The Étoile+ EuroMillions option charges an additional €1 per grid to open up prize tiers that would otherwise be inaccessible. With a confirmed removal in 2027 and the planned launch of a “1st Chance” option, the question of its relevance arises differently depending on the player’s profile.
Étoile+ vs. multichance options and FDJ subscription: where to place your euro
The euro invested in Étoile+ only covers a single grid and does not increase the number of combinations played. It adds two exclusive tiers (0 numbers + 1 star, 0 numbers + 2 stars) and enhances winnings on several intermediate tiers involving at least one correct star.
The multichance option, on the other hand, multiplies the combinations on a single draw. The package is more expensive, but it broadens coverage on the numbers, not just on the stars. For a player aiming for the higher tiers, this approach mechanically increases the probability of hitting a significant prize.
The FDJ subscription allows for regular play without manual intervention, at a constant price and without surcharges for special draws. Combined with a multichance package, it offers a consistency and diversification that Étoile+ alone does not provide. We observe that many players combine Étoile+ and subscription without having compared the marginal return of each euro spent. Our review of the EuroMillions star option aligns with this finding: the euro from Étoile+ mainly benefits small wins, rarely the decisive tiers.
Exclusive Étoile+ tiers: real profitability of winnings with 0 correct numbers
The two tiers created by Étoile+ concern grids where none of the five numbers are correct. Finding one correct star pays about €2.50. Finding both correct stars pays about €10.
On paper, the probability of winning increases from 1 in 12 to 1 in 4 with the option activated. This ratio seems attractive, but it masks the nature of the winnings involved.
- The tier 0 numbers + 1 star barely reimburses the standard grid (€2.50), without covering the additional cost of Étoile+ (€1). The player therefore recovers less than their total stake of €3.50.
- The tier 0 numbers + 2 stars pays about €10, but its frequency remains low.
- The bonuses on intermediate tiers (2 numbers + 2 stars, 3 numbers + 1 star, etc.) involve winnings whose base amounts range from a few euros to a few tens of euros. The bonus applies to modest sums, not to the jackpot.
Tier 1 (5 numbers + 2 stars) is not affected by Étoile+: the jackpot remains the same with or without the option. Tier 2 (5 numbers + 1 star) benefits from an Étoile+ bonus, but the probability of reaching this tier is so low that the statistical impact on expected winnings remains marginal.
Removal of Étoile+ in 2027 and transition to “1st Chance”
The FDJ has confirmed that the Étoile+ option will be removed in 2027, replaced by a new option called “1st Chance” at the same price of €1. The precise terms of this new formula have not yet been published.
This announcement changes the medium-term analysis. A player who has integrated Étoile+ into their gaming routine will need to adapt their strategy anyway. We recommend not to consider Étoile+ as a permanent fixture, but as a transitional device whose added value should be reassessed with each draw.
What the transition implies for regular players
Subscriptions including Étoile+ will likely be reconfigured during the switch to “1st Chance.” No official information specifies whether the winning conditions will be more or less favorable. Continuing to pay for Étoile+ out of habit has no strategic justification as long as the details of the next option are unknown.
For players who bet on multiple grids per draw, redirecting the Étoile+ euro towards an additional grid (€2.50) or towards a multichance package offers broader coverage on the numbers. This is a simple trade-off that few guides mention.
Our opinion on Étoile+ in 2026: player profile and relevance threshold
The Étoile+ remains relevant in a specific case: the occasional player who plays a single grid per draw and considers the psychological gain of “winning something” as sufficient. The shift from 1 in 12 to 1 in 4 chance of winning a prize, even modest, changes the gaming experience.
For a regular player who invests in several grids per week, the euro from Étoile+ yields less than a euro placed on number coverage. The logic is arithmetic: multiplying combinations increases the probability of hitting better-endowed tiers, while Étoile+ mainly improves the tiers whose winnings barely cover the stake.
The standard grid price remains at €2.50 and the one with Étoile+ at €3.50, with no surcharges during special draws or super jackpots. This price stability is a positive point, but it does not compensate for the limited yield of the option on high tiers.
The Étoile+ is neither a scam nor a decisive lever. It is an assurance of small prizes that costs 40% of the base grid price. With just a few months until its disappearance, testing the FDJ alternatives before the 2027 transition seems wiser than renewing the option by reflex.
