Irish Lotto FAQs

If you have any questions about the Irish Lotto, have a look at this page for the answers that you need.

Question: When does the Irish Lotto draw take place?

Answer: Irish Lotto is drawn around 7:55pm GMT every Saturday and Wednesday. Numbers are updated on the Irish Lotto Results page shortly afterwards, with the full prize breakdown following soon after.

Question: Does the Irish Lotto jackpot have a guaranteed minimum value?

Answer: The base level for an Irish Lotto jackpot is €2 million, but the top prize can grow well above that amount due to rollovers.

Question: What time do Irish Lottery ticket sales close?

Answer: If you’re buying online, tickets close at 7.40pm on draw days. Sales at authorised retailers within the country close at 7:45pm on the night a draw takes place.

Question: How do you win on the Irish Lottery?

Answer: There are eight different ways to win Irish Lotto prizes. Prizes start for matching two main numbers plus the Bonus Ball, and increase in value as you match more numbers. In order to win the jackpot, you must match all six main numbers drawn. See the Irish Lotto Prizes page for a list of all of the winning combinations.

Question: Can you play the Irish Lottery if you do not live in Ireland?

Answer: Players from anywhere in the world can win the same prizes offered in Ireland by choosing their Irish Lotto numbers online. For more information, visit the Lotto Tickets page.

Question: If you win, how long do you have to claim a prize?

Answer: You have 90 days from the date of the draw to claim any Irish Lotto prize which you are due. If any prize remains unclaimed after this time then the money is transferred to a specific reserve fund for later use.

Question: How old do you have to be to play Irish Lottery?

Answer: Players must be 18 or over to take part in the Irish Lotto.

Question: Are winnings on the Irish Lottery taxable?

Answer: Winners within the Republic of Ireland will not be taxed on their prize, but if you are playing online from elsewhere then you should check your local tax laws.

Question: What are the odds of winning a prize on Irish Lottery?

Answer: You have a 1 in 10,737,573 chance of winning the Irish Lotto jackpot, with your odds of winning any prize standing at 1 in 29.

Question: Does the Irish Lottery have a rollover limit or jackpot cap?

Answer: The Irish Lotto has a jackpot cap of €19.06 million, although that can rise in the future. When the top prize passes this point it cannot grow any further and remains static until it is won, with excess funds rolling down to the next highest winning prize tier, most likely the Match 5+1 tier. This total will then become the new jackpot cap for future draws.

Question: How long can the jackpot stay at its cap?

Answer: There can only be a maximum of five draws at the jackpot cap. The fifth draw is known as a ‘Will Be Won’ draw, when the jackpot has to be given away.

Question: What is the biggest jackpot ever won on the Irish Lottery?

Answer: The largest Irish Lotto jackpot was worth €19 million and was won in January 2022 by a ticket holder from Castlebar in Co Mayo. Previously, the largest ever jackpot was won in June 2008 by a syndicate of 16 quarry workers in County Carlow who scooped €18.9 million between them.

Question: When is the next Irish Lotto draw?

Answer: Saturday 14th December 2024.

Question: What is the current value of the Irish Lotto jackpot?

Answer: The next Irish Lotto jackpot is €3.8 Million

Question: How much does it cost to buy an Irish Lotto ticket?

Answer: A single set of numbers costs €2, but you must play a minimum of two panels for €4. For an additional €1 per line, you can add the Lotto Plus option to your ticket.

Question: How do Will Be Won draws work?

Answer: The jackpot is awarded to anyone who matches all six numbers as it normally would be. However, if there are no winners, the money goes to the next prize tier down and is split between these winners.