The Irish National Lottery has been running since March 1987 and is one of the most established lotteries in Europe. Each week, hundreds of thousands of Irish players buy tickets for the Lotto draw — and millions more participate across all the lottery products on offer, from Daily Million to EuroMillions.
This guide covers everything you need: how the official Irish Lottery works, what you win at each prize tier, how the different games compare, and how bookmaker fixed-odds lottery betting differs from buying an official ticket. There is an important distinction between those two, and most guides on this topic do not make it clearly enough.
Lottery winnings in Ireland are completely tax-free and paid as a lump sum, not in instalments.
A Note on Two Different Products
Before anything else: there are two distinct ways to “play” the Irish Lottery, and they work very differently.
1. Buying an official Irish National Lottery ticket — through lottery.ie or from a registered retailer. Your ticket enters the actual National Lottery draw, and prizes are paid from the prize fund.
2. Betting on lottery results with a bookmaker — placing a fixed-odds bet with a sportsbook on which numbers will be drawn. You do not buy a ticket; you wager money with the bookmaker at set odds. This is legal and widely available in Ireland and the UK.
Both options are covered in this guide. Most information available online blurs the line between them — this guide does not.
The Official Irish Lottery (National Lottery Lotto)
Brief History
The Irish National Lottery launched on March 25, 1987, with the first draw held at the Cork Opera House. It was originally administered by An Post’s National Lottery Company. In 2014, a 20-year operating licence was awarded to Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) — a consortium that includes Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and An Post — who continue to operate it today.
Since 1987, the National Lottery has raised over €6 billion for good causes in Ireland, funding sport, recreation, arts, health, and welfare projects across the country.
How the Lotto Works
The main game is called Lotto. The format is:
- Pick 6 numbers from 1 to 47
- On draw day, 6 main numbers are drawn, followed by 1 bonus ball
- Match all 6 main numbers to win the jackpot
You can choose your own numbers or use Quick Pick (a computer-generated random selection). Tickets are sold at registered retailers nationwide and online at lottery.ie.
Draw Schedule
| Draw | Day | Time (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Lotto | Wednesday & Saturday | 7:55 PM |
| Lotto Plus 1 | Wednesday & Saturday | 7:55 PM (same draw) |
| Lotto Plus 2 | Wednesday & Saturday | 7:55 PM (same draw) |
| Daily Million | Daily (7 days) | 2:00 PM & 9:00 PM |
| EuroMillions | Tuesday & Friday | ~9:00 PM |
Lotto Prize Tiers
The Irish Lotto has eight prize tiers based on how many numbers you match. You do not need to match all six to win — partial matches win smaller prizes.
| Numbers Matched | Prize |
|---|---|
| 6 (Jackpot) | Jackpot (minimum €2 million, rolls over) |
| 5 + Bonus Ball | Approx. €50,000–€100,000 [VERIFY: current fixed/pari-mutuel amount] |
| 5 | Approx. €1,500 [VERIFY] |
| 4 + Bonus Ball | Approx. €150 [VERIFY] |
| 4 | Approx. €50 [VERIFY] |
| 3 + Bonus Ball | Approx. €20 [VERIFY] |
| 3 | €5 |
| 2 + Bonus Ball | €3 |
Important: The Irish Lottery uses a pari-mutuel system for the jackpot and several upper prize tiers — meaning the prize pool is divided among all winners in that tier. The figures above are approximate based on historical averages; exact prizes vary per draw. The National Lottery publishes confirmed prize amounts after each draw at lottery.ie.
The Jackpot and Rollover Rules
The jackpot starts at €2 million and rolls over each draw when there is no jackpot winner, growing until it is claimed. There is a must-win jackpot mechanism — when the jackpot reaches a set threshold, it must be won in that draw, rolling down to the next prize tier if no one matches all six numbers [VERIFY: current must-win cap amount with National Lottery].
Irish Lottery jackpot winnings are paid as a single lump sum, tax-free. There are no annuity payments, no tax deductions. What the National Lottery confirms as your prize is what you receive.
Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2
When you buy a Lotto ticket, you also have the option to play Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 — two additional draws using the same numbers you selected for the main Lotto draw [VERIFY: current cost structure].
Both Plus draws take place on the same Wednesday and Saturday schedule. They offer separate jackpots:
- Lotto Plus 1 jackpot: Typically €500,000–€1,000,000 [VERIFY current figures]
- Lotto Plus 2 jackpot: Typically €250,000 [VERIFY current figures]
The Plus draws have the same 6/47 format and the same bonus ball mechanic. They give you two additional chances to win from the same numbers, which is why most regular players include them.
Daily Million
Daily Million is a separate Irish National Lottery game that runs seven days a week, with two draws per day.
The format differs from Lotto:
- Pick 6 numbers from 1 to 39
- One bonus ball is also drawn
- Top prize: €1 million (guaranteed, not pari-mutuel)
There is also a Daily Million Plus draw with a separate prize structure. Because Daily Million draws happen 14 times a week compared to Lotto’s twice-weekly schedule, it offers far more frequent opportunities — though the jackpot is smaller and the odds are different.
| Numbers Matched | Daily Million Prize |
|---|---|
| 6 | €1,000,000 |
| 5 + Bonus | €10,000 [VERIFY] |
| 5 | €500 [VERIFY] |
| 4 + Bonus | €50 [VERIFY] |
| 4 | €25 [VERIFY] |
| 3 + Bonus | €10 [VERIFY] |
| 3 | €3 |
EuroMillions in Ireland
EuroMillions is a pan-European lottery in which Ireland participates alongside countries including France, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Austria, and the UK. Draws take place every Tuesday and Friday.
The format:
- Pick 5 main numbers from 1 to 50
- Pick 2 Lucky Stars from 1 to 12
- Match all 7 to win the jackpot
EuroMillions jackpots start at €17 million and can roll to a maximum of €250 million before a mandatory rolldown is triggered. Irish players have won EuroMillions jackpots multiple times.
A portion of every Irish EuroMillions ticket sale goes to the Irish National Lottery’s good causes fund, alongside the prize pool contribution.
The odds of winning the EuroMillions jackpot are 1 in 139,838,160 — significantly longer than the Irish Lotto jackpot odds (see comparison table below).
Irish Lotto Odds — Official Lottery
The odds below are for the official Irish National Lottery Lotto (6/47 format).
| Prize Tier | Odds of Winning |
|---|---|
| Jackpot (match 6) | 1 in 10,737,573 |
| Match 5 + Bonus | 1 in 1,789,595 |
| Match 5 | 1 in 36,115 |
| Match 4 + Bonus | 1 in 17,384 |
| Match 4 | 1 in 918 |
| Match 3 + Bonus | 1 in 688 |
| Match 3 | 1 in 29 |
| Match 2 + Bonus | 1 in 64 |
| Overall odds (any prize) | Approx. 1 in 29 [VERIFY with National Lottery] |
The “1 in 64” odds sometimes cited refer to winning the Match 2 + Bonus tier — the smallest prize level. Overall odds of winning any prize are better than that.
How Irish Lotto Odds Compare
| Lottery | Jackpot Format | Jackpot Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Irish Lotto | 6/47 | 1 in 10,737,573 |
| UK National Lottery | 6/59 | 1 in 45,057,474 |
| EuroMillions | 5/50 + 2/12 | 1 in 139,838,160 |
| US Powerball | 5/69 + 1/26 | 1 in 292,201,338 |
The Irish Lotto has significantly better jackpot odds than the UK National Lottery or EuroMillions — a genuine structural advantage worth knowing. The trade-off is a smaller maximum jackpot.
Bookmaker Lottery Betting — How It Differs
As mentioned at the top of this guide, bookmaker lottery betting is a separate product to buying an official lottery ticket. Here is how it works.
What you are actually doing: Placing a fixed-odds bet with a licensed sportsbook on which numbers will appear in the Irish Lottery draw. You are not buying a lottery ticket. Your bet settles based on the official draw result, but your winnings come from the bookmaker, not the National Lottery prize fund.
