Did you know that some lottery games are more beloved not for their sheer jackpot size, but for the thrill and community buzz they generate?
In 2025, lottery games will be as much about experience as about payoffs. With mobile apps, live-draws, interactive bonus features, and social sharing, players care deeply about how a game feels, not just how much it can pay.
We ranked the 7 best lottery games of 2025 by how much real players say they enjoy them, balancing excitement, frequency, uniqueness and payout potential.
Below, you’ll find a quick reference table, followed by rich breakdowns of each game.
1. Monopoly Big Baller
One of the freshest entries to the “lottery / live game” category, Monopoly Big Baller by Evolution blends bingo with board-game flair and keeps players on the edge of their seats. In fact, when you play, you get more than just number draws: you get multipliers, bonus rounds, and a virtual Mr. Monopoly guiding the experience. The game is broadcast like a show, with hosts, big visuals, and interactive moments.
In each round, 20 balls are drawn from a pool of 60, and players hold 5×5 bingo cards. Lines, horizontal, vertical, or diagonal, earn rewards, and there is a “Free Space” card version and a “Chance” card version (the latter can add multipliers).
In some rounds, you may trigger a 3 Rolls or 5 Rolls bonus bet, which opens a 3D Monopoly board bonus game: Mr. Monopoly walks, dice are rolled, prizes are collected or taxed depending on which squares you land on.
Key Specifications / Highlights
- RTP (base game): ~96.10%
- Number of balls: 60 total, 20 drawn per game round
- Bonus bet versions: 3 Rolls, 5 Rolls (slightly different RTPs)
- Multipliers: up to ~199× on Chance card lines
Players cite the dramatic pacing, surprise multipliers, and visual immersion as big draws. Though not a conventional lottery draw in the sense of huge lump jackpots, it arguably offers more regular engagement and entertainment. Some rounds yield moderate payouts, but every spin feels like a spectacle.
Why it ranks #1: In 2025, many players prefer “lottery-like fun that actually feels like a game show.” Monopoly Big Baller delivers that. If you want excitement round after round, it often beats waiting weeks for a mega jackpot.
2. Powerball (USA)
Powerball has long been a staple in the lottery world, and in 2025, it’s still generating buzz. The allure is simple: massive jackpots, frequent draws, easy cross-state access, and media coverage that fuels public hype.
Powerball’s current structure involves choosing 5 white balls out of 69 and 1 red “Powerball” from 26. The odds of hitting the jackpot are about 1 in 292,201,338. Draws take place three times weekly.
Why players enjoy it:
- Jackpot size and headlines: In September 2025, a Powerball jackpot soared above $1.4 billion, the third-largest ever.
- National presence and trust: With 45 states plus D.C. participating, it’s accessible for many.
- Power Play multiplier (an optional add-on) allows non-jackpot prizes to be multiplied.
Fun factor ─ The hype of big draws, jackpot news, and long odds combine to keep Powerball on people’s radar. Many enjoy playing in syndicates or pooling tickets to try raising odds.
3. Mega Millions
Mega Millions is Powerball’s main companion in the U.S. lottery space, and in 2025, it’s still a favorite for big-jackpot chasers. The game was updated in April 2025 to have a minimum advertised jackpot of $50 million, with draws now using 5 numbers from 70 and 1 “Mega Ball” from 24. The odds of the top prize are about 1 in 290,472,336.
Players enjoy Mega Millions because:
- It benefits from national media attention and occasional cross-state marketing.
- The Megaplier option (similar to Powerball’s Power Play) multiplies non-jackpot prizes.
- As jackpots roll over, excitement builds, some draws approach or even exceed a billion.
Why it ranks #3: While some players favor Powerball for its frequency or nostalgia, Mega Millions offers a strong alternative with slightly different odds and often enormous jackpots. It’s a go-to for Americans who like to chase big numbers.
4. EuroMillions
Thinking beyond U.S. lotteries, EuroMillions is one of Europe’s most beloved lottery systems. Launched in 2004, it covers multiple countries, and its jackpot cap has reached €250 million in recent draws.
In 2025, the game regularly hits its cap, drawing wide attention across national lotteries in participating European countries. Because it’s multinational, there’s a sense of “continental excitement” and cross-border prestige.
One particularly interesting fact: In 2025, EuroMillions jackpots hit the €210 million cap multiple times, proving the game’s gigantic draw across Europe.
Players like EuroMillions for several reasons:
- Scale: Even moderately sized prizes are meaningful across diverse economies.
- Ritual: Draws on Tuesdays and Fridays become weekly events.
- Trust: National lotteries participating maintain credibility and regulatory oversight.
While odds of the jackpot are steep (in the hundreds of millions to one), the emotional and communal draw is significant. EuroMillions combines glamour and reach in a way few lotteries can match.
5. EuroJackpot
EuroJackpot is a European lottery designed to balance ambition with more favorable odds. The jackpot starts at €10 million and can roll over to a ceiling of €120 million.
Because the upper cap is lower than EuroMillions, the prize jumps may be more modest, but many players find the odds less punishing and the winnings still life-changing.
Moreover, because the jackpot ceiling is controlled, there is less emotional buildup of gargantuan prizes, but also fewer “nothing but dreamers” scenarios. Many players see EuroJackpot as a smarter risk: less speculative, but still exciting.
6. El Gordo (Spanish Christmas Lottery – Sorteo de Navidad)
El Gordo isn’t your everyday draw; it’s a yearly tradition that commands national attention in Spain and global interest among lottery aficionados. First organized in 1812, the Sorteo Extraordinario de Navidad distributes enormous total prize pools, often in the billions of euros across all tickets.
A few things to know:
- Although the odds per individual ticket are modest (1 in 100,000 for the top prize in a “décimo”), the total volume of prizes is staggering.
- Many people play in groups, syndicates, or through shared tickets, making the emotional and communal side compelling.
- Prizes are often split across many winners but with widespread coverage in Spanish media and tradition.
Players love El Gordo not because it’s the most efficient jackpot, but because it’s a cultural event. From Christmas traditions to office pools, it’s the kind of lottery where everyone talks about it. In 2025, the hype remains strong and the scale is still unmatched among holiday lotteries.
7. Online Instant & Scratch Games (Global / Digital Platforms)
Finally, for many players, the thrill isn’t waiting weeks for a draw; it’s instant wins. Online instant games and digital scratch tickets (often via apps or lottery websites) have grown in popularity, especially among younger demographics.
Why these games rank here:
- Instant gratification – You get feedback immediately.
- Low stakes – Many games let you play for $1, $5, $10, etc.
- Variety – Themes, multipliers, cascading reveals, bonus features.
- Accessibility – Available 24/7 via mobile apps.
Here’s a bullet list of appeal factors:
- Small wins compound and keep players engaged.
- You can play casually or intensively.
- Developers often update with seasonal or themed versions.
- Some offer progressive jackpots or bonus draws for top performers.
Because there’s no giant jackpot waiting months, many players see instant games as fun quick bets, not life-changing gambles. But in terms of sheer enjoyment and frequent engagement, they can compete well.
Conclusion
Jackpots will always generate headlines, but enjoyment often comes from variety, engagement, surprise, and the rush of participation. In 2025, the best lottery games are those that combine spectacle, tradition, continental appeal, and national jackpots. And for everyday fun? Instant games remain a go-to.
If your priority is entertainment and excitement as much as, or more than, winning the grand prize, these seven represent some of the strongest options.
Whether you prefer watching multipliers roll, waiting for a massive draw, or scratching a ticket in your downtime, there’s a lottery experience here for you in 2025.