How to Play Irish Lotto: Rules, Ticket Cost & Lotto Plus
Learn how Irish Lotto works from start to finish: choosing six numbers, buying a ticket, adding Lotto Plus, checking the Bonus Ball, understanding prizes, playing future draws and keeping a winning ticket safe.
Updated for the current September 2026 Irish Lotto formatHow to Play Irish Lotto in 5 Steps
If you have never played before, this is the whole process in one view. The sections below explain each step in more detail.
Choose Six Numbers
Pick six different numbers from 1 to 45, or let the National Lottery generate a Quick Pick.
Buy at Least Two Lines
Each Lotto line costs €2 and the minimum Lotto purchase is two lines, so play starts from €4.
Choose Your Draw
Irish Lotto is drawn on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Sales close at 7:45pm on draw nights.
Add Lotto Plus if You Want It
Lotto Plus costs an extra €1 per line and enters the same six numbers into Plus 1 and Plus 2.
Check the Draw
Compare your ticket with the six main numbers, Bonus Ball and any Lotto Plus draws you entered.
How Much Does an Irish Lotto Ticket Cost?
A Lotto line costs €2 and the minimum purchase is two lines. Lotto Plus adds €1 for each Lotto line. Use the calculator to see the cost for several lines or several draw dates.
This calculator uses the current per-line prices. It is a cost guide rather than a purchasing service; the official channel will show the available Advance Play options when you buy.
How to Choose Your Irish Lotto Numbers
Each Lotto line contains six different numbers from 1 to 45. You can choose them yourself or use a Quick Pick generated by the National Lottery system.
A Quick Pick does not have better odds than numbers you choose yourself. Every valid six-number combination has the same mathematical chance of being drawn. Quick Pick only changes how the numbers are selected.
Example Irish Lotto Line
This is simply an example of a valid six-number line. It is not a prediction or recommendation.
How to Fill In an Irish Lotto Playslip
A playslip helps you tell the retailer what you want to enter, but the playslip itself is not your proof of entry. The issued Lotto ticket is the important record.
Mark Six Numbers on Each Line
Choose six different numbers from 1 to 45. If you prefer a random selection, ask for or choose a Quick Pick instead.
Choose the Draws You Want
Make sure the ticket shows the correct draw date or future draw period before leaving the retailer.
Add Lotto Plus if Required
If you want the same numbers entered into Plus 1 and Plus 2, make sure Lotto Plus appears on the issued ticket.
Before leaving the shop: check the numbers, draw date, number of lines and whether Lotto Plus is included. The issued ticket is what you will need if you later claim a retail prize.
Which Irish Lotto Draws Can You Enter?
Under the current game, Irish Lotto is drawn every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Ticket sales close at 7:45pm on draw nights.
| Draw day | Sales close | What to remember |
|---|---|---|
| Monday | 7:45pm | The Monday draw was added when the 6/45 game launched in September 2026. |
| Wednesday | 7:45pm | One of the two long-established midweek/weekend draw slots. |
| Saturday | 7:45pm | The main weekend Lotto draw. |
How Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 Work
Lotto Plus does not change the numbers you selected for the main Lotto draw. Instead, the same six numbers are checked against two additional independent draws.
Your Six Numbers
Main Irish Lotto
Jackpot starts from a guaranteed minimum of €2 million.
Plus 1 and Plus 2
Each Plus draw has a €1 million Match 6 top prize.
What Lotto Plus Does
For an extra €1 per line, your same six numbers take part in two extra result draws.
What Lotto Plus Does Not Do
It does not improve the probability of those numbers matching the six main numbers in the main Lotto draw.
What Is the Irish Lotto Bonus Ball?
Six main winning numbers are drawn first. A seventh number is then drawn as the Bonus Ball from the remaining balls.
The Bonus Ball cannot replace a missing main number for the jackpot. To win the jackpot, all six of your selected numbers must match the six main numbers.
The Bonus Ball instead creates additional prize categories such as Match 5 + Bonus, Match 4 + Bonus, Match 3 + Bonus and Match 2 + Bonus.
Example
If your ticket matches five of the six main numbers and your remaining number matches the Bonus Ball, that is Match 5 + Bonus.
If you match all six main numbers, the Bonus Ball is irrelevant to the jackpot: you have matched the jackpot combination already.
Irish Lotto Advance Play and Scheduled Play
Advance Play and Scheduled Play both let you plan beyond one draw, but they work differently.
| Advance Play | Scheduled Play | |
|---|---|---|
| What it is | Buy entry into several future draws in one purchase. | An ongoing Lotto schedule set up for a chosen period. |
| Where | Available through official Lotto purchasing channels where Advance Play is offered. | Available only in the official National Lottery app. |
| Duration | Future-draw options shown by the official channel at purchase. | 3, 6 or 12 months. |
| Payment | The future entries are bought as part of the purchase. | Funded draw by draw from the online wallet or associated card. |
| Can it fail later? | The ticket has already been issued for the selected future draws. | A scheduled entry may fail if there are insufficient funds, a declined card or an account/spend-limit restriction. |
Scheduled Play can be edited or cancelled up to one draw in advance. Always check the official app for the current schedule settings and payment status.
Buying Irish Lotto In Store or Online
Playing at an Authorised Retailer
Choose your numbers on a playslip or ask for a Quick Pick, select the draw and Lotto Plus option, pay, then check the issued ticket before you leave.
Playing Through the National Lottery
The official site and app let eligible account holders choose or Quick Pick numbers and manage digital entries. The official service may apply account verification, spending limits and responsible-play controls.
