taxes, where applicable.
• The jackpot now sits at €80M and will roll again on Friday, 3 July 2026, with the cap at €250M under current regulations.
What Happened in the Draw
The winning combination drawn on Tuesday, 30 June 2026, consisted of main numbers 1, 8, 37, 44, 48 and Lucky Stars 2 and 6. No ticket matched all seven digits, leaving the first-tier prize unclaimed for another cycle.
According to official results, eight players across the nine participating countries matched five main numbers and one Lucky Star, securing the third prize of €15,689.78 each. One of those tickets was registered in Portugal—likely purchased through a retail outlet or the Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa platform.
Meanwhile, two players abroad matched five main numbers plus both Lucky Stars, earning the second-tier prize of €268,526.74. The jurisdictions of these winners have not yet been disclosed, though prize amounts may vary slightly depending on currency conversion and local contribution rates.
The Tax Bite for Portuguese Winners
For residents of Portugal, lottery winnings are not entirely tax-free. Under Portuguese fiscal legislation, any prize exceeding €5,000 is subject to a 20% stamp duty (Imposto do Selo) on the amount above that threshold. The first €5,000 remains exempt.
In practical terms, the Portuguese third-prize winner will receive:
• €5,000 (exempt)
• €10,689.78 taxed at 20% = €2,137.96 withheld
• Net payout: approximately €13,551.82
The Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, which administers state lottery games in Portugal, deducts the tax at source. Winners collect the net amount directly and are not required to declare lottery prizes on their annual IRS (income tax) return, since the liability is settled upfront.
For context, the third-tier prize of roughly €13,551 after tax is equivalent to about four months of median gross salary in Portugal (based on 2026 estimates around €1,300–€1,400 per month), or roughly half a year's rent for a one-bedroom apartment in central Lisbon.
How the Jackpot Grows—and Where It Stops
The EuroMillions jackpot operates under a pan-European fund managed jointly by lottery operators in Austria, Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Approximately 50% of total ticket revenue across all nine countries flows into a common prize pool, which is then allocated across 13 prize tiers according to fixed percentages.
The minimum guaranteed jackpot is €17M, underwritten by a separate "Booster Fund" financed from roughly 8–10% of the prize pool. When no one wins the top prize, the jackpot rolls over to the next draw. Under current rules, the maximum jackpot is capped at €250M. If that ceiling is reached and remains unclaimed for five consecutive draws, the entire amount cascades down to the next winning tier.
As of this week, the jackpot stands at €80M—well below the cap but climbing steadily. The last major Portuguese win was the record €213.9M prize claimed by a player in Porto in June 2024, the largest single lottery payout in Portugal's history.
Impact on Expats & Investors
For expats and international residents in Portugal, a few points warrant attention:
Residency and Tax Status: If you are a non-habitual resident (NHR) or hold another special tax regime, lottery winnings are still subject to the 20% stamp duty at source. The NHR regime does not exempt gambling income from this levy.
Cross-Border Claims: Prizes are always paid in the country where the ticket was purchased. If you bought your ticket online through the official Portugal platform, your prize is processed by Santa Casa. Tickets purchased in other EuroMillions countries fall under their respective rules—most EU jurisdictions do not tax lottery winnings, but Spain and Switzerland also impose levies.
Currency Exposure: For players in the UK and Switzerland (non-euro EuroMillions members), jackpot amounts are converted to local currency using the exchange rate on draw day. This can introduce minor variance in the advertised prize versus the actual payout.
The Bigger Picture: Gambling Revenue and Social Funds
In Portugal, lottery operations are a state monopoly managed by Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa, a centuries-old charitable institution. A significant portion of lottery revenue is earmarked for social welfare projects, including healthcare, elder care, and community programs. The 20% stamp duty on large prizes feeds back into public coffers, contributing to the national budget.
Critics argue that the tax effectively reduces the attractiveness of Portugal's lottery compared to neighboring jurisdictions where winnings are untaxed. Proponents counter that the levy is modest relative to the windfall nature of prizes and helps fund essential services.
What's Next
The next EuroMillions draw is scheduled for Friday, 3 July 2026, with an estimated jackpot of €80M. Ticket sales close at 8:00 PM local time on draw nights. Players can purchase entries at authorized retail points or via the official Santa Casa website and mobile app.
For those holding tickets from Tuesday's draw, prizes must be claimed within 90 days of the draw date. Amounts under €5,000 can typically be redeemed at retail outlets; larger sums require in-person collection at Santa Casa regional offices or bank transfer arrangements.
As the jackpot climbs, Portugal will be watching closely—hoping the next record-breaking win stays on home soil.
