Who hasn’t fantasised about their dreams coming true thanks to hitting the jackpot on the lottery? Irishluck.ie has seen that dream become a reality for one group of Dublin bus drivers1 when they scooped an eight-figure win, changing their lives forever.
In Ireland, there are two lotteries that have made dreams come true for years now, with both the Irish Lottery and EuroMillions staking their claim as a part of everyday life in the country.
But beyond the headline-grabbing prizes on offer, why do people play the lottery, and why should you give it a go? Is it all about one massive prize, or is there more to it?
The origins of the Irish Lottery
The Irish Government launched the Irish Lottery in 1988. The Lottery was designed as a means to raise important funds for public services. The chance to win life-changing prizes was a hit with players, and it raises hundreds of millions of euros a year for good causes.
The National Lottery Act of 19862 set the wheels in motion for the games that people know and love today—and the Irish public quickly embraced it.
Initially, the main draw—now known as Lotto—was held once a week, with players picking six numbers out of thirty-six. Over time, the game has adapted to include bonus numbers, and the Lotto draw is now held twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The choice of numbers to pick from has increased to 47, making a jackpot win even more difficult to achieve.
Big wins from the Irish Lottery
The Irish Lottery has smaller jackpot prizes than some major international lotteries, but the odds of winning are more favourable. The odds of winning the Lotto jackpot are 1 in just over 10 million, compared to the odds of winning the UK National Lottery, which have odds of 1 in almost 14 million.
The Lotto jackpot is triggered by a player matching all six numbers, with a jackpot that is guaranteed to be a minimum of €2 million. Smaller prizes are on offer for matching fewer numbers, further increasing the chance of a win, which could very well make paying €2 a line well worth it.
One of the biggest Irish Lotto wins came in January 2016 when a syndicate from County Carlow scooped almost €19 million. The group were comprised of sixteen workers at a concrete plant and quarry, with each member of the syndicate netting €1.1 million. Some members of the syndicate even turned up to work the following day after the incredible win.3
The rise of EuroMillions
The Irish Lottery might be beloved in the country, however, the creation of EuroMillions changed the game for lottery players not just in Ireland but all across Europe, thanks to bigger prizes than ever seen before. EuroMillions was launched in 2004 as a joint effort between the UK, France, and Spain, but it quickly moved to encompass several other European countries, giving Irish players the chance to get involved.
EuroMillions differs from the Irish Lotto as players select five main numbers from 1 to 50 and two Lucky Stars from 1 to 12 in the hopes of winning big. The odds, however, are astronomical, with the chance of landing the jackpot standing at 1 in 139 million. But with great risk comes great rewards, with jackpots starting at €17 million but frequently rolling over into the hundreds of millions, with a cap of €250 million. Draws take place twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Record EuroMillions wins
EuroMillions has made hundreds of millionaires since its inception, with one hundred millionaires made in one night thanks to a special draw in 2024.4 Ireland has had its fair share of winners of the EuroMillions jackpot, bringing life-changing sums to those lucky players.
Dolores McNamara from Limerick netted a staggering €115 million in July 2005, making her Ireland’s biggest-ever lottery winner at the time. Incredibly, the same shop that sold McNamara her winning ticket sold another millionaire-making lottery ticket almost twenty years later.5
That win was dwarfed in 2019 when one family’s syndicate hit the jackpot, winning €175 million. This remains the largest lottery win ever in Ireland. The family remained anonymous, with the only clue to the wider world about their success being that the ticket was bought in Naul, County Dublin.
The charm of playing the lottery
So why should you consider playing the lottery? Other than the prospect of life-changing, generational wealth.
Primarily, the joy of playing the lottery comes from the possibilities it offers. There’s nothing else where, with a small stake, you can win an absolute fortune. The odds are long, but someone has to win something, even if it’s just one of the many smaller prizes on offer, and the buzz of the “what if?” keeps people playing time and time again. The lottery is a form of entertainment rather than a way of making quick cash; it gives players the joy of anticipation, and many enjoy the simple pleasure of daydreaming about what they’d do first if their numbers came up.
There is also a great sense of community when it comes to the lottery. Many of Ireland’s big wins have been claimed by syndicates. Whether it’s a group of colleagues like the Dublin bus drivers or the Carlow concrete workers, a family such as record-breaking winners from Naul, or a group of friends looking to share the experience of pooling their money and hoping for the best, syndicates bring players together, adding a shared excitement to the experience.
Some also enjoy the fact that whether they win or lose, they know their money spent playing the lottery will go to good causes in the community. Since the lottery began, over €6 billion has been raised6 for community projects, sports, the arts, and charity in Ireland.
Playing responsibly
It should go without saying that any type of gambling, even playing the lottery, should be done responsibly. Lotteries should be thought of as entertainment rather than a way to get out of financial difficulty. Players should set a budget, stick to it and never ever spend more than they can afford to lose on the lottery.
The Irish Lottery and EuroMillions are both regulated and licensed lotteries, giving players greater protection. Those looking online for their fun should make sure any lottery games they get involved with are held to the same standard.
The national lottery organisation in Ireland provides tools and support for responsible play, including self-exclusion options and links to help services.
The life-changing potential
This is the real bonus ball when it comes to why so many choose to play the lottery. Simply put, the wins can change lives forever.
With hundreds of millions regularly up for grabs in the EuroMillions, a win can change not just the ticket holder’s life but the life of those around them. Many winners use their fortune to do good, spreading the wealth to family and friends while also donating to good causes, and giving away cash to projects in their community.
It’s not always a dramatic impact, however, that can change lives. The chance to take a break from a job, travel across the globe or even gain the freedom to start a new business can come from even a comparatively modest lottery win. The lottery is a game for dreamers and, as Oscar Hammerstein famously wrote, “You gotta have a dream, if you don’t have a dream, how you gonna have a dream come true?”
It’s not all about the jackpot
Most players won’t match all their numbers and win the jackpot, but plenty of players can enjoy some of the smaller wins on offer that are still big enough to cover a holiday, bills, or even a slap-up meal out on the town.
There are multiple prize tiers in both the Irish Lotto and EuroMillions that are tied to the number of numbers matched. The smallest prize available in the Lotto is €3, and with odds of 1 in 72, it offers real value of at least returning what was paid for the ticket.
Ultimately, the lottery is about hope. It represents the possibility that something wonderful could happen, however unlikely. In a world full of stress and uncertainty, the lottery gives people something positive to look forward to.
Final thoughts
Playing the lottery isn’t necessarily for everyone, and those on very tight budgets should think long and hard before getting involved. But if you have spare cash and enjoy the thrill of what might be, then a go at either the Lotto or EuroMillions could be just what you’re after.
With a rich history, life-changing stories, and the feel-good factor of supporting good causes, these lotteries are about more than just money, they’re about dreams, community, and the magic of chance.
- Dublin Bus Drivers Syndicate Wins the Lottery, Written by Cameron Murphy, Published by Irishluck.ie
- National Lottery Act, 1986. Written by Oireachtas. Published by Irish Statute Book
- Life is sweet for 16 lotto millionaires. Written and published by the Irish Independent
- Four new millionaires yet to claim winnings as National Lottery urges punters to check tickets. Written by Tara Cobham. Published by The Independent
- Limerick shop that sold winning Lotto ticket also sold Dolores McNamara €155m Euromillions ticket. Written by Steven Heaney. Published by Irish Examiner
- Nearly €228m raised for good causes by National Lottery ticket sales in 2023. Written by Eva Osborne. Published by breakingnews.ie
