Irish Lotto
The Irish Lotto is a national lottery run twice a week. Players pick six numbers from a pool of 47, plus one bonus ball from the same pool. This guide covers the mechanics, prize structure, odds, and draw schedule.
Wednesday and Saturday
6 from 47, plus bonus
An Post National Lottery
Ireland
How The Irish Lotto Works
Players select six main numbers from 1 to 47. A seventh number, called the bonus ball, is also drawn from the same 47-number pool. The combination of your six main numbers plus the bonus determines your prize tier.
Draws occur twice a week: every Wednesday and every Saturday. Each draw is conducted by An Post National Lottery, the state operator since 1988. The lottery is regulated by the Department of Justice in Ireland.
To win the jackpot, your six main numbers must match the six drawn. The bonus ball only comes into play for certain lower prize tiers.
Prize Tiers And Odds
The Irish Lotto has seven prize divisions. The jackpot starts at a minimum amount and rolls over if not won.
Division 1 (jackpot) requires all six main numbers. Division 2 is five main numbers plus the bonus ball. Division 3 is five main numbers only. Division 4 is four main numbers plus the bonus. Division 5 is four main numbers. Division 6 is three main numbers plus the bonus. Division 7 is three main numbers.
The lowest prize tier (three numbers) has much shorter odds than the jackpot. Smaller prizes are won far more often but return far less. Your probability of winning any prize across all divisions is roughly 1 in 37. The jackpot odds are approximately 1 in 10.7 million.
Prizes are pari-mutuel in most tiers except the jackpot, which has a guaranteed minimum. This means the prize pool for a given division is shared among all winners in that division for that draw.
Draw Schedule And Timing
Draws run on Wednesday and Saturday evenings. The official draw time is 20:00 Irish time (GMT/IST). Results are published shortly after the draw closes.
Players can enter up to the deadline before each draw. Ticket cut-off times vary depending on where and how you play, so check before the draw.
Between Wednesday and Saturday, you have two chances per week to match your numbers. Over a year, that is 104 draws.
Expected Value And Maths
The expected value of an Irish Lotto ticket is negative. In simple terms: over time, players lose money because the total prize pool is smaller than total ticket sales. This is how lotteries fund themselves and public causes.
If you play the same six numbers every draw for a year, your probability of winning the jackpot once is not guaranteed. In fact, the odds remain 1 in 10.7 million per ticket. Playing more often increases your total cost, not your chance of a win on any single draw.
Syndicates do not change your odds of winning. They split a prize across more people, reducing your individual payout if you win. However, syndicates allow more tickets to be played across more draws, which increases the number of entries into the lottery system.
The overall odds of winning any prize on a single ticket are roughly 1 in 37. Most prizes are modest, so the weighted average return is much lower than the cost of entry.
Operator And History
An Post National Lottery has operated the Irish Lotto since 1988. The lottery is regulated by the Irish state under the National Lottery Regulations. All funds raised go toward the National Lottery distribution fund, which supports public projects and good causes in Ireland.
The Irish Lotto is one of the oldest continuously running national lotteries in Europe. It is not the same as Lotto Max or other European lotteries, though players often compare odds and prize structures across games.
An Post is accountable to Irish gambling regulators and publishes draw results and prize information in the public record. Winners are required to claim prizes within a set time period or forfeit them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum jackpot for Irish Lotto?
The Irish Lotto jackpot has a guaranteed minimum, which is set by the operator. If no one wins the jackpot in a draw, the prize rolls over to the next draw and increases. The minimum ensures that even in a new draw, the jackpot is worth a substantial amount.
How are Irish Lotto prizes taxed?
Irish lottery prizes are subject to Irish income tax. Jackpot winners and large prize winners must pay tax on their winnings at the standard Irish income tax rate. An Post deducts tax before prize payout in most cases. Check with the operator or a tax professional for specific liability based on your circumstances and residency.
Can you play Irish Lotto from outside Ireland?
Irish Lotto tickets can be purchased by players in many countries through authorized online retailers, including international lottery platforms. However, local gambling laws in your country may restrict or prohibit participation. Check your local regulations before playing.
What are the odds of winning any prize in Irish Lotto?
The odds of winning any prize (Division 7 through Division 1) are roughly 1 in 37 per ticket. The jackpot odds are approximately 1 in 10.7 million. Lower prize tiers have much shorter odds but return far smaller amounts.
How often are Irish Lotto draws held?
Irish Lotto draws are held twice per week: Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 20:00 Irish time. This gives players 104 draw chances per year if they enter every draw.
Does the bonus ball matter if I match fewer than five main numbers?
Yes. The bonus ball determines whether you win certain lower prize tiers. For example, matching three main numbers plus the bonus ball wins a prize in Division 6, while matching only three main numbers wins Division 7. Matching four main numbers plus the bonus is Division 4, while four main numbers alone is Division 5.
