History of superenalotto
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SuperEnalotto has been part of Italian lottery history since 1997. What began as the successor to an older game called Enalotto developed into one of Europe’s best-known jackpot lotteries, producing a long list of multimillion-euro wins along the way.
The modern SuperEnalotto game was launched on 3 December 1997. Just weeks later, the first player to match all six winning numbers claimed the game’s first jackpot.
Since then, SuperEnalotto has evolved considerably, adding features such as SuperStar and producing increasingly large record jackpots.
Want to understand the game as it works today? Read our complete SuperEnalotto guide, learn about SuperEnalotto SuperStar or check the latest Italian lottery results.
SuperEnalotto History at a Glance
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1950s | The earlier Enalotto game forms part of the story that eventually leads to SuperEnalotto |
| 1997 | Modern SuperEnalotto launches on 3 December |
| 1998 | The first SuperEnalotto jackpot is won in Poncarale |
| 2008 | A jackpot exceeding €100 million is won in Catania |
| 2010 | A €177.7 million jackpot sets a new SuperEnalotto record |
| 2016 | Vibo Valentia produces a €163.5 million jackpot winner |
| 2019 | A €209.1 million jackpot is won in Lodi |
| 2023 | SuperEnalotto reaches its record €371.1 million jackpot |
Historical jackpot figures are rounded for readability. Exact amounts and dates should be checked against official SuperEnalotto records when this page is updated.
Where Did SuperEnalotto Come From?
The history of SuperEnalotto did not begin from nothing in 1997. Its roots can be traced back to an earlier Italian game known as Enalotto.
Enalotto was already familiar to generations of Italian players before the modern SuperEnalotto format appeared. The introduction of SuperEnalotto in 1997 created a new national lottery built around six main numbers selected from a range of 1 to 90.
That 6-from-90 concept remains at the heart of the game today, although other features and rules have evolved over the years.
When Was SuperEnalotto Created?
The modern SuperEnalotto officially began on 3 December 1997.
That date marks the beginning of the lottery that Italian players know today. Its combination of a difficult jackpot, rollover mechanism and national availability would eventually allow it to produce some of the largest lottery prizes ever seen in Italy.
SuperEnalotto will celebrate its 30th anniversary in December 2027.
That means the game has been running for almost three decades, while its roots through earlier Italian lottery games stretch back even further.
The First SuperEnalotto Jackpot Winner
Players did not have to wait long for the first major moment in SuperEnalotto history.
On 17 January 1998, only around six weeks after the game launched, the first winning “6” was recorded in Poncarale, in the province of Brescia.
The prize was worth more than 11.8 billion Italian lire, as Italy had not yet introduced euro banknotes and coins.
It was the beginning of a long series of jackpot wins that would eventually become much larger.
A Piece of Italian History
The first SuperEnalotto jackpot was paid in Italian lire, not euros. Italy adopted euro notes and coins several years later, in 2002.
That makes early SuperEnalotto wins an interesting reminder of just how much has changed since the lottery began.
How SuperEnalotto Became Famous for Huge Jackpots
One of the defining features of SuperEnalotto history is its rollover jackpot. When nobody matches all six main numbers, the top prize can continue growing according to the applicable game rules.
Because matching all six numbers is extremely difficult, long periods without a jackpot winner can produce exceptionally large prizes.
The mathematical chance of matching all six main numbers with one standard six-number combination is approximately 1 in 622,614,630.
Those odds help explain why SuperEnalotto has produced such remarkable jackpot runs.
Famous SuperEnalotto Jackpots Through History
As SuperEnalotto grew in popularity, its record jackpots became progressively larger. Several wins stand out as important milestones in the game’s history.
| Date | Jackpot | Location / Method |
|---|---|---|
| 23 October 2008 | €100.76 million | Catania |
| 30 October 2010 | €177.73 million | Bacheca dei Sistemi |
| 27 October 2016 | €163.54 million | Vibo Valentia |
| 13 August 2019 | €209.16 million | Lodi |
| 22 May 2021 | €156.29 million | Montappone |
| 16 February 2023 | €371.10 million | Bacheca dei Sistemi |
These record wins show how dramatically the size of SuperEnalotto jackpots has grown since the game’s early years.
The €177.7 Million Jackpot of 2010
On 30 October 2010, SuperEnalotto reached what was then a historic record.
A jackpot of €177,729,043.16 was won through the Bacheca dei Sistemi system. The winning system was divided into 70 shares distributed across 33 Italian municipalities.
The winning numbers were: 4, 26, 40, 54, 55 and 67.