This guide is about entry into the Irish National Lottery game in the Republic of Ireland. A third-party product that pays out based on Lotto results is not the same as holding an official National Lottery ticket.
How Do You Win Irish Lotto?
The jackpot requires all six main numbers. Lower prize tiers are available for other combinations, including several categories involving the Bonus Ball.
| Match | Current guide prize | Approximate odds |
|---|---|---|
| Match 6 | Jackpot — guaranteed minimum €2 million | 1 in 8,145,060 |
| Match 5 + Bonus | €75,000 guide value | 1 in 1,357,510 |
| Match 5 | €1,200 guide value | 1 in 35,724 |
| Match 4 + Bonus | €120 guide value | 1 in 14,290 |
| Match 4 | €40 guide value | 1 in 772 |
| Match 3 + Bonus | €20 guide value | 1 in 579 |
| Match 2 + Bonus | €4 | 1 in 64 |
| Match 3 | €4 | 1 in 48 |
Guide values are not guarantees for every prize tier. The National Lottery states that prize amounts can vary significantly depending on the number of winners and money available in the prize pool for a draw. The €4 Match 2 + Bonus and Match 3 prizes are the fixed lower-tier amounts under the current game.
How Irish Lotto Jackpots and Rollovers Work
The current Irish Lotto jackpot starts from a guaranteed minimum of €2 million and can roll when nobody matches all six main numbers.
Minimum Jackpot
The jackpot starts from a guaranteed minimum of €2 million after a jackpot win or reset.
Jackpot Cap
The current jackpot cap is €16 million. Once the cap is reached, the top prize cannot grow beyond that level.
Will Be Won Rules
The jackpot can remain capped for a limited number of draws. If it is still unwon at the final capped draw, the jackpot rolls down to the highest prize tier with winners.
What Changed in Irish Lotto in September 2026?
If you played Lotto before September 2026, several parts of the game are now different. The first draw under the new format took place on 5 September 2026.
Check Your Irish Lotto Ticket Before You Leave the Shop
A few seconds spent checking the issued ticket can prevent a misunderstanding later.
Your Numbers
Check that all six numbers on each line are the ones you intended to play.
The Draw Date
Check that the ticket covers the correct draw or future draws.
Lotto Plus
Make sure Plus is present if you intended to enter Plus 1 and Plus 2.
Keep the Ticket Safe
A retail ticket is the document you will need to present when claiming a retail win.
What to Do After the Irish Lotto Draw
Check the Correct Draw Date
Make sure you are comparing your ticket with the draw it actually entered.
Check the Main Lotto Result
Compare your six numbers with the main six numbers and Bonus Ball.
Check Both Plus Draws
If you paid for Lotto Plus, also check Plus 1 and Plus 2.
Use the Number Checker
Our checker can compare up to five lines with recent stored results.
Claim Within 90 Days
Irish National Lottery draw-game prizes must be claimed within 90 days of the winning draw.
Can You Play Irish Lotto From Northern Ireland?
Irish Lotto is a National Lottery game in the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland participates in the UK National Lottery, so the two systems are separate.
If you are in Northern Ireland, do not assume that buying a UK Lotto ticket is the same as entering Irish Lotto. Rules, number ranges, operators and claim arrangements differ.
Buying Official Irish Lotto Entry
This page explains the official Irish National Lottery game. If a third party offers a bet based on Irish Lotto results, that is a different product from an official lottery ticket.
Irish Lotto How-to-Play FAQs
How many numbers do you choose in Irish Lotto?
You choose six different numbers from 1 to 45 for each Lotto line.
What is the minimum Irish Lotto ticket?
The minimum purchase is two Lotto lines. At €2 per line, Lotto starts from €4.
How much does Lotto Plus cost?
Lotto Plus costs an additional €1 for each Lotto line. Two Lotto lines with Lotto Plus therefore cost €6 for one draw.
Does Quick Pick give you better odds?
No. Quick Pick and self-selected numbers have the same mathematical odds. Quick Pick simply chooses a valid random combination for you.
Do I need the Bonus Ball to win the jackpot?
No. The jackpot requires all six main numbers. The Bonus Ball is used for lower prize categories such as Match 5 + Bonus.
What days is Irish Lotto drawn?
Irish Lotto is drawn on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Ticket sales close at 7:45pm on draw nights.
Can I play several Irish Lotto draws in advance?
Yes. Advance Play is available for future draws, while Scheduled Play in the official National Lottery app can be set for 3, 6 or 12 months.
How old do you have to be to play Irish Lotto?
You must be aged 18 or over to play National Lottery games in Ireland.
Irish Lotto Is for Players Aged 18 and Over
National Lottery games in Ireland are restricted to people aged 18 and over. Lottery play should be entertainment, not a way to make money or recover losses.
Set a budget you are comfortable losing, avoid chasing losses and take a break if playing stops feeling enjoyable. The Irish National Lottery provides spending limits, account breaks and other responsible-play tools for online players.
GamblingCare.ie provides support services in Ireland, including a national helpline on 1800 936 725. GambleAware provides gambling-harm information and support-finder resources primarily for Great Britain.
Play Responsibly, Play for Fun
Only spend money you can comfortably afford to lose. Taking a break or asking for help is always an option.
Support in Ireland:
GamblingCare.ie
1800 936 725
My Lottery Life is an independent lottery information website and is not the Irish National Lottery. Official National Lottery rules, prices and purchasing information take precedence if anything changes. This page does not sell lottery tickets. National Lottery games in Ireland are for adults aged 18 and over.