GAME GUIDE
How to play Irish Lotto: the new 45-ball game and Monday draws
What changed in September 2026, what a line costs, the prizes and how Lotto Plus works.
Irish Lotto in 30 seconds
- Pick 6 numbers from 1 to 45, or choose a Quick Pick. Our Irish Lotto number generator can pick a line for you.
- Each line costs €2, with a minimum of 2 lines per draw.
- Draws are every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, streamed live at 7:55pm. See the latest Irish Lotto results after each draw.
- Lotto Plus costs an extra €1 per line and adds two more draws with €1 million top prizes.
What changed in September 2026
The first draw under the new format took place on Saturday 5 September 2026. The number of balls dropped from 47 to 45, which improves the odds on every prize. A Monday draw was added, so Lotto is now drawn three times a week. The jackpot still starts at €2 million, with a cap of €16 million.
What you can win
| Match | Expected average prize | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Jackpot | 1 in 8,145,060 |
| 5 + Bonus | €75,000 | 1 in 1,357,510 |
| 5 | €1,200 | 1 in 35,724 |
| 4 + Bonus | €120 | 1 in 14,290 |
| 4 | €40 | 1 in 772 |
| 3 + Bonus | €20 | 1 in 579 |
| 3 | €4 (fixed) | 1 in 48 |
| 2 + Bonus | €4 (fixed) | 1 in 64 |
The chance of winning any Lotto prize is 1 in 25.4 per line, or 1 in 8.5 when you add Lotto Plus. See how that compares with UK games in our lottery odds guide.
Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2
Lotto Plus enters your numbers into two extra draws. Both now pay the same fixed prizes, including €1 million for matching all 6.
| Match | Prize |
|---|---|
| 6 | €1,000,000 |
| 5 + Bonus | €1,000 |
| 5 | €100 |
| 4 + Bonus | €25 |
| 4 | €10 |
| 3 + Bonus | €6 |
| 3 | €2 |
| 2 + Bonus | €3 |
Questions people ask
How many balls are in Irish Lotto now?
45. It changed from 47 balls with the first draw on 5 September 2026.
When is the Irish Lotto draw?
Every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. The draw is streamed live on lottery.ie at 7:55pm.
How much does Irish Lotto cost?
€2 per line with a minimum of 2 lines. Lotto Plus is €1 extra per line.
See the latest numbers and the next jackpot.
Latest results →Sources
We check every guide against the operators’ own pages. Rules and prizes can change, so the official operator always has the final word.