Irish Lotto Changes To Improve Odds and Create More Millionaires
Last Updated: Thursday 16th July 2026, 14:07 pm
Irish Lotto is set to undergo some exciting changes this autumn ‘to create the best possible game experience’. The update includes a new draw day and better odds of winning. Read on for more information!
New Monday Draw
It is the first time in eight years that Lotto, Ireland’s flagship game, has been altered. The most noticeable change for regular players is the addition of another weekly draw, which will take place on a Monday. Together with the existing Wednesday and Saturday draws, this will give you three chances to win every week.
Better Odds
The number of balls to choose from will be reduced from 47 to 45, in what the Irish Lottery describes as ‘the official retirement of numbers 46 and 47’. This might only seem like a small change, but it will improve the odds of winning the jackpot from 1 in 10.7 million to 1 in 8.1 million. It also boosts your chances of winning in every other prize tier.
Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 follow the same format as Lotto, so the changes will be implemented across all three draws.
New Lotto Plus 2 Jackpot
Lotto Plus 2 will not only have better odds of winning, but also an enhanced jackpot. Match all six numbers and you will win €1 million, up from €250,000. The Lotto Plus 1 jackpot will remain €1 million, so each draw will provide three opportunities to become a millionaire (if you add the Lotto Plus option).
Importantly, the cost of a ticket is not changing either. The minimum purchase remains two lines for €4, while it will cost €6 to play two lines of Lotto with Lotto Plus.
As part of the changes, the Lotto Plus Raffle is set to come to an end, while the Lotto jackpot cap will be reduced from €19.06 million to €16 million.
When Is Lotto Changing?
The Lotto changes will take effect in the autumn, with the date to be confirmed in the next few weeks. National Lottery bosses say the update will freshen up the game and lead to more excitement.
CEO Cian Murphy said: “These changes mark an exciting new chapter for our flagship game - Lotto. We’ve been listening to our players, and these enhancements have been designed with our players front of mind and with the goal of creating the best possible game experience.
"By removing two balls, the odds of winning have improved across Lotto and the Plus games, while the enhanced Lotto Plus 2 prize and an additional draw night will give players even more chances to win.
"Together, these changes are all about delivering more winners and more millionaires, reinforcing Lotto’s position as Ireland’s Millionaire Maker.”
Keep an eye out for more news about the changes on Irish.National-Lottery.com, and follow the latest results after every draw to find out if you’re a winner.
