Lotto

(Public Domain), (Unknown), Abel Klinger · Board game · 1530

2.0 Ludopedia 3.8 BGG 2–48 · best 6 30 min Weight 1.2/5

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2.0 rating Ludopedia

3.8 rating BGG

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Our Verdict

FOR GENRE FANS

Lotto is that classic game that entertains everyone, perfect for those who enjoy luck and don't want complexity. Ideal for gathering lots of people, especially kids!

Highlights

Quick and simple gameplay
Great for large groups
Varied children's themes
Easy to learn

Keep in mind

Entirely luck-based
Little strategic depth
Can become repetitive

Rules manual not indexed yet Upload the PDF rulebook to ask questions about this game with AI.

About the game

What you do in a play session

Lotto, dating back to 1530, is a classic game of chance and a direct ancestor of the Bingo we know today. The concept is straightforward: each player receives a card featuring images or numbers arranged in a grid – typically 4x4 for images or 3x6 for numbers. The key is that the same images or numbers appear on multiple cards but in different positions. Then, a 'caller' (or the game itself, depending on the version) reveals tiles with these images/numbers, and players must cover the corresponding ones on their cards. The first to complete a line wins! What's great is that it was designed for large groups, with older versions accommodating up to 48 participants. Nowadays, it's very common to find children's versions, filled with fun themes like cute animals or cartoon characters, making the game educational and entertaining for kids. It's a fast-paced game that doesn't require much strategy but guarantees laughter and anticipation with each called number. Perfect for livening up any family gathering or party, especially with children around. The mechanics are pure luck and attention, making it accessible for all ages.

Gallery

Box and component photos

11 photos · from the community

01 / 11

Tap any photo to open fullscreen. Photos submitted by the community or publisher.

Best player count

BGG community vote

2–48 players

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Where to Buy

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Game details

Mechanics, categories, families and credits

Families

Animals: Apes / Monkeys Animals: Bears Animals: Bees Animals: Cats Animals: Chickens / Roosters Animals: Dinosaurs Animals: Dogs Animals: Elephants Animals: Fish / Fishes Animals: Mice Animals: Rabbits / Hares Animals: Tigers Animals: Zebras Authors: Astrid Lindgren Authors: Enid Blyton Authors: Mother Goose Books: Babar Books: Pippi Longstocking Books: The Rainbow Fish Books: Winnie the Pooh Brands: Disney Characters: Bamse Characters: Benjamin the Elephant Characters: Bozo the Clown Characters: Kikker & Vriendjes Characters: Mickey Mouse Comic Books: Harvey Comics Comic Books: Lucky Luke Comic Books: Marvel Universe Components: 3 x 3 Grids Containers: Tin/Metal Box Containers: Tubes Country: France Country: USA Creatures: Ghosts Creatures: Monsters Folk Tales & Fairy Tales: Little Red Riding Hood Folk Tales & Fairy Tales: Puss in Boots Holidays: Christmas Movies: Frozen Movies: Monsters, Inc. Movies: Pixar Series: Noris-Fernsehspiele (Noris-Spiele) Theme: Clowns Theme: Flowers Theme: Scouting / Guiding Theme: Superheroes Theme: Traffic / Driving Theme: Zoos, Aquaria, Safari Parks Traditional Games: Bingo TV Shows: Casper the Friendly Ghost TV Shows: Hanna-Barbera TV Shows: Maya the Bee TV Shows: Sesame Street TV Shows: Tom & Jerry TV Shows: Unser Sandmännchen

Publisher (Public Domain), (Unknown), Abel Klinger, AK Spiele Heimchen, Alga, Amor Spielefabrik, ASS Altenburger Spielkarten, Atmosphere, B & S Company, Bayerwald Spiele, Berliner Spielkarten, Berwick's Toy Co. Ltd., Biserka, Blatz, British Games Ltd (BGL), Brybelly, Built-Rite, Carlit, Carls Stenders Kunstforlag, Cayro, The Games, Chad Valley Co Ltd., Clementoni, Codeg, Dal Negro, Dalmau Carles Pla S.A., danspil, Diset S. A., Drechsler, E. E. Fairchild Corporation, E. S. Lowe Company Inc., East Hull Press, Éditions Gladius International, Inc., Edizione Marca Stella, Edizioni Cicogna, eeBoo, F.X. Schmid, Flamenco, Franz Schmidt, Gayplay, Gibsons, Glevum Games, Granna, H. P. Gibson & Sons, Harett-Gilmar, Harlesden Games, Hartwig & Vogel, Hausser, Heros, I. P. C. Universal Corp., Ideal, J. A. Endtersche Verlagsbuchhandlung, J. Van Brunschot, J.L., Jeux Robert Laffont, Jeux Stella, John Jaques of London, John Sands Pty Ltd, Jos. Scholz, Jugoslovenska knjiga, Jumbo, K & C Ltd, Kärnan, Karto, Klee, KOSMOS, Lisciani Giochi, M. Dittert & Co, Majora, McLoughlin Brothers, Medallion Press, Merit, Milton Bradley, Mulder, N.W. Damm & Søn (Damm), Nathan, National Game Company, Noris Spiele, North-South Books, Nürburg Spiele, Nürnberger-Spielkarten-Verlag, Orchard Toys, Orda Industries Ltd., Otto Maier Verlag, Palet spil, Papita, Parker Brothers, Pestalozzi-Verlag, Piatnik, Pressman Toy Corp., Prestel Verlag, Ravensburger AG, Remoundo, Rudolf Forkel KG, Sala, Saml. Gabriel Sons and Company, Saussine Editeur, Schmidt Spiele, Selecta Spielzeug, Spear's Games, SPIKA GmbH, Tactic, Thomas Salter Ltd, Toytown Company, Unger Spiele, Usborne, Verlag Paul Schwarz, Volumétrix, Waddington Sanders Ltd., Waddingtons, Watilliaux, ΕΡ.ΚΑ.Π., Ο.Β.Ε.Π.Κ.

Designer (Uncredited)

Artist Barbara von Johnson, Dick Bruna, Eelco Martinus ten Harmsen van der Beek, Eric Hill, Gisela Mohr, Günther Marks, Janosch, Jean de Brunhoff, Jens Julius Hansen, Marcus Pfister, Maurice de Bevere, Rolf Kauka, Rune Andréasson

Community

Data from BoardGameGeek

807owners

15wishlist

2want to play

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers before you buy

7 questions

How many people can play Lotto?

Lotto is super flexible! It was designed for many players, with older versions supporting up to 48 people. In practice, you can play with as many people as want to have fun!

How long does a game of Lotto take?

A game is quite fast! It usually takes about 30 minutes, as the game ends once all the lottery cards have been claimed.

Is Lotto a difficult game to learn?

Not at all! The rules are super simple: cover the number/image that was called and hope to complete a line. Perfect for everyone to get the hang of it quickly.

What do I need to play Lotto?

You'll need the lottery cards, the tiles/pieces for calling, and the player cards (usually with numbers or images). Depending on the version, it might come with chips for covering.

Is Lotto more for kids or adults?

It works well for all ages! The versions with children's themes are great for kids, but the basic luck-based mechanic appeals to anyone looking for a light and fun game.

Is there any strategy to win at Lotto?

Since it's a game of pure luck, there's no strategy in the traditional sense. The focus is more on paying attention to cover numbers quickly and cheering for your numbers to be called!

Can I play Lotto with just a few people?

Absolutely! Although it's great for large groups, the game works perfectly with 2 or more players. The dynamic changes a bit, but the fun remains.