At the time, it was the largest jackpot ever awarded in SuperEnalotto history. It would hold an important place in the record books even as larger prizes followed.
The €209 Million Lodi Winner
Another major milestone arrived on 13 August 2019.
A SuperEnalotto ticket associated with Lodi won a jackpot of €209,160,441.54.
For several years, this stood as the largest jackpot ever won in the game.
But an even bigger record was still to come.
The Biggest SuperEnalotto Jackpot in History
On 16 February 2023, SuperEnalotto made history with a jackpot of approximately €371.1 million.
The record prize was won through the Bacheca dei Sistemi, meaning the jackpot was associated with a system divided into multiple shares rather than one conventional single ticket receiving the entire amount.
It remains the largest SuperEnalotto jackpot recorded in the official historical ranking.
SuperEnalotto Record Fact
Compare the milestones: the first jackpot in 1998 was worth more than 11.8 billion lire, while 25 years later SuperEnalotto produced a jackpot of more than €371 million.
That progression helps explain why record jackpots have become such an important part of SuperEnalotto’s international reputation.
Want to see more major winners? Visit our biggest Italian lottery winners page.
When Was SuperStar Introduced?
Another important development in the history of the game was the introduction of SuperStar, an optional addition to a standard SuperEnalotto entry.
SuperStar uses a separately drawn number and creates additional prize categories. It does not need to be played to win the standard SuperEnalotto jackpot.
This distinction is important because some older explanations of SuperEnalotto incorrectly describe SuperStar as part of the main six-number jackpot requirement.
For the current rules, prizes and odds, read our complete SuperEnalotto SuperStar guide.
How Has SuperEnalotto Changed Over the Years?
Although the basic idea of matching six numbers from 1 to 90 has remained recognisable, SuperEnalotto has evolved considerably since 1997.
Changes over the years have included additional game features, changes to prize structures, new ways to participate and updates to the draw schedule. Digital participation has also become more important as authorised online lottery services have developed.
For that reason, historical articles should not be used as a guide to today’s playing rules. Always check current information before playing.
SuperEnalotto Then vs Now
| Feature | Early SuperEnalotto | SuperEnalotto Today |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | 3 December 1997 | Established national lottery |
| Main number format | 6 numbers from 1–90 | 6 numbers from 1–90 |
| Currency | Italian lire | Euro |
| SuperStar | Not part of the original launch format | Available as an optional extra |
| Participation | Primarily physical retail | Physical and authorised online channels |
| Record jackpot | Still to be established | €371.1 million historical record* |
*Historical record checked against the official SuperEnalotto record-winnings list. Future jackpots could create a new record, so this figure should be periodically reviewed.
SuperEnalotto in 2026
Almost three decades after its launch, SuperEnalotto remains active in Italy. The core challenge is still the same: matching six main numbers from 1 to 90.
The game continues to produce large rollover jackpots and millions of lower-tier winning entries across its draws.
Because jackpots, draw schedules and prize information change regularly, use our latest Italian lottery results for recent results rather than relying on historical figures on this page.
Why Is SuperEnalotto Part of Italian Lottery History?
SuperEnalotto’s significance comes from more than one record jackpot. Its history connects several periods of modern Italy: from prizes paid in lire in the 1990s, through the introduction of the euro, to today’s online lottery environment.
Over that period, the game has produced jackpots ranging from millions to hundreds of millions of euros and has become known well beyond Italy.
For visitors who want to move from history to the current game, our SuperEnalotto guide explains how it works today.
History of SuperEnalotto FAQ
When did SuperEnalotto start?
The modern SuperEnalotto game was launched on 3 December 1997. Its history is connected to the earlier Italian Enalotto game.
Who won the first SuperEnalotto jackpot?
The first winning “6” in SuperEnalotto history was recorded on 17 January 1998 in Poncarale, in the province of Brescia. The prize was worth more than 11.8 billion Italian lire.
What is the biggest SuperEnalotto jackpot ever?
The official historical ranking currently lists the approximately €371.1 million jackpot of 16 February 2023 as the largest in SuperEnalotto history. It was won through the Bacheca dei Sistemi.
Is SuperEnalotto the same as the old Enalotto?
No. Enalotto is an earlier Italian lottery game connected to the origins of SuperEnalotto. The modern SuperEnalotto was launched in 1997.
Was SuperStar always part of SuperEnalotto?
No. SuperStar was introduced later as an optional addition to the main SuperEnalotto game. It is not required to win the standard six-number jackpot.
How old is SuperEnalotto?
SuperEnalotto was launched in December 1997, which means it will celebrate its 30th anniversary in December 2027.