If you already have numbers (below the number 47) that you consider lucky, then it is time to write them down as Irish Lottery numbers. In the paragraphs below, you will find information about the Irish lottery, the Lotto Plus games, EuroMillions, Daily Million, and all other games you can play on the lottery’s website or via the downloadable app.
What Is the Irish National Lottery?
The lottery is the easiest and most popular gambling game. This game of drawing numbers originated in China over 10 centuries ago under the name Keno. Ever since then it has spread all over the world, took many new names, and transformed into the modern game we all know. The Republic of Ireland government passed the National Lottery Act in 1986, which lead to the creation of the Irish National Lottery.
The main reason for the lottery was to raise funds for good causes related to sports, health, recreation, welfare, national heritage, arts, and more project. The first Irish Lotto draw was on Saturday, 16th April 1988. After that, the game received format changes in 1992, 2015, and in 2018. The improvements aimed increasing the overall odds of winning and a fresher look. Today, you can play the modern version of the lottery in-store or at the best Irish lottery sites in 2021.
Irish Lotto – Rules and Prize Opportunities
As we can read on the lottery’s website, you have to be 18+ to play Irish Lottery. This does not mean that your younger siblings or children can’t help you pick the winning numbers. It is a common practice for many people to play with their friends, colleagues, and family members. To play, you have to be at legal age and ready to invest a couple of Euro into the chance to get millions. Here are the simple steps you should follow to play Irish Lottery:
- What is the prize?: The smallest jackpot is €2 million for each draw and rolls up if the jackpot is not won.
- Choose your winning numbers: Pick six any six numbers in the columns from 1 to 47.
- Buy a ticket: Lotto’s minimum play is €4 for two lines per draw. Players can add lines for €2 per line. Keep in mind that the sales at retail agents close at 7:45 pm precisely (until 7:55 pm). If you play online, then the sales close for you at 7:40 pm on draw days.
- Wait for the draw: To make the game fair, all numbers are drawn live on RTÉ One every Wednesday and Saturday at 7:55 pm.
You see how easy to play this game is. To make it easier for the players who have not been in front of the TV at the appointed time, all Irish Lottery results are published on the results page. The latest draw becomes visible after 9:15 pm on the night of the draw.
Where Can You Buy an Irish Lottery Ticket?
Once you have all six of the Irish Lottery numbers in your head, you have two options – to play in-store or play online via the best Irish real money gambling sites for 2021. Below, we will give you details about both options.
In-Store Irish Lottery
The in-store lottery is a classic way to play this popular game. This requires for you to visit a location where Irish National lottery tickets are sold. Get an empty ticket and fill in the payslip with your six numbers. If this is your first time playing, then we recommend that you read the instruction on the back of the ticket or ask for help.
Many people take picking their lottery numbers seriously and think hard and long what their lucky numbers are. Many visit a fortune teller, ask their great ancestors for guidance or wait for a prophetic dream. Other players study the past results, mechanics, and the countless tips and advice on how to pick the winning numbers. The last type of gamblers doesn’t waste time with preparation. They choose quick pick numbers randomly, mark the Quick Pick box on the payslip, or directly ask the National Lottery agent for a Quick Pick.
At this point, all you have to do is pay for the ticket and wait for the next draw. It is advisable to keep the ticket safe and check if you win soon This will keep you safe in case you win, and malevolent people try to steal the prize from you, or you miss the great cash because you’ve left the ticket in your pocket and have forgotten about it. Yes, those situations are real and not just interesting movie plots.
Play Irish Lotto Online
The modern technologies bring us a lot of exciting innovations. One of the top entertainment and gambling games available online are at the best online casinos in Ireland for 2021. Choosing a legal gambling site can fill your days with fun and give you a chance for prizes. Here are our to recommended online lottery sites in Ireland:
- Lottoland – Participate in More than 30 Lotto Draws
- NetBet – Choose Among More than 90 Different Lotteries
- Unibet – Safe and Reliable Lottery Operator
- The Lotter – Play Safely at Over 100 Lotteries
The Irish Lottery is also available to play online. You have to register at the Irish Lotto website and verify your account. The website gives you the options to pick your numbers, use Quick Pick, add Lotto Plus numbers, and enter the Advance Play draws. Check if you have filled in your numbers correctly and press the buy button. The Irish Lottery will send you emails to confirm your purchase, another one when the results are drawn, and an announcement email if you win.
Play via the Irish Lottery App
The Irish Lottery app is the latest innovation for owners of Android and iOS-powered devices. The downloadable software allows the players to access the lotto games at any time. You can easily download the app from the links on the website or find them at the Google Play and Apple Pay stores.
*YouTube Channel Irish National Lottery presents the Irish Lottery App
Having the app in your pocket will save you time and effort of visiting an in-store location. You will also not need to be on your computer. The application works on modern phones and tablets you can carry with yourself. This means that you can buy a ticket, play scratch cards game, or check the Irish Lottery results right after they are drawn.
