Irish Lotto Rules Set To Change To Help End Jackpot Run
Last Updated: Friday 17th December 2021, 11:29 am
The long-running Irish Lotto jackpot is set to be won ‘early in the New Year’ at the very latest, after it was announced that the rules are set to change. The availability of Advance Play has already been limited, with a ‘Must Be Won’ draw proposed for the near future.
It has been more than six months since the jackpot was last won. The top prize reached its cap, €19 million, in late September, and since then the money that would have been added to the jackpot has flowed down to lower categories.
This ‘flowdown’ rule has helped to create larger prizes than normal in those levels just below the jackpot, but the unprecedented run of rollovers has proved frustrating for fans of the game and even prompted questions from politicians.
‘Will Be Won’ Draw Beckons
Approval is now being sought for changes to how Lotto works. The current rules allow for the jackpot to remain at its cap until at least one ticket matches all six numbers – no matter how long this takes - but this could soon be updated.
The aim is for a ‘Will Be Won’ draw to take place in the next few weeks. This would provide certainty about the latest date when the jackpot will be paid out.
The exact details are still to be announced, but it would mean the jackpot is guaranteed to be won on a predetermined date if it continues to roll up to that point. If nobody matches all the numbers in that ‘Will Be Won’ draw, the full jackpot amount would flow down to lower levels.
With such a major change in the pipeline, it has been necessary to reduce the normal Advance Play options.
Following on from the Lotto draw on Wednesday 15th December, it is not currently possible to enter eight consecutive draws. The four-draw option will be available for the next couple of weeks, and the countdown will continue until it is only possible to play a single draw.
If the jackpot is not won before this happens - and if approval for a Must Be Won draw is granted - then the special event could be scheduled for early to mid-January. Confirmation will be announced closer to the time.
The record for the largest Lotto jackpot in history is €18.9 million and dates all the way back to June 2008. Keep an eye on the latest results to see when it gets broken, with draws continuing to take place every Wednesday and Saturday.
