How to Play Lotto

What is Lotto?

Lotto is a simple and fun number draw game in which you can pick any six numbers from 1 to 47. At each draw six random numbers are drawn, along with one bonus number.

How much is a Lotto ticket? 

The minimum play for Lotto is two lines per draw, which costs €4. You can play additional lines for €2 per line. 

What’s the Lotto Jackpot? 

The minimum jackpot is €2 million and rolls up from there if the jackpot is not won. 

What is the current Lotto jackpot cap? 

The Lotto Jackpot is capped if it reaches €19.06 million.

For any draw when the Jackpot is at cap and there is no jackpot winner, the amount of the prize fund in excess of the Jackpot prize cap will roll down and be allocated to the next highest prize tier at which there is at least one winner for that draw.

The Jackpot may remain at cap for a maximum of 5 draws. If still unwon on the fifth draw it becomes a Will Be Won draw, where if there is no winner of the Jackpot, then the Jackpot prize and excess will roll down and be allocated to the next highest prize tier at which there is at least one winner.

When are the Lotto draws? 

Draw days are every Wednesday and Saturday at 7.55pm. You can find out the results on our results page after 9.15pm on the night of the draw. 

Sales close at 7.45pm precisely until 7.55pm on draw days. 

Where can I watch the Lotto draws live? 

The draws can be seen live on RTÉ One every Wednesday and Saturday at 7.55pm. 

Ways to play Lotto:

  1. In-store

    • Choose your own numbers
      You mark a playslip with your six selected numbers in each panel that you wish to play. 
    • Choose Quick Pick numbers
      Quick Pick means your numbers are randomly selected for you. You can ask your National Lottery Agent directly for a Quick Pick or mark the Quick Pick box in the panels on your playslip. 

  2. Online

    Register to play online to:

    • Never miss a draw!
    • Save & Play your numbers automatically!
    • Have your numbers automatically checked!
       

To Play Lotto Online:

  1. Fill in at least two lines on the ticket on your screen. You can either:

    • Key in your chosen numbers 1 to 47 OR
    • Click the QP button for automatic Quick Pick numbers OR
    • Select My Last Ticket if you've played before OR
    • Go to My Favourite numbers and choose from your list of saved favourite numbers

  2. Select or deselect Lotto Plus 
  3. Choose the number of Advance Play draws you want your numbers to play in one, two, four or eight
  4. Click Play Now. You'll have the chance to check that your numbers are correct before you press the Purchase button, and hey presto! You're in.
  5. We'll send you an email to let you know if your ticket is a winner!

You also can check your purchases at any time using your online account.


Lotto Advance Play  

Lotto Advance Play means that you can play up to a month's worth of Lotto draws in advance. Just tick the Advance Play box for two, four or eight draws, whichever suits best. The ticket you get will show the number of draws you're in and what dates apply.

Advance Play will always include the next Lotto draw (and Lotto Plus draws if you decide to play). If you win a prize in any of the draws you can claim it in the usual way. Retain your ticket to cover any draws left on your Advance Play.

 

Winnings

 Matched Numbers  Winnings*
 Match 6  Jackpot (minimum guaranteed €2 million)
 Match 5 + Bonus  €100,000
 Match 5  €1,500
 Match 4 Bonus 
 €150
 Match 4  €50
 Match 3 + Bonus  €20
 Match 3  €9
 Match 2 + Bonus  €3 Daily Million Quick Pick with Plus (2 Lines) 


*Prize value may vary significantly depending on the number of winners and the amount accumulated in prize pool for any given draw.

 

Odds of Winning Lotto 

 Lotto  
   Matched Numbers       Bonus Number       Approximate Odds   
 6  no  1 in 10,737,573
 5  yes  1 in 1,789,596
 5  no  1 in 44,740
 4
 yes  1 in 17,896
 4  no  1 in 918
 3  yes  1 in 688
 3  no  1 in 54
 2  yes  1 in 72
 Lotto only: Any prize 1 in 29                                   

 

Odds of Winning Lotto and Lotto Plus 

Any prize 1 in 10

Game Rules and Guides

 

Important Stuff!

Proof of Purchase

If you've bought a paper ticket, look after it. It's your only valid record for claiming a prize.

Check your numbers

If you chose numbers instead of a Quick Pick, make sure they're the numbers you wanted before you leave the agent's premises.

Don't get caught for time!

Bear in mind that you won't be able to buy your Lotto ticket immediately before or while the game is on. Sales close at 7.45pm and don't reopen until after the draw at 7.55pm is finished. Any tickets bought for the next draw will be eligible in that draw, right up to sales closing.

Playing Lotto Plus?

Lotto Plus gives you two extra chances to win, in the Lotto Plus draws after the main Lotto draw. It costs an extra €1 for each panel. The words LOTTO PLUS YES will be printed on your ticket. Selecting Lotto Plus will give you the chance to win €1 million in Lotto Plus 1 and €250,000 in Lotto Plus 2. See How to Play Lotto Plus for more details.

Lotto Plus Raffle Draw

When you play Lotto Plus you will automatically be entered into the Lotto Plus Raffle Draw for a chance to win €500.

For every Lotto Plus line you play, you will get a four-digit Raffle number. These numbers will run from 0000 to 9999. If your Raffle number matches the Raffle number drawn you win €500 in that draw. There are approximately 80 – 120 lucky raffle winners. 

The winning Lotto Plus Raffle number will be announced on the Lotto draw nights. 

You can reuse your playslip

If you like to play the same set of numbers every week just keep the playslip. You don't need to complete a fresh one each time you play. If you play online, your account will remember your last played numbers and you can save favourite numbers too.