Irish Lotto Keeps Creating Big Wins As Record Run Continues
Last Updated: Thursday 21st October 2021, 11:37 am
The Irish Lotto jackpot has been fixed at €19.06 million for more than three weeks as players across the country set their sights on the game’s largest-ever prize, while the different rules have helped to create lots more big wins than usual in the second and third categories.
No tickets have matched all the numbers since Saturday 5th June, making it the longest run of rollovers in the game’s history and setting up the highest jackpot of all time. The top prize was capped as soon as it went past its previous record of €18.96 million.
The rules of the jackpot cap mean that the extra prize money now has to flow down to the next category where there is at least one winner, rather than going to the top tier. Hundreds of players have already benefited over the past few weeks.
In the latest draw on Wednesday 20th October, 30 players received €29,273 each for matching five numbers. Before the jackpot cap was in place, the Match 5 prize was usually around €1,000, depending on the number of tickets sold and the number of winners.
When there have been ticket holders who have matched five main numbers plus the Bonus Ball, they have split more than €1 million since the jackpot cap took effect.
When Does the Jackpot Have To Be Won?
The rules of the jackpot cap allow for the top prize to stay at €19.06 million until it is won, whether that happens in the next draw or takes a lot longer. At no point will a Must Be Won draw be held. Additional funds will continue to flow down to the highest category below until someone matches all six main numbers.
Once the jackpot is won, the top prize will reset to €2 million and it can then keep growing again until there is a winner. The next jackpot cap would take effect as soon as the value of the top prize goes beyond €19.06 million.
Record EuroMillions Jackpot Won
The Irish Lotto jackpot is the only record prize currently up for grabs, after the biggest EuroMillions prize ever was won on Friday 15th October.
Both games were temporarily at their respective limits, but a single ticket holder landed the full €220 million EuroMillions jackpot in the second draw at the cap. The winning ticket was sold in France.
EuroMillions is already back up to €30 million, while there will be another chance to land the record Irish Lotto jackpot every Wednesday and Saturday until it is won.
