Melate is Mexico's best-known lottery draw: you pick 6 numbers from 1 to 56 plus a bonus number, and it is held three times a week — Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, at around 9:00 p.m. central Mexico time. It is run by Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública, and its historical record goes back to December 9, 2007, with more than 2,136 draws held to date. If your 6 main numbers match those of the draw, you win the jackpot, the top prize; if no one matches, that jackpot rolls over to the next draw. In this master guide we explain what Melate is, how it works, its format, its sister draws and how the results are checked.
What is Melate and who runs it?
Melate is a lottery-style game of chance operated by Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública, an agency of the Government of Mexico whose proceeds go toward social-welfare purposes. It is one of Pronósticos' most popular products and is part of a family of draws that share the same ticket: in addition to the main Melate draw, there are the optional Revancha and Revanchita draws, and the standalone game Melate Retro.
It is important to clarify that MelateBot is not affiliated with Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública. We are an informational and entertainment site that gathers results, statistics and guides for those who follow these draws. All the information you find here is for reference and entertainment purposes, and no content replaces the official channels.
The Melate format: 6 numbers from 1 to 56 plus the bonus number
The Melate format is simple to understand. On each bet you choose 6 different numbers within the range of 1 to 56. In the draw, 6 winning numbers are drawn and, separately, a bonus number. The bonus number is not part of your original selection: it serves to define some of the lower prize categories, combining with the matches you already have.
The prize categories are based on how many of your numbers match those drawn: 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2 matches, plus combinations that include the bonus number in certain categories. The top prize goes to whoever matches the 6 main numbers. The amounts for each category are not fixed: they vary in every draw depending on the size of the jackpot and the number of winners, so there is no single guaranteed payout table. If you want the complete step-by-step on how to put together and register your bet, check out our guide How to play Melate.
The three weekly draws
Melate is drawn three times a week: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with the draw taking place at around 9:00 p.m. (central Mexico time). This means there are three chances each week to take part and three jackpots that may be in play or in the process of accumulating.
Each draw is independent: the numbers that come out on a Wednesday have no causal relationship with those that come out on Friday or Sunday. That independence is a fundamental feature of any well-designed game of chance, and it is the reason why no pattern of dates or previous sequences can predict the next result.
The sister draws: Revancha, Revanchita and Retro
One of the things that makes Melate special is that your ticket can take part in several draws at once. This is where the so-called sister draws come in.
Revancha and Revanchita
Revancha and Revanchita are optional draws that are played with the same 6 numbers you already picked on your Melate ticket. Both use the format of 6 numbers from 1 to 56, but without a bonus number, and each one has its own jackpot and its own independent draw. In other words, with a single selection of numbers you can have up to three chances at a top prize in the same draw: the Melate one, the Revancha one and the Revanchita one. We explain their differences and how to activate them in Revancha and Revanchita.
Melate Retro
Melate Retro is a different game, with its own format and calendar. Here you pick 6 numbers from 1 to 39 plus a bonus number, and the draws are held on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Retro debuted on June 1, 2010 and has accumulated more than 1,641 draws. With a smaller range of numbers, its top-prize odds are different from those of Melate. Find all the details in our Melate Retro guide.
The jackpot: how the top prize accumulates
The jackpot is the top prize at stake in each draw. Its mechanics are key to understanding why Melate generates so much anticipation: if no one matches the 6 main numbers, the jackpot accumulates and is added to that of the next draw. Draw after draw without a winner, the prize grows, which is why from time to time jackpots of hundreds of millions of pesos build up.
The record accumulated jackpot of the Melate series was $639,500,000 MXN, reached in draw 2677 on July 31, 2013. In the case of Melate Retro, the recorded record is $68,000,000 MXN, in draw 1541 on June 24, 2025. To fully understand how the jackpot grows and what happens when someone finally wins it, visit The accumulated jackpot of Melate.
