Punters see €50m reasons to play Euro lotto

IRISH punters were yesterday primed for bumper lottery payouts of €50 million with the launch of the new European wide EuroMillions game.

The multi-million euro draw will give gamblers a chance to scoop massive spoils every week, but odds of a top prize win are thought to be around 76 million to one.

The jackpot is set to start at around €10 million with rollovers and bonus prize funds boosting the kitty to more than €50 million.

National Lottery director Ray Bates said the massive prizes would prove a big incentive for players and ensure much needed cash for worthy causes.

“This is an exciting development in the European Lottery business,” Mr Bates said.

“And one that I hope will prove to be very popular with our players and work well alongside the National Lottery’s existing games.

“In line with all our games, about one third of all revenue generated from Irish sales of EuroMillions will go directly to good causes in Ireland.”

EuroMillions tickets will go on sale in Ireland from Saturday at €2 per play.

Players enter by filling in a EuroMillions play slip at any Lotto agent, select five numbers from one to 50 and two Lucky Star numbers from one to nine.

A quick pick option is also available.

There are 12 ways to win with overall odds of 1 in 24 of winning a cash prize.

There will be a weekly draw every Friday night in Paris and broadcast on TG4 at 9.25pm. The first draw including Ireland takes place on Friday, October 8.

Nine countries play the game including Ireland, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Austria. Britain, France and Spain launched the game in February. French football legend Eric Cantona was recently spotted in Dublin filming the EuroMillions television ads, which hit Irish screens on Friday.