Exciting Changes Announced For Irish Lotto and Lotto Plus
Irish Lotto and Lotto Plus players can expect more winners and more millionaires after the Irish National Lottery announced exciting changes to some of their biggest games. The adjustments will come into effect from Saturday 1st September, so find out here what this means for you and your chances of winning.
More Winners Guaranteed
The overall odds of winning in Lotto and Lotto Plus have improved from 1 in 17 to 1 in 10 as a result of the changes, meaning you have a better chance of landing a winning line compared to before. The Lotto Plus 1 jackpot has doubled in value, with €1 million now up for grabs in every draw in comparison to the previous six-figure top prize of €500,000.
New prize tiers have also been introduced in both supplementary Lotto Plus 1 and 2 draws, including a €3 cash prize for matching three main numbers. Two free Daily Million lines can also now be won for matching two main numbers and a Bonus Ball. The size of the Lotto Plus Raffle prize has gone up in value from €300 to €500 for those who match the full number, and it’s also been announced that a Lotto Plus Million Euro Raffle will be taking place a few times over the course of a year, offering €1 million each time.
The cost of entering Lotto Plus has gone up slightly, increasing from €0.50 to €1 to compensate for all the changes. You can now enter a minimum of two Irish Lotto draws for €2 per line, so the minimum entry for both is €6 instead of €5. These changes are expected to create at least 16 new Lotto and Lotto Plus millionaires in a year, and they were brought in after correspondence and consultation between National Lottery officials and its players.
“Creating More Millionaires”
The process for playing the main Lotto draw remains exactly the same, with players picking six main numbers between 1 and 47 to be in with a chance of winning. You can still opt to enter the supplementary Lotto Plus draws by adding the option on your playslip.
Entering the supplementary Lotto Plus draws remains optional, and you can still enter just the main Lotto draw if you prefer. Just under €226 million was raised last year for Ireland’s Good Causes fund, around €620,000 each day, and these changes are expected to provide an extra €5.5 million annually for the fund – an important factor for everyone involved in the National Lottery.
The National Lottery’s Miriam Donohoe said: "The reality is nobody likes to pay more for any product, but we really believe when players see the value that they are going to be getting for the small price increase, that they will be very happy. There are new options to win, particularly the idea of creating new millionaires."
Dermot Griffin, Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI) Chief Executive, added: “With the enhanced Lotto Plus game we are looking forward to creating more millionaires and winners adding to the excitement of our lotto game. With the new game over 80% of sales will be returned in the form of prizes to players and to good causes which benefit the whole community in Ireland.”
With an estimated jackpot worth €2 million up for grabs in this Saturday’s Irish Lotto draw, you could become one of the first winners under the new changes. Simply visit our dedicated Lottery Tickets page to pick your numbers safely and securely online, and remember to let us know how you get on. Good luck!
30th August 2018
