You check your numbers, you validate your EuroMillions ticket, and at the time of the draw, only the two stars match. The question arises immediately: does it pay out anything? The answer depends entirely on one box being checked (or not) on your ticket. Understanding how winnings work with 2 stars EuroMillions avoids disappointment and allows for better budgeting of your play.
Two stars without a number: why the standard ticket does not pay
The EuroMillions system is based on a combination of 5 numbers and 2 stars. The prize tiers are constructed by crossing these two elements. Two stars alone do not constitute a winning tier in the standard ticket.
In other words, if you play a EuroMillions ticket without any additional option and you only find the 2 correct stars, you win nothing. The lowest tier of the standard ticket requires at least 2 correct numbers. Stars alone are never enough to trigger a win in the European scale.
This is a point that many players discover afterward. When looking at the winnings with 2 stars EuroMillions, it quickly becomes clear that everything relies on activating a specific option offered by the FDJ.
Etoile+ option: the only way to win with 2 stars EuroMillions
The FDJ offers an option called Etoile+, charged at an additional euro per ticket. It is this option that creates a winning tier for the combination “0 numbers + 2 stars”.
What this extra euro changes concretely
Without Etoile+, your ticket follows the classic European scale. With Etoile+, two bonus tiers are added, reserved for French players. The tier concerned here corresponds to 0 correct numbers and 2 correct stars.
The average win observed for this tier is around 10 euros. This amount is not fixed: it varies with each draw depending on the prize pool and the number of winners in this tier.
Why the amount changes from one draw to another
You may have noticed that the payout reports differ between two draws, even for the same tier. This is normal. The calculation depends on several factors:
- The total amount collected from ticket sales across all participating countries, which feeds the prize pool.
- The number of players who checked the Etoile+ option for that specific draw, which determines the share allocated to the bonus tiers.
- The number of winners in the “0 numbers + 2 stars” tier, among whom the amount is distributed.
The win is never guaranteed in advance, contrary to what some indicative tables may suggest. These tables display averages, not fixed amounts.
FDJ payment thresholds: collecting your winnings based on the amount
With 2 stars and the Etoile+ option, the win remains modest. You collect it directly from your retailer, without any special procedure. For your information, the FDJ applies different payment thresholds depending on the amounts won:
- Up to 30,000 euros, the win can be paid at the retailer (tobacconist or FDJ point of sale).
- Between 30,000 and 500,000 euros, you must go to an FDJ payment center.
- Above 500,000 euros, personalized support is put in place for the winner.
For a win of around 10 euros, the question does not arise. You present your ticket to the tobacconist and are paid on the spot. This detail becomes relevant if you combine Etoile+ with other correct numbers and the win increases.
Etoile+ on an annual budget: the calculation that matters
The option costs one euro per ticket. For a regular player participating in the two weekly draws, this represents an additional cost of about a hundred euros per year. Compared to the average win observed for 2 stars alone, the return on investment remains unfavorable from a statistical standpoint.
Etoile+ does not change the probabilities of finding the correct numbers. It simply adds two additional winning tiers. The psychological comfort of having “one more chance” is real, but it does not change the mathematical structure of the game.
A point of caution on responsible gaming
The FDJ itself notes that adding options may encourage spending more without significantly increasing the chances of winning. Every euro spent on options reduces the budget available for other tickets. A player who plays two tickets without Etoile+ covers more combinations than a player who plays one ticket with Etoile+, for the same price.
This is not an argument against the option, but a fact to keep in mind when validating your ticket.
Difference between EuroMillions and My Million: do not confuse
My Million is a complementary draw reserved for French players, automatically associated with each EuroMillions ticket validated in France. It awards a prize of one million euros to a randomly drawn code, regardless of the numbers and stars.
My Million has no connection to the number of stars found. You can find no numbers, no stars, and still win the million via this code. Conversely, finding the 2 stars does not give you any advantage for My Million.
This distinction is often unclear for casual players. The two mechanisms operate in parallel, without interaction.
The win with 2 stars EuroMillions boils down to a simple situation: without the Etoile+ option, there is nothing to collect. With it, the amount remains modest and variable. The option makes sense for those willing to pay an extra euro per ticket in exchange for a minimal safety net, without illusions about the actual probabilities of the draw.
