Loto 6 is one of several lottery games played in Japan.
Loto 6 costs JPY 200 to enter, with draws taking place twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays at 18:45 local time. Ticket sales close at 18:30 on draw days and reopen shortly afterward.
To enter Loto 6, choose six numbers between 1 and 43, or go for a Quick Pick with randomly generated numbers. A bonus number is automatically drawn during Loto 6, which is used for the second prize only.
Advance play is available for those wishing to enter up to 50 draws at once, with the Joint Purchase feature enabling players to enter Loto 6 as a group, with friends, family members or even strangers.
Even more Joint Purchase options are available, with groups able to select up to 17 numbers to enter all possible combinations into the draw.
Unlike many other global lotteries, Loto 6 does not have any other games or ways of winning beyond the main draw.
The minimum guaranteed jackpot is JPY 200 million. Although there is no rollover cap, a jackpot cap of JPY 600 million is in place. On average, the maximum jackpot is won once per month.
The odds of winning the Loto 6 jackpot are 1 in 6,096,454, which are reasonable odds based on the size of the jackpot.
Players can win prizes at five different tiers.
Lottery prizes in Japan are paid out as lump sums only, with players having up to 12 months to claim winnings from authorized lottery retailers or participating banks. Players in Japan who buy tickets at an ATM, have their winnings directly paid into a respective bank account.
Japan does not tax lottery prizes, but taxes do apply if Japanese residents wish to gift their winnings to friends or relatives.
Players from abroad should check local tax laws to find out if they need to pay tax at home.
Loto 6 tickets are on sale from authorized retailers across Japan, from the official website and even at selected ATMs. Participants must be at least 20 years of age.
Players who live abroad can take part via authorized Lottery Agent websites.
The first Loto 6 draw took place on October 5, 2000, with Loto 6 being the first Japanese lottery game to allow rollovers.
All lottery games in Japan are state-owned and regulated, with Japanese banks playing a leading role in the payment of prizes.