Irish Lotto Odds

The Irish Lotto or National Lottery in Ireland launched in 1987 and is the country’s state Lotto. It is hugely popular with a whopping two thirds of adults in Ireland claiming to regularly play Lotto games and millions from all over the world betting on it.

• 6 main balls plus a bonus ball are drawn from a selection of 1 – 47. E.g.: 1 6 16 28 32 45 Bonus 22
• Betting without the bonus ball (best payout) – you can bet on up to 5 balls appearing from any of the main 6 drawn
• Betting with the bonus ball (slightly lower payout because it’s easier!) – you can bet on up to 5 balls appearing from any of the main 6 drawn or the bonus ball

The Irish Lotto is drawn twice weekly on Wednesday and Saturday evenings at 19:45pm (GMT). (Normally you need to have your bets placed between 15-30 minutes before the draw takes place)

Every Wednesday and Saturday evening, three draws take place including the main Lotto draw and Lotto plus 1 and Lotto plus 2

Looking for Irish Lotto Results? View the latest Irish results here

Draw FAQs

When is the Irish Lotto drawn?

The Irish Lotto is drawn every Wednesday and Saturday at around 20:00 GMT. (The Plus 1 and Plus 2 draws are immediatedly after)

How does the draw work?

In the main draw, six numbers and an additional bonus ball are drawn from a pot of balls numbered from 1-47. The Plus 1 and Plus 2 draws have exactly the same format and take place right after the main draw.

What time must I have my bets placed by?

Although it varies with companies, typically you'll need to place your bets by 19:45. (Around 15 minutes before the draw)

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Selecting & Matching Balls FAQs

How many balls do I have to bet on?

The choice is yours. You can bet on between 1 and 5 balls being drawn from the main 6 or 7 (if you want to include the bonus ball). This flexibility is one of the reason betting on the lotteries is so popular.

Do I have to match all the balls I select?

Yes. With lotto betting you select how many balls you want to bet on prior to the draw. You then must match all numbers to win. For example, picking 3 numbers is popular on the Irish Lotto - to win you must pick 3 numbers and match 3 numbers.

If I bet on a number being drawn and it is drawn as the bonus ball - do I win?

You can choose whether you want the bonus ball to be included or not. In our odds table above - choose With or Without the Bonus Ball to see the different odds. The odds/Payout is lower when you choose With the Bonus Ball as it is easier!

Why do different companies have different odds?

The larger or smaller odds offered simply represent the profit/margin that the different companies want to make. So Company A offering 110,000/1 on 5 balls has a higher theoretical profit margin compared to Company B offering 150,000/1 i.e. Company B are potentially giving more of the money staked by all their customers, back to the customers in winnings. Company A hope to retain more in profits.

Am I betting on the same Lotto with the different companies?

Yes. E.g.: If it says Irish Lotto, then you’re betting on the official Irish Lotto. The probability of you winning is of course exactly the same, regardless of who you bet with.

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Betting FAQs

What is the minimum bet I can make?

This varies bookmaker to bookmaker, for example, Ladbrokes is £0.10 per line whereas William Hill is £0.01 per line. Read our bookmaker reviews to see by bookmaker.

What is the maximum bet payout on the Irish Lotto?

This varies with different companies. With Betfred it is listed as £500,000 however we know they have actually paid out more than this

How old do I have to be to bet on the Irish Lotto?

All of the bookmakers features require and verify that you are over 18

What payment methods are accepted for betting on the Irish Lotto?

This varies between companies but most accept: Debit Cards, Neteller, PayPal, Moneybookers, Ukash, Bank Transfer

Can I bet on the Irish Lotto if I don't live in Ireland?

As above - there is no requirement to live in Ireland for betting on the lotto. You can bet on the Irish Lotto from any country where lottery betting is permitted.

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Legal & Regulation FAQs

Is it legal to bet on the Irish Lotto?

It is entirely legal to bet on the Irish lotto from any country where lotto betting is permitted. You can see a full list of eligibile coutries on all the company website.

Is it safe and secure to register, deposit and bet on The Irish Lotto?

It is extremely safe as our featured companies are large, reputable companies with secure data and payment techonologies.

Are the betting companies regulated?

All of the betting companies listed above are fully regulated by the UK Gambling Commission http://www.gamblingcommission.gov.uk

Do I have to pay taxes on my winnings from betting on the Irish Lotto?

The short and sweet answer is there is no tax at all to pay on either gambling winnings or stakes in the UK (if you are not based in the UK please check your local jurisdiction).