What Makes Set for Life Different?
Unlike every other Australian lottery, Set for Life doesn't hand you a lump sum. Instead, the Division 1 prize is $20,000 per month for 20 years — totalling $4.8 million over the prize's lifetime. Operated by The Lott, the game launched on 7 August 2015 and is drawn every single night at 9:00pm AEST.
How the Draw Works
Set for Life uses a 7/44 format: pick 7 numbers from 1 to 44. In each draw, 7 winning numbers and 2 supplementary numbers are drawn. There are 8 prize divisions. Your ticket enters the next 7 consecutive daily draws.
Prize Division Breakdown
| Division | Match | Odds | Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 winning numbers | 1 in 38,320,568 | $20,000/month for 20 years |
| 2 | 6 winning + 1 supp | 1 in 2,737,184 | $5,000/month for 1 year |
| 3 | 6 winning numbers | 1 in 156,411 | ~$2,000–$5,000 |
| 4 | 5 winning + 1 supp | 1 in 25,702 | ~$200–$400 |
| 5 | 5 winning numbers | 1 in 3,067 | ~$50–$80 |
| 6 | 4 winning + 1 supp | 1 in 894 | ~$25–$35 |
| 7 | 4 winning numbers | 1 in 167 | ~$15–$20 |
| 8 | 3 winning + 1 supp | 1 in 80 | ~$10 |
The 2020 Game Redesign
On 23 March 2020, Set for Life underwent a major redesign, changing from an 8-from-37 format to the current 7-from-44 format. A new Division 2 ($5,000/month for 12 months) was added, Division 1 odds improved slightly from 1 in 38,608,020 to 1 in 38,320,568, and a new Division 8 tier was created for more frequent small wins.
Division 1 Sharing Rules
If 4 or fewer winners share a draw, each receives the full $20,000/month for 20 years. If more than 4 winners, the total $19,200,000 pool is split equally via reduced monthly payments.
Set for Life vs Lump-Sum Games
The $4.8M total payout has a present value of approximately $3.0–$3.2M at a 5% discount rate, meaning the time value of money makes a lump sum of that amount worth more today than $20,000/month spread over 20 years. However, the monthly payment model provides built-in protection against overspending — a major advantage for winners who might struggle to manage a sudden $3M+ windfall. Read our detailed lump sum vs monthly payments comparison for full financial analysis including inflation scenarios and investment return modelling.
Tax Implications
Each monthly $20,000 payment is completely tax-free in Australia. However, any investment income you generate from those payments — bank interest, dividends, rental income, or capital gains — is fully taxable at your marginal rate. This makes ongoing tax planning important for Set for Life winners who invest their monthly payments over the 20-year term.
How to Check Set for Life Results
Set for Life results are published immediately after each nightly draw at 9:00pm AEST. You can check Set for Life results tonight and every night on our Set for Life results page, which displays the latest winning numbers, supplementary numbers, and a full prize breakdown by division. For historical data and past Set for Life results, browse our draw archive or visit the Set for Life analytics page for number frequency charts, hot and cold numbers, and pattern analysis across thousands of draws.
Set for Life Draw Time and Schedule
Set for Life is drawn every night at 9:00pm AEST (Australian Eastern Standard Time), 7 days a week, 365 days a year. It is the only Australian lottery with daily draws. When you purchase a Set for Life ticket, your selected numbers are automatically entered into the next 7 consecutive nightly draws. Draws are conducted by The Lott and independently audited to ensure fairness. Results are typically available within minutes of the draw closing.
How Many Numbers Do You Need to Win Set for Life?
You need a minimum of 3 winning numbers plus 1 supplementary number to win the smallest Set for Life prize (Division 8, approximately $10). To win the Division 1 prize of $20,000 per month for 20 years, you must match all 7 winning numbers. Here is a summary of how many numbers you need for each division:
- Division 1: 7 winning numbers — $20,000/month for 20 years
- Division 2: 6 winning + 1 supplementary — $5,000/month for 1 year
- Division 3: 6 winning numbers — ~$2,000–$5,000
- Division 4: 5 winning + 1 supplementary — ~$200–$400
- Division 5: 5 winning numbers — ~$50–$80
- Division 6: 4 winning + 1 supplementary — ~$25–$35
- Division 7: 4 winning numbers — ~$15–$20
- Division 8: 3 winning + 1 supplementary — ~$10
Who Should Play Set for Life?
Ideal for younger players (20–40) seeking long-term financial security, those who prefer daily draws (7 chances per ticket), players concerned about windfall management, and budget-conscious players ($1.44 per draw for 2 games). The trade-off is a fixed $4.8M total ceiling versus Powerball's potential $200M+. Explore the full data on our Set for Life Analytics page, or use our AI number generator to pick your numbers for tonight's draw.