Cash-strapped workers tired of the economic doom and gloom will be rushing to pick up their Ireland Lotto ticket today with tonight's jackpot approaching a cool €15 million (US$20 million).
The life-changing jackpot has been rolling since March 10 and this draw will be the ninth since it began.
The bumper pot includes €4m from the unclaimed prize fund, which holds on to money that was never picked up by winners.
More than €2m from this fund was added into the jackpot on St Patrick's Day, and the additional €2m was added on Easter Saturday.
Excitement
"There is huge excitement about this jackpot," said Lotto spokeswoman Paula McEvoy yesterday. "It has gained more momentum because it has been rolling for so long.
"When the jackpot hits heights like this, more people decide to play. And those who normally play a set of numbers usually also play a quick pick to help them win."
Ms McEvoy is looking forward to a line of lottery players all eager to nab the prize.
"Around 60% of people play on the day of the draw, with the peak selling time between 4pm and a quarter to eight," she added. "We estimate that around 85,000 tickets per hour will go through the terminals and that is why we are urging people to play early."
The largest Lotto jackpot of this year before this record roll was €7.4m. It was won on January 16 by Michelle Ryan, from Athlone, Co Westmeath.
Bookmaker Paddy Power yesterday insisted the odds of winning a rollover were about "as slim as Elvis Presley coming back from the dead to ride the winner of this year's Aintree Grand National". It said it was more likely, at 500,000/1, for somebody to be hit with a bolt of lightning than become the next Irish multi-millionaire.
However, the bookmaker said while the odds are stacked against players, it has odds on at 1/2 that the jackpot will be won this Saturday. It has odds of 2/1 that the prize money will roll over again to Wednesday
"As last year's Grand National winner and 100/1 shot 'Mon Momme' proved, miracles can and do happen," said a spokeswoman.
Thanks to myturn for the tip.
I like the bookmaker discription of the odd, "as slim as Elvis Presley coming back from the dead to ride the winner of this year's Aintree Grand National." Athough the odd is slim, the jackpot will be won by somebody eventually.
A $20 million japckpot is a chump change compared to jackpot of Mega Millions and Powerball, but it is big jackpot for this small-island population.
Ireland - green hills, nice weather, small road, I want to live there!
A pot of gold!
A Jackpot is a Jackpot in any country...$12,000,000-$20,000,000...$100,000,000...more than enough loot.
Don't be greedy.
Someone here at lotterypost said that the odds of hitting the jackpot are really 50/50. You either hit or miss. I like that
I like the idea that unclaimed winnings go back into the pot in Ireland.
That would never happen here. Our money is all spent before it's even gotten. I hope there's enough to keep funding ACORN though after they change their name while pretending to go out of business.
While not a "Euromillions" size jackpot..... $20 million isn't a bad chunk of change considering they probably get to keep the entire jackpot. Not roughly 1/3 of the advertised jackpot like here in the good old U S of A....after taxes and taking a lump sum. So the entire jackpot of 15 million Euro's or $20 million US is quite a nice figure......and Ireland wouldn't be a bad place to enjoy that wealth..... Good Whiskey, Nice looking lasses, Guiness.......Sounds pretty good to me.....
This jackpot rolled to €16 million last night.
THANK'$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!
TODD >4< people with JACKPOT $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ BACK into D LOTTERY POST!!!!!!!!!
we realize that pick 2>3>4> POT>LIQUOR>is QUICKER>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>!!!!!!!!!
but, let's face<it>we are all going 4 D "JACKPOT
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$
(note) PSYKO is still>>>>>>>>"CRAZY"
