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How we share out the prizes

First we split the prizes into three value bands – higher, medium and lower – with a percentage share of each month’s prize fund allocated to each value band. The current prize values and percentage shares are shown below.

Higher value prizes
(6% of prize fund)
£1 million
£100,000
£50,000
£25,000
£10,000
£5,000

Medium value prizes
(5% of prize fund)
£1,000
£500

Lower value prizes
(89% of prize fund)
£100
£50
£25

We then determine the number of prizes of each value as follows:

Higher value band

We currently pay out a £1 million jackpot and the balance of the prize fund allocated to the higher value band is divided equally among the remaining prize values within this band, starting from the next highest prize value. Any balance which is less than half of that prize value is carried forward to the calculation for the next prize value. Or if any balance is at least half of the prize value, we award an additional prize of that value and take the shortfall from the amount allocated to the next prize value. We then repeat the same calculations for each prize value within this band in descending order. The number of £5,000 prizes is also calculated in this way, with any surplus or shortfall being added to or taken from the share allocated to the medium value band.

Medium value band

From the percentage of the prize fund allocated to this band, we calculate the number of prizes in the ratio of one £1,000 prize for every three £500 prizes. Any surplus is added to the share allocated to the lower value band.

Lower value band

From the percentage allocated to this band, we calculate the number of £100, £50 and £25 prizes so that there is an equal number of £100 and £50 prizes and the overall total number of prizes of all value is equal to the number of all eligible £1 Bond units divided by the odds.

In the unlikely event that there is a shortfall in the overall total number of prizes, we may increase the share allocated to the lower band and reduce the shares allocated to the higher and medium value bands.

The way we share out the prizes can change from time to time, so please check this page regularly to stay up-to-date.