Irish Lotto: Official Guide, Rules, Odds & How to Play
What is Irish Lotto?
Irish Lotto is Ireland's biggest millionaire-making game, operated by the National Lottery of Ireland. Since its launch in 1988, it has created thousands of millionaires and remains the most popular lottery game in Ireland.
All Irish Lotto prizes are paid as tax-free lump sums. Of every €1 spent on Irish Lotto tickets:
Did You Know?
Irish Lotto was launched on 16th April 1988 and was originally a 6/36 game. It has undergone several format changes, most recently in 2015 when it changed to 6/47. The game has created over 500 millionaires and raised billions for good causes across Ireland. Players must be 18 years or older to participate.
How to play Irish Lotto?
Players select six main numbers from 1 to 47. In each draw, six main numbers are drawn plus one bonus number from the same pool. To win the jackpot, you need to match all six main numbers.
The bonus number can enhance your winnings - matching it with five main numbers significantly increases your prize amount!
Step-by-Step Guide:
- Choose 6 main numbers from 1 to 47
- Remember the bonus ball for enhanced prizes
- Wait for the draw on Wednesday or Saturday
- Check your numbers - match at least 3 numbers to win
- Claim your prize - all prizes are tax-free!
You can play Irish Lotto online here.
Odds to win Irish Lotto prizes
Irish Lotto offers excellent overall odds with 1 in 12.2 chance to win any prize!
| Winning Selections | Odds | Prize (Approx) |
|---|---|---|
| Match 6 numbers | 1 in 10,737,573 | Jackpot! |
| Match 5 numbers + bonus | 1 in 1,789,596 | €25,000+ |
| Match 5 numbers | 1 in 44,740 | €1,500+ |
| Match 4 numbers + bonus | 1 in 17,896 | €150+ |
| Match 4 numbers | 1 in 918 | €50+ |
| Match 3 numbers + bonus | 1 in 688 | €25+ |
| Match 3 numbers | 1 in 54 | €5+ |
| Match 2 numbers + bonus | 1 in 72 | €3 |
Overall odds of winning any prize: 1 in 12.2
Historical Prize Breakdown
History since 4 November 2006:
| Winning Selections | MAX Prize | AVG Prize | MIN Prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 6 numbers | €19,060,800 | €5,068,578 | €588,144 |
| Match 5 numbers + bonus | €1,262,603 | €96,679 | €8,996 |
| Match 5 numbers | €40,224 | €1,866 | €314 |
| Match 4 numbers + bonus | €311 | €164 | €33 |
| Match 4 numbers | €100 | €52 | €21 |
| Match 3 numbers + bonus | €36 | €26 | €10 |
| Match 3 numbers | €18 | €7 | €5 |
| Match 2 numbers + bonus | €3 | €3 | €3 |
Winning vs Losing Combinations
After each Irish Lotto draw, the distribution of combinations is:
Winning Probability Calculations
In Irish Lotto, you pick 6 numbers from 1 to 47. The draw selects 6 main numbers plus 1 bonus number from the same pool. You win by matching at least 3 main numbers or 2 main numbers plus the bonus. The number of winning combinations is calculated as follows:
Total Number of Combinations
The total number of ways to choose 6 numbers from 47 is:
Winning Combinations Breakdown
Let's calculate all the winning combinations for each prize tier:
| Prize Tier | Winning Combinations | Calculation |
|---|---|---|
| Match 2 + Bonus | 553,725 | \( \binom{6}{2} \times \binom{41}{4} \times \frac{1}{41} \) |
| Match 3 | 246,820 | \( \binom{6}{3} \times \binom{41}{3} \times \frac{40}{41} \) |
| Match 3 + Bonus | 6,171 | \( \binom{6}{3} \times \binom{41}{3} \times \frac{1}{41} \) |
| Match 4 | 61,200 | \( \binom{6}{4} \times \binom{41}{2} \times \frac{40}{41} \) |
| Match 4 + Bonus | 1,530 | \( \binom{6}{4} \times \binom{41}{2} \times \frac{1}{41} \) |
| Match 5 | 4,800 | \( \binom{6}{5} \times \binom{41}{1} \times \frac{40}{41} \) |
| Match 5 + Bonus | 120 | \( \binom{6}{5} \times \binom{41}{1} \times \frac{1}{41} \) |
| Match 6 | 39 | \( \binom{6}{6} \times \frac{40}{41} \) |
| Match 6 + Bonus | 1 | \( \binom{6}{6} \times \frac{1}{41} \) |
| Total Winning Combinations | 883,755 |
Non-Winning Combinations
Combinations that don't win any prize (match 0, 1, or 2 main numbers without bonus):
Match 1: \( \binom{6}{1} \times \binom{41}{5} = 4,496,388 \)
Match 2 (no bonus): \( \binom{6}{2} \times \binom{41}{4} \times \frac{40}{41} = 1,519,050 \)
Total losing: 3,838,380 + 4,496,388 + 1,519,050 = 9,853,818
Conclusion
Therefore, there are 883,755 combinations (8%) that win any prize in each Irish Lotto drawing, while 9,853,818 combinations (92%) win nothing.
Strategic Advantage
With our system, you can focus on playing the winning 8% of Irish Lotto combinations, significantly improving your chances of regular wins! The majority of winning combinations come from matching 2 numbers plus bonus or 3 numbers, showing that even small matches can lead to regular prizes.
Ready to Play Ireland's Favourite Lottery?
Use our advanced tools and strategies to maximize your chances of winning life-changing jackpots!
Explore Winning StrategiesHistorical Changes & Evolution
Major overhaul of the game format:
- Expanded Number Pool: Changed from 6/45 to 6/47
- Better Jackpots: Designed to create larger, more frequent jackpots
- Improved Odds: Better overall odds for players
- Price Increase: Ticket price increased from €2 to €3
Irish Lotto launched as Ireland's national lottery:
- Initial Format: 6/36 number matrix
- Historic Launch: First draw on 16th April 1988
- National Phenomenon: Quickly became Ireland's most popular lottery
- Good Causes: Established funding for Irish charities and projects
Unique Irish Lotto Features
Irish Lotto offers several advantages over other lottery games:
Tax-Free Winnings
All prizes are paid as tax-free lump sums - you keep 100% of your winnings!
Better Jackpot Odds
With 1 in 10.7 million odds for the jackpot, Irish Lotto offers better chances than many larger lotteries.
Strong Community Support
Over 30 cents from every €1 goes directly to support Irish good causes and communities.
Source: National Lottery Ireland
