National Lottery to Produce Lotto and Telly Bingo Draws In-House at National Lottery HQ

• Draws will be produced at National Lottery Headquarters, starting with Lotto from 11th March, and Telly Bingo to follow as part of a phased rollout
• Broadcast of both games will continue on RTÉ One, with Lotto results moving to a new later timeslot
• All existing draw controls and oversight mechanisms will remain firmly in place, including KPMG’s independent observer role

The National Lottery today announced that it will begin producing both the Lotto and Telly Bingo draws fully in-house at National Lottery Headquarters. These draws will join Daily Million and EuroMillions Plus, which are already carried out at the same location. Both the Lotto and Telly Bingo draws will continue to be broadcast on RTÉ One, as has been the case since the very first Lotto draw in April 1988 and the launch of Telly Bingo in September 1999. The Lotto draw will transition in‑house from 11th March, with Telly Bingo to follow in the coming months as part of a phased rollout.

The Lotto draw will now be broadcast in a new timeslot, just before the RTÉ Nine O’Clock News on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with results available on the National Lottery website shortly after. The Lotto and Lotto Plus draws will also be live-streamed on the National Lottery’s website at approximately 8pm. The Telly Bingo broadcast will remain at 12.45pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

All existing draw controls and oversight mechanisms will remain firmly in place, including KPMG’s independent observer role, and all established draw operations and processes will remain unchanged. All necessary approvals have been obtained from the Regulator of the National Lottery.

Cian Murphy, CEO of the National Lottery said: “Bringing the production of our Lotto and Telly Bingo draws fully in-house is an important and natural next step for the National Lottery. It enables us to align all our draw productions under one roof at National Lottery Headquarters, ensuring even greater consistency and efficiency across our operations. We also want to sincerely thank RTÉ for their partnership and support since the very first Lotto draw in 1988. They have played a hugely significant role in bringing our games into homes across Ireland for nearly four decades, and we are delighted that this long‑standing relationship will continue, with both Lotto and Telly Bingo remaining on RTÉ One. Looking ahead, moving Lotto to just before the Nine O’Clock News will better reflect audience viewing habits and create a more seamless and engaging experience for players. As we make this transition, our absolute priority remains in maintaining the highest standards of integrity, security and oversight in everything we do, while continuing to maximise returns to Good Causes in communities right across Ireland.”

Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes in the areas of sport, youth, health, welfare, education, arts, heritage and the Irish Language. In total, more than €6.5 Billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established 37 years ago. In 2024 alone, €239.3 Million was raised for local Good Causes in communities across Ireland.  Play National Lottery games responsibly, play for fun.