Why some players prefer it:
- Variable stake — you can bet any amount rather than the fixed ticket price
- Fixed odds — payouts are known before the draw
- Available at most major Irish and UK sportsbooks (Paddy Power, Betfair, Coral, William Hill, etc.)
- Can be combined with other bets on some platforms
The format: You select 1 to 5 numbers from 1 to 47 and bet on them being drawn. The more numbers you pick, and the longer the odds, the higher the potential return.
Bookmaker Odds Table (6-Ball and 7-Ball Draws)
The 6-ball draw covers only the 6 main numbers; the 7-ball draw includes the bonus ball, giving your numbers an additional chance to appear at the cost of slightly shorter odds.
| Numbers Picked | 6-Ball Draw | 7-Ball Draw |
|---|---|---|
| 1 number | 6/1 | 5/1 |
| 2 numbers | 60/1 | 40/1 |
| 3 numbers | 700/1 | 375/1 |
| 4 numbers | 8,500/1 | 4,500/1 |
| 5 numbers | 150,000/1 | 45,000/1 |
Odds vary between bookmakers and may change. Check the current odds at your chosen sportsbook before placing a bet.
Multiple Bet Options
Most sportsbooks offering Irish Lottery betting also provide additional bet types:
- Multiple bets: Select up to 9 numbers and combine them in doubles, trebles, four-folds, or five-folds. You win if any of your combinations are drawn.
- Single ball betting: Bet on the first ball drawn, whether numbers will be odd or even, over/under on individual balls, and similar propositions.
- Total value betting: Bet on whether the sum of all drawn numbers falls above or below a given total, or within a defined range.
These options give bookmaker lottery betting more flexibility than a straightforward ticket, but the house edge built into fixed odds means the bookmaker retains an advantage over the draw’s true probabilities.
How to Play the Irish Lottery Online
Option 1 — Official National Lottery Website (lottery.ie)
The simplest way to play the official lottery online is through lottery.ie, the National Lottery’s own platform. You will need to:
- Register an account with proof of age (18+)
- Add funds via debit card or bank transfer
- Select your numbers for Lotto, Lotto Plus, Daily Million, or EuroMillions
- Confirm your entries before the relevant draw cutoff
Winnings up to a certain threshold are credited directly to your lottery account and can be transferred to your bank. Larger prizes require in-person collection at the National Lottery’s offices in Dublin.
Ticket purchases must stop before the cutoff time for each draw (typically around 7:45 PM for Wednesday and Saturday Lotto draws). Tickets cannot be purchased during or after the draw.
Option 2 — Bookmaker Websites and Apps
For fixed-odds lottery betting:
- Open an account at a licensed sportsbook offering Irish Lottery markets
- Navigate to the lottery or numbers betting section
- Select your numbers, the draw type (6 or 7 ball), and bet type
- Set your stake and confirm
- Winnings settle automatically after the official draw result
Most major bookmakers — Paddy Power, Betfair, Coral, William Hill, Unibet — offer Irish Lottery betting. Bets can be placed for individual draws or in advance for multiple draws.
Biggest Irish Lottery Wins
The Irish Lotto has produced numerous large jackpot winners since 1987. The jackpot has rolled to its maximum level on several occasions, producing life-changing prizes.
Some notable wins:
- Multiple jackpots above €10 million have been won by syndicates and individuals since the 1990s
- Jackpots regularly reach €5–€10 million during rollover periods before being claimed
- The largest single jackpot in Irish Lotto history was reportedly in excess of €18 million [VERIFY: confirm record jackpot amount and year with National Lottery records]
A significant number of large Irish Lottery prizes go unclaimed each year — winners who lose their tickets or forget to check results. Unclaimed prizes are returned to the good causes fund after 90 days.
