EuroMillions fever as jackpot hits €180m

IT could be you. Lottery fever is expected to hit a frenzied high today as the EuroMillions jackpot hits a record-breaking €180 million.

If one person wins the draw tonight it will be the largest single lottery pay-out in the world. It would also provide them with over €5 million in interest a year, or €14,000 a day, if they deposit their winnings in a bank.

Already this week, up to €8m has been spent on EuroMillions tickets, and it's estimated that up to 80% of possible number combinations will have been tried before the draw takes place.

It's also expected there will be 4,000 plays per minute in the hours leading up to the draw so the National Lottery is advising people to "play early".

The bumper pay-out follows the EuroMillions jackpot rolling over for a record 11 times. The National Lottery says €12m has been raised for good causes following the extended rollover sequence, which began on November 18.

The winner would dwarf the bank balance of the previous biggest EuroMillions winner, Dolores McNamara from Limerick, who picked up €115m.

Dolores has bought three homes since her win, including a €1.7m ranch overlooking Lough Derg which had been viewed by Hollywood great, Robert de Niro. She also earns €9,000 a day in interest.

Since the rollover sequence began in November, 112 European players have matched five numbers and one lucky star number, but nobody has attained the elusive second star number.

"One Irish player was just one number away two draws ago, which is as close as anyone has come to winning this huge prize," said a Lotto spokeswoman. "While 50% of the Irish adult population played for last week's record draw, we estimate over two-thirds, or 66%, of the adult population will have a ticket in their hands and will wait with intense interest for the results of tomorrow night's record jackpot draw."

All nine countries in the EuroMillions game recently announced that, if the jackpot is not won for 12 successive draws, the jackpot amount will be rolled down to the next highest prize category, where there is at least one winner.

This means that if the EuroMillions jackpot rolls over this Friday and if there is no winner again next week, the bumper sum on that date will be shared by all winners of the Match 5 plus one Lucky Star number prize category. If there is no winner in that category, the jackpot will be shared by the next winner category.

EuroMillions sales close automatically at 7.30pm each Friday and the draw is broadcast each Friday on TG4 at 9.25pm. Results can be checked after the draw on www.lotto.ie.

How to blow your lotto millions in style

* Spend a week at the 3,000 sq ft Presidential Suite at The Four Seasons Hotel in New York. Seven nights savouring the black Florentine marble floors, numerous jacuzzis and original Caldor sketches will set you back a mere €70,000.

* After a hard day's designer shopping you'll want to pop open some bubbly. A case of 1995 Krug Clos de Mesnil comes at a snip - just €9,000.

* How about a few pairs of Manolo Blahnik's €14,000 alligator boots - to die for.

* Any self-respecting multi-millionaire needs a flotilla of cars. Start off with the Bugatti Veyron. This €1.24m beauty can produce 1,001 horsepower.

* With all those holidays you'll be needing a personal jet. The Gulfstream V Lear jet will set you back about €41m and seat up to 19 of your new friends.

* Life can get boring when the world is your oyster. Take it to the next frontier. A week-long ticket to the International Space Station is just €20m.