Irish Lottery 2024 - Play Online & Learn How to Play

First broadcast in 1987 for Ireland-based viewers, millions of bettors play the Irish lotto from across the British Isles, courtesy of online gambling. The Irish Lottery has seen a huge increase in popularity over the past few years, with UK-based bookmakers offering fixed odds to customers.


If you have never participated in the Irish Lottery before, this article serves as a quick guide to how this online casino game works and how you can win at it.

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Written by

Cameron Murphy
Cameron MurphyVerified
Fact checked by Rebecca Mackay

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How to Play the Irish Lotto?

When playing the Irish lotto online, speculators place bets on the fixed odds of certain numbered balls popping up. To play, you pick 1 to 5 balls out of a possible 47 and hope for the best results. You only win the entire prize if the draw includes all your picked numbers. The more balls you pick and guess, the bigger your reward will be. 

Irish lottery draws generally include 6 regular balls plus 1 bonus ball, which can help increase the probability of winning at lower odds. You can go with any stake size in Irish lotteries, unlike the fixed £2 for the national lottery.

For example, considering your winning chances are greater with one or two numbers, place a large bet to boost the payoff amount in such cases. 

One of the main reasons why the Irish lotto is so popular is that its odds are better than other lottery games. Based on this 6/47 matrix, the odds of winning are 1 in 64, which is impressive considering the usual lottery odds.

irish lottery online casinos

6 and 7 Number Draws

During the draw for the Irish Lotto, 7 numbers, or 6 numbers and a bonus ball, to be more specific, are drawn. This is crucial because you can determine whether your chosen numbers will count for the first six drawn, or the six numbers plus the bonus ball. 

If you choose the 6-number draw, the odds are greater than the 7-number draw, since there are fewer chances for the numbers to appear.

If you choose the 7-number draw, you have a bonus chance for one of your chosen numbers to be drawn. However, the price is a decrease in your odds.

The Odds

The table below draws a comparison of the fixed odds for 1-5 numbers for both 6 and 7-number draws.

Remember that you can select how many numbers you want to bet on being drawn. However, to win, they all need to be drawn if you are placing a straight-single bet (similar to an accumulator bet in football betting).

Number of Balls6-Number Draw Odds7-Number Draw Odds
16 to 15 to 1
260 to 140 to 1
3700 to 1375 to 1
48500 to 14500 to 1
5150,000 to 145000 to 1

After the draw takes place (with 6 numbers being revealed), 41 numbers remain in the pot. The draw then pulls out one more number that is announced as the bonus ball.

Aside from a straight bet (as shown above), some bookmakers provide a range of extra options when betting on the Irish lottery is concerned.

Multiple Bets

These let you select up to nine numbers and bet on various multiples within those selections, e.g., doubles, trebles, up to five-folds.

Single Ball Betting

This is where you can bet on the first number to be drawn, odd/even numbers, over/under per ball, etc.

Total Value Betting

Will the total sum of the numbers drawn be 100 (or any other number)? Will the total fall into defined groups, e.g., 21-49?

How to Place an Irish Lottery Bet

Whether you want to bet on 1 or 2 numbers or even go straight for the 5-ball jackpot, the betting process is similar among all online bookmakers:

  1. Select an online sportsbook and head to the lottery section.

  2. Select your numbers, the type of draw (6 or 7-ball), and the bet type (single, multiple, total value, etc).

  3. If you cannot decide on any numbers, the system generates a lucky dip (randomised number) for you.

  4. Choose the draws you want to bet on. Most bookies let you play the Irish lottery in all three draws of a day, for six draws a week for the following four weeks.

  5. Set your bet based on the displayed odds and your gut feeling.

After completing these steps, wait for the draw to determine if you have made a bit of spending money or loads of it.

When do the Draws Take Place?

The draws take place every Wednesday and Saturday at around 8 pm. Three draws take place on both days:

  1. The main draw

  2. Second draw

  3. Third draw

The main draw takes place first, followed by the second and third draws. For extra wins, you can play the second and third draws alongside the main draw. To take part in the additional draws, you have to purchase more tickets with the same numbers as the main draw. You also have to specify which draws you want to be qualified for.

Last Thoughts

Keep in mind that your Irish lottery ticket depends on the balls drawn in the Irish National Lottery. While seven balls are drawn, you can mention the numbers you want on your ticket.

Irish Lottery FAQs

What are the odds of winning the Irish Lottery?

The Irish lottery is a game of chance, so no one can say for sure as different factors can influence these odds. The number of sold tickets, the amount of people playing, and the number of winning tickets. However, in this guide, you can find a breakdown of general odds.

How often does the Irish Lottery draw take place?

The Irish Lottery draw takes place every Wednesday and Saturday at 7.55 pm.

Who founded the Irish Lottery?

The founder of the Irish Lottery is Irish native Dermot Griffin, who has been in the industry for many years. He is also the current CEO of the National Lottery in Ireland. He has been involved in 

Do you have to pay taxes on lottery winnings in Ireland?

Any winnings from the Irish Lottery are completely tax-free, and prize funds are paid in chunks.

What prizes are available for winning the Irish Lottery?

Irish Lottery players can be in the chance to win a wide range of prizes. Smaller prizes of €5, €10, and €20 when matching 3 numbers, the jackpot, starting at €2 million which can also roll over to €10 million.

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An online casino expert of 12 years, Cameron Murphy knows the ins and outs of Irish online casinos. Cameron specialises in online casino reviews, gambling regulations, and providing quality content on ...continue reading

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