Lotto Pick & Play

Lotto Pick & Play is the new name for Lotto 54321, officially rebranding on 3rd September as part of a series of major changes coming to the Irish Lotto. The game retains all your favourite elements from Lotto 54321, except the odds of winning are improved! Find out everything you need to know, including what is staying the same and what is changing.

Here are some key points to keep in mind about the new Lotto Pick & Play game.

• Essentially the same gameplay as Lotto 5-4-3-2-1
• Bet on up to five numbers, playing either the 6 or 7 number game
• You now choose from 45 balls instead of 47
• Prizes and odds have changed to reflect the new number matrix
• Pick & Play launches with its first draw on Saturday 5th September

How to Play

The game works the same way as Lotto 54321, but with one big difference. You now select numbers from a range of 1 to 45. Here’s a full step-by-step guide to playing Lotto Pick & Play, whether you are visiting a local retailer or taking part online.

• Decide how many numbers to play - The big difference with Pick & Play compared to the main Lotto game is that you can choose how many numbers to try and match – one, two, three, four or five.
• Lotto or Lotto Plus? - Pick & Play uses the results from the same night’s Lotto draws. Decide whether you want to bet on the main Lotto draw, Lotto Plus 1 or Lotto Plus 2. You can play any or all of the three Lotto games.
• 6 Number or 7 Number Game? - Specify whether you wish to play the 6 Number game or the 7 Number Pick & Play game. The 6 Number version uses only the six main balls selected in that night’s Lotto or Lotto Plus draw, while the 7 Number format also uses the Bonus Ball. The 6 Number game offers bigger prizes, but the 7 Number game has better odds of winning.
• Choose your numbers - Choose your numbers from 1 to 45. You may select your own or get a Quick Pick if you would prefer a random set of numbers.
• Decide how much to wager - Pick & Play lets you choose how much to spend on your ticket, from a minimum of €1 up to a maximum of €5. Prize amounts increase proportionally as you wager more.
• Advance Play - Get tickets up to a month in advance by ticking the relevant box. There are three Lotto draws a week from September 2026, so make sure not to miss out! The total cost to play depends on the number of draws and your wager amount.

How to Win

To win a Pick & Play prize, you must match all the numbers you select to the numbers that are drawn. There are no consolation prizes for matching fewer numbers. For example, if you play the Pick 5 game, you must match all five. There would be no prize for getting four or fewer.

Prizes and Odds

The following table shows the prizes you can win on Pick & Play, based on a €1 play. If you wagered more, multiply the prize accordingly to calculate how much you would receive.

See the odds of winning in the table below. You always have a better chance of winning in the 7 Number version of Pick & Play because you have more balls to match your numbers to.