Ireland Lottery retailers trying to keep up with jackpot frenzy

Jan 14, 2022, 4:13 pm (9 comments)

Ireland National Lottery

Stores are stuffed with hopeful lottery players ahead of the must-win Lotto draw

By Kate Northrop

Ireland National Lottery retailers are experiencing a massive surge of lottery ticket sales in advance of the must-win Lotto draw to be held on Saturday.

On Thursday, the Lottery announced that one or more players are guaranteed to win the record-breaking €19.06 million (US$21.81 million) Lotto jackpot in a "will be won" event after it rolled seven months without a winner.

Since the announcement, Lottery retailers have been caught in the whirlwind of players buying up tickets in what is being declared a lottery frenzy.

Noel Dunne owns the Centra supermarket on Parnell Street in Dublin and described the energy in his shop as "manic."

"I always find it amusing that people think they've a better chance in the bigger ones, but I suppose people just want to be involved," Dunne told The Irish Times. "It has generated huge interest."

Although the jackpot has remained at a capped €19 million for seven months since the last winner on June 5, 2021, the must-win draw has caught the attention of lottery players across the nation. From casual players to lottery enthusiasts, lines for buying tickets are longer than usual.

"We have a lot of offices around coming in after organizing syndicates," Dunne continued. "The fact it has been so long, seven months, people just want to be part of the excitement."

Joanna Baker at the Londis convenience store on Westmoreland Street noted the same behavior from customers.

"It's insane at the moment," Baker observed. "People are going mad. One guy spent over €4,000 (US$4,565) today, another spent €2,000 (US$2,283) and one person spent €500 (US$571). That's the most we've ever seen here. People are buying way more lines than usual; it's very big amounts straight away instead of just three or four lines."

The clerk at the Spar convenience store on D'Olier Street said he had a "crazy" morning, noting over ten people spending "big, big money" on lottery tickets, as well as "lots of people coming in for the smaller tickets as well."

"The shop is making the same amount it would make in a normal day through Lotto tickets alone," he remarked.

If the jackpot is not outright won by a player matching all six numbers this Saturday, the full value of the jackpot prize will flow down to the winner(s) of the next winning prize tier. For example, if no one matches all six numbers to win the jackpot, but there are winners in the Match 5 + Bonus prize tier, those players will win €19.06 million plus the additional funds that would have gone to the jackpot.

However, Lottery spokesperson Fran Whearty said that the jackpot would not be awarded to those holding fewer than five matching numbers because the odds of nobody having at least five numbers are "tiny."

"We can see loads of winners sharing the same prize, but at the end of the day, it is a lottery," he explained.

Tickets sales for the penultimate Lotto drawing are open now until the draw on Saturday night at 8:00 pm GMT.

Thanks for dannyct for the tip.

Lottery Post Staff

Comments

Think's avatarThink

If you don't get it this time then save your money for seven months and try again!

kao1632

""I always find it amusing that people think they've a better chance in the bigger ones,"

No.. People see that the odds of winning a bigger payout are improved..

From

1 in 10,737,573 to win a million or so for 1st division to a 

1 in 1,789,596 to win a million or so when it rolls down to 2nd division.

That is a five fold improvement in your chances of getting a piece of the jackpot... And given the usual numbers winning 2nd division currently being up to 3.. maybe you win 1 part in 6.. or  3million plus...

Mata Garbo

This message is for the gentleman who spent what amounts to $4,565 US dollars on tickets in 1 day. From across the ocean here in America, I would just like to say..... well, good luck to you sir.

Surrender

Speler

Quote: Originally posted by Mata Garbo on Jan 15, 2022

This message is for the gentleman who spent what amounts to $4,565 US dollars on tickets in 1 day. From across the ocean here in America, I would just like to say..... well, good luck to you sir.

Surrender

We have system forms. You can play system 7 to 15.

combin(15,6)*1.25=6256.25 EUR

How about printing a 5 if 5 wheel? How far do you get with 6256.25 EUR?

jjtheprince14

Offer ticket sales for it in California, it'll be won in a heartbeat by about 3,000,000 players lol

Todd's avatarTodd

Looks like one person won the whole thing!

CHLOE$76

Congratulations on that person ☺️☺️

JeetKuneDoLotto's avatarJeetKuneDoLotto

Quote: Originally posted by Todd on Jan 16, 2022

Looks like one person won the whole thing!

"It's insane at the moment," Baker observed. "People are going mad. One guy spent over €4,000 (US$4,565) today, another spent €2,000 (US$2,283) and one person spent €500 (US$571). That's the most we've ever seen here. People are buying way more lines than usual; it's very big amounts straight away instead of just three or four lines."

 

 

Was it Connor Mcgregor?

He probably played like 10 Grand Full System Jackpot Buster Wheel.                                      Boxing

dannyct

The jackpot was won by a player in County Mayo, it was a Quick Pick ticket. I hope the winner gets independent legal and financial advice before claiming their win. In that way, they can maintain their anonymity and secure their long-term economic security. Good luck!

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