The real odds of winning
It's worth being clear about the odds, because they are part of what makes Melate a game of chance. The Melate top prize has a probability of 1 in 32,468,436, which corresponds to the total number of possible combinations of 6 numbers out of 56. In Melate Retro, with a smaller range (6 from 1 to 39), the top-prize probability is 1 in 3,262,623.
A fundamental point: every combination of 6 numbers has exactly the same probability of coming out. It doesn't matter whether you pick "hot" numbers, dates, sequences or random numbers; mathematically, any valid combination is just as likely as any other. This means that no method predicts or increases your chances of winning.
Historical statistics: information only
Many followers like to review which numbers have appeared most often throughout the series. In Melate, the most frequent number historically is 29, with 258 appearances, while the least frequent is 37, with 199. The average sum of the 6 winning numbers is around 171. In Melate Retro, the most frequent is 26 (293 appearances) and the least frequent is 5 (218).
These figures are informational: they reflect the past, not the future. Since each draw is independent and all combinations are equally likely, the historical frequencies do not anticipate what will come out in the next draw. You can explore all these figures in our statistics section, always keeping in mind that this is about curiosity and entertainment.
How Melate is played
To take part you pick your 6 numbers from 1 to 56, either manually or by letting the system generate them at random. You decide which of the three weekly draws you want to enter and, if you wish, you activate the optional Revancha and Revanchita draws to multiply your chances with the same selection. Keeping your receipt is essential in order to claim any prize. The full walkthrough, with the available options and practical recommendations, is in How to play Melate.
How the results are checked
After each draw you can verify the winning numbers and compare them with your ticket. At MelateBot we publish the results of every draw of Melate, Revancha, Revanchita and Retro, along with the breakdown by category when it is available. Check the most recent edition on our results page or in the detailed guide Melate results, where we explain how to read each draw and identify your matches.
Frequently asked questions about Melate
How many numbers does Melate have and from what range?
In Melate you pick 6 different numbers from 1 to 56, and in the draw a bonus number is also drawn that defines some of the lower prize categories.
What days and at what time is the Melate draw held?
Melate is drawn three times a week: Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, with the draw taking place at around 9:00 p.m. central Mexico time.
What is the difference between Melate, Revancha and Revanchita?
Revancha and Revanchita are optional draws that use the same 6 numbers from your Melate ticket, but without a bonus number, and each one has its own jackpot and independent draw. Melate is the main draw and includes the bonus number.
How does Melate Retro differ from Melate?
Melate Retro is a separate game: you pick 6 numbers from 1 to 39 plus a bonus number and it is drawn on Tuesdays and Saturdays, whereas Melate uses the range of 1 to 56 and is drawn on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. You can see the details in our Melate Retro guide.
What is the jackpot and how does it accumulate?
The jackpot is the top prize at stake. If no one matches the 6 main numbers in a draw, the jackpot accumulates and is added to that of the next draw, growing until someone wins it.
What are the odds of winning the Melate top prize?
The probability of the Melate top prize is 1 in 32,468,436, which is the total number of possible combinations of 6 numbers out of 56. All combinations have exactly the same probability.
Is there any method to predict the winning numbers?
No. Each draw is independent and every combination of 6 numbers has the same probability of coming out. The frequency statistics are merely informational, and no method predicts or guarantees the winning numbers.
In summary
Melate is the flagship draw of Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública: 6 numbers from 1 to 56 plus a bonus number, three draws a week since 2007, with optional sister draws and a jackpot that accumulates until a winner is found. With this master guide you have the complete picture; whenever you want to go deeper, continue with How to play Melate, Melate results, Revancha and Revanchita, Melate Retro and The accumulated jackpot of Melate, or explore all our guides on the blog.
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This content is informational and for entertainment purposes. MelateBot is not affiliated with Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública. Melate is a game of chance: no method predicts, guarantees or increases the odds of obtaining the winning numbers.