Millionaire
Irish Lotto
Lottery Overview & Statistics
Irish Lotto, officially the National Lottery of Ireland, operates under a 6/47 main draw with a Bonus Ball drawn from the remaining 41 balls after the main six. Jackpot probability is 1:10,737,573, among the most favourable jackpot odds of any major European lottery.
The lottery is regulated by the National Lottery Regulator of Ireland and operated by Premier Lotteries Ireland. Draws have been conducted since 1988, and the game has paid out over EUR 5 billion in prizes across all tiers since its inception.
The jackpot rolls over without a statutory cap until won. Raffle events, which produce guaranteed cash prizes of EUR 1 million per draw, are attached to certain special draws, providing an additional winning opportunity independent of the main matrix.
Game Format & Rules
Players choose six numbers from a pool of 1 to 47. After the main draw, one Bonus Ball is selected from the 41 remaining numbers. The Bonus Ball is relevant only to the second prize tier (five main numbers matched plus the Bonus Ball) and does not affect any other tier.
Jackpot probability is 1:10,737,573. The total number of possible six-number combinations from 1 to 47 is 10,737,573, meaning each unique combination is distinct with no overlap. System entries covering multiple combinations are available at proportional cost.
Standard ticket cost is EUR 1 per line on the Irish National Lottery platform. International access through third-party platforms may carry a service fee on top of the base ticket price.
Prize Structure & Odds Analysis
Irish Lotto has five main prize tiers plus a Bonus Ball-linked second tier. Tier 1 (six main numbers) odds are 1:10,737,573. Tier 2a (five main + Bonus Ball) odds are 1:1,789,596. Tier 2 (five main numbers, no Bonus Ball) odds are 1:44,740. Tier 3 (four main numbers) odds are 1:918.
Lower tiers extend to matching three main numbers (Tier 4) and matching two numbers plus the Bonus Ball (Tier 5). Tier 4 and Tier 5 pay fixed amounts. The overall probability of winning any prize is approximately 1:29. Prize funds are calculated as a percentage of ticket revenue.
Raffle draws attached to special events guarantee fixed EUR 1 million prizes for randomly selected ticket holders, independent of the main matrix results.
Draw Schedule & Deadlines
Irish Lotto draws are conducted every Wednesday and Saturday at approximately 20:00 IST (Irish Standard Time, UTC+1 in summer, UTC in winter). The exact draw time can vary by a few minutes depending on the live broadcast schedule.
Ticket sales close approximately 60 minutes before each draw. Online purchases via National Lottery Ireland (lottery.ie) and authorised third-party platforms are accepted until the cut-off time.
Results are published on lottery.ie and broadcast via RTE television immediately following the draw. Mobile app notifications are available to registered National Lottery account holders.
Cryptocurrency Ticket Purchases
Access to Irish Lotto via cryptocurrency is facilitated through authorised third-party online lottery platforms, as the National Lottery Ireland does not accept direct crypto payments. These platforms convert BTC, ETH, and other digital assets to EUR-equivalent value for ticket purchases.
International players benefit from crypto's cross-border payment capability, bypassing bank-level blocks on gambling transactions that are common in many jurisdictions. Settlement is near-instant for ETH and stablecoin transactions.
Prize withdrawals can be requested in supported cryptocurrencies. EUR-denominated prizes are converted at prevailing exchange rates at the time of withdrawal. Players in countries with restrictions on EUR banking transactions may prefer crypto withdrawals for practical reasons.
