These sales are returned to communities in the form of prize winnings, Good Causes, and commission to retailers all over Ireland.
Approximate figures for the year ending 2020
In 2020, there were a total of 33 new Lottery Millionaires from across Ireland. These winners won incredible big life changing amounts of money. A total of €528.9 million was won by players throughout the year. Congratulations to each one of these winners.
Our players continue to have an enormous impact every time they buy a National Lottery ticket. One of the National Lottery's purposes is to raise money for Good Causes whilst protecting people playing its games. Since it launched in 1987, the National Lottery and its players have raised more than €6 Billion for Good Causes. A total of 27 cent in every euro spent on National Lottery games goes to the Good Causes fund and over 4,000 groups on average receive funding every year.
With almost 5,500 retail partners, the National Lottery retail network contributes significantly to the Good Causes fund and in 2020, retail sales amounted to €783.1 million. Retailer commission also grew to €49.3 million which benefited retailers all over Ireland..
From the last available financial report in 2020, sales of National Lottery games amounted to €918 million. 90% of all revenue was returned to communities in the form of prizes, Good Causes and retailers commission:
Record €528.9 million in prizes. (58%)Â
€253.6 million raised for Good Causes. (27%)Â
€49.1 million paid in commission to retailers. (5%)Â
Cost of operating the National Lottery, including operating profit was approximately 10% of sales.
The National Lottery is owned by the Irish State. Since 2014, the National Lottery is operated by Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI), having been awarded a 20-year licence by the Irish Government. We are an Irish company, based at Lottery HQ in Abbey Street in Dublin 1. We are committed to running a responsible, world-class lottery for the people in Ireland raising much needed funding for Good Causes. Our shareholders are Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, An Post and An Post Pension Funds.
In 2020, approximately 1.3 million people enjoyed National Lottery games each week, representing approximately 36% of the adult population of Ireland. These players are responsible for supporting thousands of organisations and groups in towns and villages across Ireland, with 27 cent in every €1 spent on National Lottery games going directly to the Good Causes fund.