Irish Lotto Prizes
There are eight Irish Lotto prizes up for grabs in every draw, including a jackpot of at least €2 million. Find out about how Lotto prizes work, as well as the odds of winning in each category.
To win prizes, the numbers you select must match the winning numbers. Match all six to claim the jackpot, or win another prize by matching at least two numbers plus the Bonus Ball. The Bonus Ball is selected from the remaining 39 numbers after the main six have been drawn.
With so many different ways to win, the overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 25.4. The chances of landing the jackpot are 1 in 8,145,060 - favourable in comparison to other major lotteries.
Prize Tiers and Odds of Winning
Most prizes in Irish Lotto are not fixed amounts and are instead based on how much money is in the Prize Fund. Each prize tier receives a certain percentage of the Prize Fund and then that money is split equally between all winners in each tier. The only exceptions are the two fixed prizes in the lowest categories.
The table below shows all the different ways to win, along with the odds of winning each prize and the average amount that has been given away in each prize tier over the last year.
| Prize Category | Odds | Prize Value | Average prize |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 6 | 1 in 8,145,060 | Jackpot (minimum of €2 million) | €2,439,762.80 |
| Match 5 + Bonus Ball | 1 in 1,357,510 | 6.16% of Prize Fund (Estimated €75,000) | €26,643.60 |
| Match 5 | 1 in 35,724 | 3.74% of Prize Fund (Estimated €1,200) | €1,651.20 |
| Match 4 + Bonus Ball | 1 in 14,290 | 0.94% of Prize Fund (Estimated €120) | €190.40 |
| Match 4 | 1 in 772 | 5.77% of Prize Fund (Estimated €40) | €37.00 |
| Match 3 + Bonus Ball | 1 in 579 | 3.84% of Prize Fund (Estimated €20) | €19.20 |
| Match 3 | 1 in 48 | €4 | €4.00 |
| Match 2 + Bonus Ball | 1 in 64 | €4 | €4.00 |
A portion of the prize fund is also allocated to a Reserve Fund. This can be used for any prize tier in a given game but is mainly in place to ensure the minimum jackpot can always be offered.
Your odds of improve with each combination of numbers you select. As the minimum play is two lines, your odds of winning the jackpot are effectively 1 in 4,072,530 if all of your numbers are different.
You can also boost your odds by adding Lotto Plus to your ticket, so your numbers are entered into two more draws. The overall odds of winning a prize when you play the two games together are 1 in 8.5. Go to the Lotto Plus page to find out what you can win when you add this option.
Jackpot Cap
The top prize in Lotto starts at €2 million and rolls over every time it is not won, until it hits its jackpot cap. Currently, the Lotto jackpot cap is fixed at €16 million.
Once the jackpot reaches or exceeds the cap, no more money will be added to the top prize until it is won. The funds that would normally go to the jackpot are instead used to boost the prize pool for the next winning tier (likely Match 5 + Bonus Ball).
Will Be Won Draws
The jackpot can only stay at its cap for a maximum of five draws, before it must be won in the fifth and final draw at its limit. The money will flow down to the highest category below in which there are winners, if nobody matches all six numbers.
Will Be Won draws were introduced after the jackpot remained at its cap for more than three months from September 2021. Go to the page about Will Be Won Draws for more information.
Claiming Prizes
If you win a prize, the next step is claiming your money. Visit the prize claims page to find out how and where to claim your winnings, whether you play online or at an authorised retailer.