How to Claim Irish Lottery Prizes
Prize claims depend on the amount won:
| Prize Amount | How to Claim |
|---|---|
| Up to €100 | At any registered lottery retailer |
| €101 to €99,999 | At any Post Office or by post to the National Lottery |
| €100,000 and above | At the National Lottery offices, Dublin (appointment required) |
| Online wins | Credited directly to your lottery.ie account (up to set threshold) |
All prizes must be claimed within 90 days of the relevant draw date. After 90 days, unclaimed prizes are transferred to the good causes fund and cannot be retrospectively claimed.
You will need to sign the back of your ticket and retain it safely until you have claimed your prize. The National Lottery cannot pay prizes for tickets that are damaged, unreadable, or unsigned.
Responsible Gambling
Lottery tickets are among the lower-risk forms of gambling because the stakes are fixed and infrequent. However, for some players — particularly those who bet frequently on lottery results through bookmakers, or who regularly play high-frequency games like Daily Million — gambling can become a problem.
The National Lottery operates under its licence terms to promote responsible play. You can set spending limits on your lottery.ie account.
If gambling is affecting your life, GamblingCare.ie provides free, confidential support. Their helpline is 1800 936 725. They can also advise on self-exclusion options at both the National Lottery and licensed sportsbooks.
18+ only | Play Responsibly | GamblingCare.ie
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the Irish Lottery work?
The official Irish Lottery (Lotto) requires you to pick 6 numbers from 1 to 47. On draw nights (Wednesday and Saturday at approximately 7:55 PM), 6 main numbers plus 1 bonus ball are drawn. You win the jackpot by matching all 6 main numbers. There are eight prize tiers in total — you can win smaller prizes by matching as few as 2 numbers plus the bonus ball.
What are the odds of winning the Irish Lottery jackpot?
The odds of matching all 6 numbers in the Irish Lotto jackpot are 1 in 10,737,573. This is significantly better than the UK National Lottery (1 in 45 million) or EuroMillions (1 in 139 million). The trade-off is that the Irish Lotto jackpot is smaller — it starts at €2 million and has a lower maximum than EuroMillions.
Are Irish Lottery winnings taxed?
No. All Irish National Lottery prizes are completely tax-free and paid as a single lump sum — not in instalments. This applies to jackpots of any size. You receive the full advertised prize with no deductions.
What is the difference between Lotto, Lotto Plus 1, and Lotto Plus 2?
Lotto is the main game (6/47, jackpot starts at €2 million). Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 are additional draws that use the same numbers as your main Lotto selection, giving you two extra chances to win from a single set of numbers. The Plus draws offer smaller jackpots — approximately €500,000–€1 million for Lotto Plus 1 and €250,000 for Lotto Plus 2 [VERIFY current figures].
What is the difference between buying an official lottery ticket and bookmaker lottery betting?
An official lottery ticket enters you in the actual National Lottery draw and pays prizes from the prize fund. Bookmaker lottery betting is a separate product — you are placing a fixed-odds wager with a sportsbook on which numbers will be drawn. The draw result is the same, but your winnings come from the bookmaker at pre-set odds, not from the lottery prize pool. Bookmaker betting allows variable stakes (any amount you choose) versus the fixed ticket price of the official lottery.
When does the Irish Lottery draw take place?
The main Lotto draw (along with Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2) takes place every Wednesday and Saturday at approximately 7:55 PM. The Daily Million draws occur at 2:00 PM and 9:00 PM, seven days a week. EuroMillions draws are on Tuesday and Friday evenings.
How long do you have to claim an Irish Lottery prize?
You have 90 days from the date of the draw to claim your prize. After 90 days, unclaimed prizes are transferred to the National Lottery’s good causes fund and cannot be reclaimed. Always sign the back of your ticket and check your results promptly.
Who runs the Irish National Lottery?
The Irish National Lottery is operated by Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) under a 20-year licence awarded in 2014. PLI is a consortium including Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and An Post. The lottery originally launched in 1987 under An Post’s National Lottery Company.
Can Irish players buy EuroMillions tickets online?
Yes. Irish players can purchase EuroMillions tickets online at lottery.ie, the National Lottery’s official website, alongside Lotto, Daily Million, and other games. EuroMillions draws are held every Tuesday and Friday.
