Top Stats As Irish Lottery Turns 30
Last Updated: Friday 30th July 2021, 16:04 pm
The Irish Lottery has been creating big winners and changing lives since it was launched in 1987, with popular games such as Irish Lotto and EuroMillions giving away great prizes in every draw. Check out some of the key stats from the last 30 years:
Big Winners
There have been 1,728 jackpot winners over the last three decades, with more than 800 prizes in excess of €1 million paid out by the Irish Lottery. Lotto’s first draw took place in April 1988 and gave away its biggest jackpot on 26th June 2008 when a group of 16 Carlow quarry workers, known as the Dan Morrissey Syndicate, pocketed €18.9 million.
Dolores McNamara, a part-time cleaning lady from Limerick, remains Ireland’s biggest EuroMillions winner following her incredible €115.4 million scoop in July 2005. McNamara’s win came just months after Ireland joined EuroMillions in October 2004, but the country has gone on to enjoy much more success and has now produced 11 jackpot winners in total.
Good Causes
Around €0.30 from every €1 spent on Irish Lottery games is donated to good causes, supporting projects in the areas of health, sports, arts, heritage, welfare and the environment. Over the years that has added up to more than €4.9 billion, which would be enough to build 17 Croke Park stadiums, train 131,578 guide dogs, supply 4.2 million defibrillators or 200 million footballs.
National Lottery CEO Dermot Griffin said: “Last year alone €210 million was raised for good causes. These funds play an invaluable role in maintaining and supporting the vital services and infrastructure which help to define our communities and culture.”
Popularity
According to recent statistics, approximately 1.4 million people play Irish Lotto on a regular basis, which works out at around 42% of the adult population. Whether you wish to choose your numbers online or go to an authorised retailer, the next chance to try and win Irish Lotto will be on Wednesday. There will be a €5.5 million jackpot up for grabs and, to mark the National Lottery’s 30th anniversary, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar will be a special guest at the draw.
