Some prize amounts increased, odds improved, other tweaks to the game
By Kate Northrop
For the first time in eight years, the Ireland National Lottery's Lotto draw game is set to undergo several improvements this fall, including better odds, an additional drawing, and some larger prizes.
Irish lottery players are getting an overhaul to their Lotto draw game later this year "to create more millionaires across the country."
On Thursday, the Irish National Lottery announced an "exciting evolution" of the Lotto and Lotto Plus games in which the number of balls will be reduced from 47 to 45, making it slightly easier to win across every prize tier in Lotto, Lotto Plus One, and Lotto Plus Two.
By retiring numbers 46 and 47, the odds of winning the jackpot will improve from 1 in 10.7 million to 1 in 8.1 million. The overall odds of winning any Lotto prize will improve from 1 in 28.7 to 1 in 25.4 on a standard ticket, while the odds of winning any Lotto prize played with Plus will improve from 1 in 9.6 to 1 in 8.5.
"Whether it's a smaller win or a staggering jackpot, players will now enjoy better odds of winning across every prize tier, in every draw," the Lottery said in a press release.
The €250,000 Lotto Plus 2 top prize will also be increased to €1 million to create more of those millionaires, the Lottery added. The Lotto Plus 1 top prize will remain at €1 million.
The Lottery is also hoping that the added Monday night drawing will serve to create more millionaires as well, which means players will have the chance to participate in a total of three drawings per week on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
As with the current schedule for the other two evening draws, the new Monday night drawing will be livestreamed at 7:55 p.m. on the Lottery's website and broadcast before the RTÉ Nine O'Clock News on RTÉ One.
"These changes mark an exciting new chapter for our flagship game — Lotto," Irish National Lottery CEO Cian Murphy said in a statement. "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."
Players worried about a price increase can breathe a sigh of relief — the price per ticket will stay the same at a minimum of €4 for two lines. It will continue to cost €6 for two lines with Lotto Plus, which includes Lotto Plus One and Lotto Plus Two draws.
"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," Murphy continued. "Together, these changes are all about delivering more winners and more millionaires, reinforcing Lotto's position as Ireland's Millionaire Maker."
The jackpot cap will decrease from €19.06 million to €16 million, but the capping mechanism will stay the same. The jackpot can only stay parked at the cap for five consecutive draws, triggering a "Must Be Won" draw going into the fifth draw. At that point, someone can win the jackpot normally by matching all six numbers, or the jackpot rolls down to the highest prize tier below that does have at least one winner.
Lastly, the Lottery expects that the average jackpot winner will take home €5.9 million following the changes, down from €6.9 million, and the Lotto Raffle element will be retired.
Last year, the Ireland National Lottery celebrated 15 Lotto millionaires, but they expect the changes will nearly double this number to an average of 28 Lotto millionaires created per year.
Lottery officials advised that they will confirm the exact date for the implementation of these changes in the coming weeks.
Thanks to HowellD for the tip.
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