What Makes Lotto Plus Different from Irish Lotto?
Picking your lucky Irish Lottery numbers may be just as important as choosing which game to play. Now that you know how to play the Irish Lotto, we will tell you how to try your luck at the Irish Lotto Plus. The Lotto Plus games add two more exciting draws to the standard lotto game. In addition to that, the player also automatically enters the Lotto Plus Raffle Draw and get a chance to win €500. All this will cost you just €1 per panel.
The prizes at Lotto Plus depend on the game you pick. For example, Lotto Plus 1 highest prize is €1 million, while the top prize for Lotto Plus 2 is €250,000. The best thing is that you don’t have to share it with other winners (if there are any). The Irish National Lottery results also announce the winning Lotto Plus Raffle Draw numbers. If you have already won, and you play the Lotto Plus Million Euro Raffle, then you will have the chance to get an extra €1 million on top of your €500 win.
Since Lotto Plus 1 and 2 ate extension of the standard Irish Lotto game, you can play them in-store, on the lottery website, or via the Irish Lottery app. To take part in those games, you have to fill in your lottery numbers and the Lotto Plus numbers. This happens automatically when you mark the Quick Pick box, the Lotto Plus box on your playslip, or the Lotto with Lotto Plus Quick Picks. Don’t forget to mark the Irish Lottery numbers in the Lotto Advance Play box.
Once you have picked your games and marked the winning numbers, it is time to wait for the draw. The odds of winning the Lotto and Lotto Plus at any prize are 1 in 10. This means that one of every ten players can grab a prize. We wish you best luck and may you enter the hall of the Irish Lottery winners with highest prizes.
Irish Lottery Winners
Ever since its first days, the Irish national lottery had given away hundreds of millions of Euro as prizes to the luckiest winners. Some of them even enter the list of the biggest lotto wins in the world. The table below will tell you the average figures you can win. The largest prizes won in the history of the Irish Lotto are in hundreds of millions.
| Irish Lottery Games | Winnings* |
|---|---|
| Irish Lotto Match 6 Numbers | Full Jackpot (minimum guaranteed €2 million) |
| Irish Lotto Plus 1 | €1,000,000 |
| Irish Lotto Plus 2 | €250,000 |
*Prize value may vary significantly depending on the number of winners and the amount accumulated in the prize pool for any given draw.
Your odds of winning a lotto prize are 1 in 29. If your eye is set on the Lotto Plus, then the odds change to any prize 1 in 10. This may not seem like a guaranteed win, but many people “get the money” after every draw. Usually, the prizes are quite small and are won with 2, 3, or 4 numbers. The big money is reserved for matching at least 5 numbers. If you wish to see up close the Irish Lottery winners room, then you should match all 6 numbers in the draw.
* National Lottery Winners Room Tour, at YouTube Channel IrishNationalLottery
Some of the largest wins in the history of the lottery games in Ireland, there have been some really lucky people. Here are the biggest wins so far:
- On 28th June 2008, the Irish Lotto €18.9 million prize fell in the hands of a syndicate of 16 colleagues working at a quarry and concrete plant in Bennekerry, Carlow.
- EuroMillions’ biggest single person prize €115 million went to Dolores McNamara from Limerick in July 2005.
- Another EuroMillions jackpot of over €187 million was split between two ticket holders.
- A prize of €175.4 million was split between a family syndicate in Co Dublin.
As you can see, the players of this incredible game are everywhere. What did they do to win? Just bought a ticket and the luck smiled at them.
More Games by the Irish National Lottery
The Irish Lotto makes it easy to win prizes and get special promos as the Christmas Bonus draws. Giving such incredible chances to the players ranks the site as one of the best online casino bonus offers in Ireland for 2021. Besides this, the site has more games available at the Irish Lottery app, website, and in many stores. Below, you can read about the hottest games you can take part in:
Players at the Daily Million choose 6 numbers between 1 – 39 and one bonus number. This game gives the freedom of Quick Pick, advanced play, and the Plus Lotto game. The draws take place twice a day and the top prize is €1 million.
Irish National Lottery offers 30+ exciting instant win games. In this section, you will find seasonal deals like the Festive Fortune, Christmas Doubler, or Merry Multiplier 20x. You can play Mini Keno, Bingo, Cashword Mini, and more games with prizes of up to €250,000.
The Irish Lottery currently offers 24 scratch cards. Pick a game of your choosing and get a chance to win up to €500,000. We remind you to check in the T&C of the game when is the expiry date so that you don’t miss the chance to cash out your prize.It is fair to say that the only way to enter the Irish National Lottery winners list is to play the lottery. Considering the multiple games and chances for winning, we can fairly say that anyone who bought a ticket has a chance to win prizes of up to €250 million, and sometimes even more!
Irish Lottery FAQ
Winning the Irish Lottery may seem like a dream, but it was achieved by many people. We dedicated our article to give you details on how you can play and increase your chances to win. Now, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about the lotto games in Ireland.