Draw and Instant Lotteries: The Difference and How Each Works
Lotteries come in two main formats, and the difference between them is not just in the design. Draw lotteries and instant lotteries determine the result in different ways: in the first, it is decided by the draw held at a set time; in the second, the outcome is visible right after you buy a ticket. Below is how each format works, what the participant chooses in it and which X2 LOTO games belong to which format.
Draw and instant lotteries: the main difference
In short, the formats differ in who decides the outcome of a ticket and when.
- Draw lottery. You mark the numbers on the coupon yourself and buy a ticket for a specific draw. The win is determined by the draw, which takes place at a set time.
- Instant lottery. There is no draw. You buy a ticket, open the game field and see right away whether it has won or not.
On X2 LOTO the section is called “Instant Lotteries”, and the pages of X2’s own games carry the label “Instant game”.
How a draw lottery works
A draw is a separate drawing with its own number, date and time. The participant chooses numbers in advance and then waits to see which ones are drawn.
- Mark the numbers on the coupon yourself or tap “Quick pick”. The rules of the Magnificent Eight specifically state that the way you choose numbers does not affect the probability of winning.
- Choose the number of draws and pay for the ticket. You can buy up to 100 tickets with any numbers in one purchase. Ticket sales close before the draw, and a countdown to closing is shown on the lottery page.
- Wait for the draw. If your numbers match the ones drawn, the win is credited to your game account automatically after the draw is settled.
Draws follow a schedule. The quick Tap lotteries are drawn every few minutes, the Magnificent Eight several times an hour, and “4 of 20 + 1 of 5” once a day. The exact interval is shown on each lottery’s card.
One ticket for several draws
In any X2 LOTO draw lottery, one ticket can be issued for several consecutive draws at once, up to five. The numbers stay the same in all draws, and the price is multiplied by the number of draws you choose. This is convenient if you are used to playing the same combination and do not want to fill in the coupon again every time.
How an instant lottery works
An instant lottery does not wait for a draw: you buy a ticket, open it and see the result right away. You choose the ticket price before buying, and the price and maximum win are shown on each game’s card.
Instant games look very different: in one you uncover mahjong tiles, in another bamboo stalks, in a third a football pitch. But the description of the Football lottery states plainly how it works: the result of a ticket is determined by a random number generator at the moment of purchase, and the animation on the game field only shows the result that has already been formed. One ticket, one result.
The size of the win depends on the combination you get and the ticket price. The table of combinations is in the game rules: on the game page or in the game window. The win is credited to your game account automatically, so you do not need to request a payout separately.
Instant games have a demo mode: the “Demo” button on the game page; the demo opens after you sign in to the site. The mechanics are the same, but demo games are not real lottery tickets: winnings are not credited to your balance and cannot be withdrawn.
Other differences between the formats
Besides the moment when the result becomes known, there are other differences.
- How draw winnings are calculated. In the quick lotteries Tap-1, Tap-2, Tap-3 and Tap-4, the payout is fixed and is a multiple of the ticket price: ×30, ×90, ×150 and ×250 respectively. If several participants guess the winning combination, each one receives the full payout.
- Prize fund and jackpot. In “4 of 20 + 1 of 5”, the prize fund is split between categories, so the amount of a win depends on the number of winners in the draw. The jackpot there is cumulative: if nobody wins it in a draw, it rolls over to the next one. The Magnificent Eight also has a cumulative jackpot.
- Waiting. In a draw lottery, you wait from the purchase until the draw to learn the result. In an instant lottery, the outcome is visible right away.
- Where you see the outcome. Draw results are published on the site, while the result of an instant ticket is shown by the game itself.
Where to check the results
Draw results appear on the site right after the draw. The “Draw results” page collects the latest draws of all draw lotteries: the draw number, the date and the numbers drawn. Each lottery also has its own draw archive. Look for your tickets and their outcome in the “My tickets” section.
In an instant lottery, the outcome is visible in the game itself right after you open the ticket. A win in a draw lottery is credited after the draw is settled, usually within a few minutes after the draw; in an instant lottery, it is credited right away.
Which X2 LOTO games belong to which format
Draw lotteries (all draw lotteries):
- quick: Tap-1 (1 number out of 36), Tap-2 (2 out of 15), Tap-3 (3 out of 12) and Tap-4 (4 out of 11);
- classic: “4 of 20 + 1 of 5” (4 numbers out of 20 and 1 out of 5) and the Magnificent Eight (8 numbers out of 20 and 1 out of 4).
Instant lotteries (all instant lotteries): Football, Hockey, Arabeska, Wheel of Fortune, Treasure Island, Pirate Island, Forest of the Spirits and Happy Daisies.
X2 instant games (all X2 games): games that X2 LOTO develops itself: Mahjong, Golden Dragon, Ordo — Knock Out the Khan, UPAY — Knock Out the Khan and Lucky Panda. In format, these are also instant lotteries: the result is known right after you buy a ticket.
Which format to choose
Choosing a format is a matter of how you prefer to play. A draw lottery suits those who like choosing numbers themselves and following the draw. An instant lottery suits those who want to know the outcome right away. A step-by-step guide from registration to your first ticket, “How to buy a lottery ticket online”, is available in the Russian and Kyrgyz versions of the site.
In any format, a lottery is entertainment with a chance of winning, not a source of income. Decide in advance how much you are ready to spend, do not try to win back what you have lost, and remember: the countdown to the next draw does not oblige you to buy a ticket. Only adults aged 18+ may take part. More details are on the “Responsible Gaming 18+” page in the Russian and Kyrgyz versions of the site.
Frequently asked questions
How is a draw lottery different from an instant lottery?
In a draw lottery, you mark the numbers yourself, and the win is determined by the draw at a set time. In an instant lottery, the result is known right after you buy a ticket.
Can I buy one ticket for several draws?
Yes, in any draw lottery a ticket can be issued for several consecutive draws, up to five, with the same numbers. The price is multiplied by the number of draws. You can buy up to 100 tickets in one purchase.
Can I try an instant lottery for free?
Instant games have a demo mode, which opens after you sign in to the site. Winnings in the demo are not credited to your balance and cannot be withdrawn.
How quickly are winnings credited?
In an instant lottery, right after you open the ticket; in a draw lottery, after the draw is settled, usually within a few minutes after the draw. The money goes to your game account automatically.