Irish Lotto has been the main game of Ireland's National Lottery since 1988 and, since September 2026, is played as 6 from 45 — with jackpot odds of 1:8.1 million. Here's everything about the rules, prize tiers, records and the 2026 changes.
📋 Irish Lotto at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Format | 6 from 45 + 1 bonus ball |
| Jackpot odds | 1 : 8,145,060 (since 5 Sept 2026; before: 1 : 10,737,573) |
| Draw days | Monday, Wednesday & Saturday |
| Ticket price | €2 per line (minimum 2 lines per draw) |
| Jackpot cap | €16M (previously €19.06M) |
| Highest jackpot | €19.06M (Jan 2022) |
| Revenue for charity | ~30% to Irish good causes |
Since September 2026, balls 46 and 47 are out of the game: with only 45 numbers left, the jackpot odds improve from 1:10.7 million to 1:8.1 million . In return, the jackpot cap was lowered from €19.06 million to €16 million.
🎯 How Does Irish Lotto Work?
The Rules
- Choose 6 numbers from 1 to 45
- Or use "Lucky Dip" (quick pick)
- A line costs €2 (minimum 2 lines per draw); Lotto Plus 1 and 2 are optional extra games for an additional fee
- Draws: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings (the Monday draw has existed since September 2026)
- You win with 3 matches or with 2 matches plus the bonus ball
Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 are optional extra draws with the same numbers that you can add for a surcharge (currently about €1 per line). Their top prizes are €1 million each (for Lotto Plus 2 it was €250,000 until September 2026).
💰 All Prize Tiers
| Tier | Match | Odds | Avg. prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackpot | 6 numbers | 1 : 8,145,060 | Jackpot (max €16M) |
| 2 | 5 + Bonus | 1 : 1,357,510 | ~€75,000 (expected average) |
| 3 | 5 numbers | 1 : 35,724 | variable |
| 4 | 4 numbers | 1 : 772 | variable |
| 5 | 3 numbers | 1 : 48 | €4 (fixed) |
🆚 Irish Lotto vs. Other European Lotteries
| Lottery | Jackpot odds | Price | Cap / record |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍀 Irish Lotto | 1 : 8.1M | €2 | €16M (cap) |
| 🇩🇪 Lotto 6aus49 | 1 : 140M | €1.20 | €50M (cap) |
| 🇬🇧 UK Lotto | 1 : 22.5M (2 rounds) | £2 | Record: £66M |
| 🇪🇺 EuroJackpot | 1 : 140M | €2 | €120M (cap) |
| 🌟 EuroMillions | 1 : 140M | €2.50 | €250M (cap) |
💡 Summary
- ✅ Smaller number pool — jackpot odds of 1:8.1M instead of 1:10.7M before the change
- ✅ Lotto Plus — optional extra draws with the same numbers (for a surcharge)
- ✅ Frequent wins — chance of any prize about 1:25.4 per line
- ✅ Good cause — 30% to Irish charities
- ⚠️ Jackpots much smaller than EuroMillions because of the cap (€16 million)
- ⚠️ From abroad: only via intermediary services, whose legality you must check yourself
Irish Lotto suits you if a manageable number pool and regular draws matter more to you than maximum jackpot sizes — chance remains chance.