One of the most popular lotteries is the Irish Lotto. The jackpots are substantial and the odds of winning are attractive. Whether you are new to the game or a seasoned expert, you should be able to find out everything you need to know about the Irish lotto right here!
What is the format?
The Irish Lotto is “Pick-6” lottery game where players select six numbers between the numbers 1 and 47.
To win the jackpot, players must match 6 out of 6 numbers.
Players can choose to select their own numbers or can have numbers selected for them by choosing QuickPick.
When do draws take place?
Televised draws take place every Wednesday and Saturday night. Six winning numbers and one bonus number are drawn.
How much is the jackpot?
The jackpot cap of €19,060,800 instituted on Oct. 2, 2021 was finally won after 32 consecutive draws by a single winner on Jan. 15, 2022. The minimum guaranteed jackpot is €2,000,000. The average jackpot paid out is nearly €6,000,000. Annually, the Irish Lotto pays out a prize pool in excess of €117,000,000.
How can winning numbers be checked?
The winning numbers drawn are posted under the “Results” tab for easy access to anyone who wants to manually check and see if they are a winner for themselves.
Is it possible to play more than one draw at a time?
Players are given the opportunity to play on multiple consecutive draws at a time. Players need not worry about missing a draw. Can you imagine how devastating it would be if your regular numbers came up as winners in a draw but you had forgotten to play?
How many prize categories are there?
In addition to the jackpot prize category, there are 7 additional Prize Tiers available.
- Matching 5 numbers AND the bonus number for a prize of €100,000.
- Matching 5 numbers for a prize of €1500
- Matching 4 numbers AND the bonus number for a prize of €150
- Matching 4 numbers for a prize of €50
- Matching 3 numbers AND the bonus number for a prize of €25
- Matching 3 numbers for a prize of €9
- Matching 2 numbers AND the bonus for a prize of €3
Please note that these numbers are estimates only. Prizes are pari-mutuel and vary based on the number of winners and number of tickets sold.
Prizes are always paid out in full by lump sum.
What are the odds of winning?
The overall odds of winning a prize is 1 in 29.
The odds of winning the life changing jackpot are 1 in 10,737,573 which is by no means an easy proposition. But in comparison to most other lotteries out there where winning is statistically much tougher, these odds are incredibly attractive and are one of the main reasons why the Irish Lottery is so popular.
How has the Irish National Lottery changed over the years?
The Irish Lotto is one of the oldest and most prominent lotteries in the world. Its first draw took place in April 1988 and had a format of picking 6 balls from a field of 36. At the time, the minimum jackpot was £250,000.
The format of the lottery has changed numerous times over the years. In August 1992, the National Lottery changed the format to a 6/39 game and added a bonus number to the drawings. In September 1994 the format was again changed to 6/42 game in an effort to generate bigger rollover jackpots and compete with the British National Lottery which began operations in November 1994.
The draw format remained the same for 12 years, although there were pricing changes that took place during that period. In November 2006 the game was changed to a 6/45 game. In September 2015 arrived at its current 6/47 format.
Explore Lotteries Online
The Irish lottery is one of many exciting lotteries! Now, you can play international lotteries online from the comfort of your home. It’s as easy as doing your research, registering, and enjoying the game!
