Melate Retro's board stops at 39, thirteen numbers short of where regular Melate's board ends, and that thirteen-box gap is, in practice, almost everything you need to understand before filling out your first ticket. Here's how Melate Retro is played, in short: you pick six numbers from 1 to 39 (or ask for a quick pick), pay for your ticket at any authorized outlet, and wait for the draw, which falls on Tuesday and Saturday nights. Match all six numbers and you win the jackpot; match some and you land in one of six smaller prize tiers. This guide breaks down every step, how the prizes are split, and the mistakes first-timers make most often.
A shorter board: the difference that defines the game
Melate Retro is a draw run by Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública that has existed since 2010, built on a simple premise: a shorter board than classic Melate. Instead of picking six numbers from 1 to 56, in Retro you pick six numbers from 1 to 39, and the draw also pulls an additional number that factors into several prize tiers. Thirteen fewer numbers doesn't sound like much until you run the full count: possible combinations drop from 32,468,436 to 3,262,623, so the odds of Retro's jackpot are 1 in 3,262,623 — roughly ten times better than Melate's. It's still a remote probability, but it's the reason many players see Retro as the "more accessible" of the two draws. If you're curious why Pronósticos launched a second game with this format, we cover it in full in what Melate Retro is and why it exists.
How Melate Retro is played, step by step
- 1. Pick six numbers from 1 to 39. Mark them yourself on the ticket or ask the vendor for an automatic pick, known locally as "la máquina."
- 2. Decide how many draws that ticket covers. A single ticket can enter one draw or several consecutive ones, Tuesdays and Saturdays as you choose.
- 3. Pay and keep your ticket. It's the only valid proof of play; without it, no prize can be claimed, however small.
- 4. Wait for the draw. Retro draws happen Tuesday and Saturday nights; results are published that same night.
- 5. Compare your numbers. Order doesn't matter — only how many of your six numbers match the ones drawn, and whether the additional number also landed among yours.
A quick note for anyone coming from regular Melate: Retro has no Revancha or Revanchita. Those two optional draws, which reuse the same numbers in two extra jackpots, exist only on the Melate ticket. We explain how they work in how to play Melate if that variant interests you.
How Retro's prizes are split
Retro pays out across seven prize tiers, all defined by how many of your numbers match the six winning ones and whether you also hit the additional number:
- 6 matches: the jackpot — the full accumulated pot.
- 5 matches + additional
- 5 matches
- 4 matches
- 3 matches
- 2 matches + additional
- 1 match + additional
The last two tiers surprise first-time players: you can win a smaller prize with just one or two correct numbers, as long as the additional number also landed on your ticket. That's why it pays to compare your full ticket against the results, tier by tier, instead of only checking whether you "hit the six." The additional number doesn't change your jackpot odds — those stay at 1 in 3,262,623 — but it does open the door to smaller prizes that would otherwise go unclaimed.
Where to buy your Retro ticket
You buy it at the same outlets as classic Melate: pharmacies, convenience stores, and authorized Pronósticos agents, plus whatever online channels are available depending on the platform. There's no separate location to look for — just tell the vendor you want Retro, not Melate, since the two are separate products that can't be combined on a single slip.
Common first-time mistakes
The most frequent one among people who already play Melate: marking a number above 39 out of habit. Retro's panel doesn't go up to 56, so if your usual pick includes, say, 45 or 50, those numbers simply don't exist on this board, and the vendor will ask you to fix the ticket before charging you. It's worth scanning the full panel before marking anything, especially if you switch between the two games.
The second is a calendar mix-up: since Retro falls on Tuesdays and Saturdays — days Melate doesn't use — it's easy to lose track of which draw you bought into, especially if you play both in the same visit. It's worth reading the receipt carefully before leaving the store.
The third we've already mentioned: expecting the ticket to include Revancha or Revanchita. They don't exist in Retro, so if the vendor doesn't offer them, that's not an oversight — the product simply doesn't have them.
And the underlying mistake, common to any lottery: believing an "overdue" number is more likely to come up next Tuesday or Saturday. It isn't. Every Retro draw is independent of the last one; the balls don't remember what came out the week before, and no historical pattern improves your odds for the next draw.
How to check your ticket and claim a prize
Checking a Retro ticket works the same way as checking a Melate one: keep your receipt, compare your numbers against the official results for the matching draw, and if you land in a prize tier, follow the claim process with the physical ticket in hand. We cover the full procedure, including official channels and the claim window, in how to check your ticket and in how long you have to claim a prize. The ticket is the only valid proof — without it, no one can confirm or pay a prize, so hold onto it until you've checked every tier, not just the jackpot.
Frequently asked questions
How do you play Melate Retro?
You pick six numbers from 1 to 39 (or ask for a quick pick), pay for your ticket, and wait for the Tuesday or Saturday draw. You win the jackpot if all six numbers match the ones drawn; there are also six smaller prize tiers depending on how many numbers you match and whether the additional number lands among yours.
How is playing Melate Retro different from playing regular Melate?
The mechanics are nearly identical, but Retro's board only goes up to 39, not 56, and it doesn't include Revancha or Revanchita. That makes the jackpot odds different: 1 in 3,262,623 for Retro versus 1 in 32,468,436 for Melate. See the full comparison in Melate vs Melate Retro.
How many numbers do you need to match to win something in Retro?
The jackpot requires all six. But smaller tiers start at three matches, and even one or two matches can win if the additional number also comes up.
What days does Melate Retro draw?
Tuesdays and Saturdays, at night. That's a different schedule from Melate, which draws Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.
Do I need a strategy to play Melate Retro?
No. Every combination of six numbers has exactly the same probability, and no system, pattern, or "overdue" number improves your odds. The only real decision is how much you want to play and with what budget.
If you decide to play, do it with judgment: generate combinations for Retro with MelateBot AI Picks and check results and statistics for every draw in the Melate Retro guide.
This content is informational and for entertainment purposes. MelateBot is not affiliated with Pronósticos para la Asistencia Pública. Melate Retro is a game of chance: no method predicts, guarantees, or increases the odds of obtaining the winning numbers. Please play responsibly.