Around 54 percent of the money from ticket sales is paid straight back to players as prizes. However, the percentage does vary from draw to draw depending on how many winners there are. All eight prize tiers offer fixed awards so you are guaranteed to win the specified amount, but the top two prizes may be capped if the number of winners is unusually high. After prizes have been paid, the rest of the money is used to help good causes, as well as to cover operating costs, retailer commissions and lottery duty to the government.