€1.2m in prizes won daily on Lotto

OVER half the population, 2.2 million people, played National Lottery games last year registering sales of €815.1 million, the second highest level ever.

Of that, “€263.5m was raised for good causes in 2009, bringing the overall level of funds raised since the launch of the National Lottery to over €3.4 billion,” the annual report states.

Lucky players walked away with shared winnings of €438.3m, an average of €1.2m won every day of the year.

The top jackpot win during the year was €29m scooped on the EuroMillions game and that was half of the entire jackpot on that occasion. One of those tickets, a €6 quick-pick, was sold in Newcastle, Co Dublin.

“Having concentrated on extending our portfolio of games over the last number of years, our strategy for the coming year will be to promote the various benefits of these games to existing and new players,” Dermot Griffin, chief executive, National Lottery, said.

“Our online player base is growing steadily as players become aware of the convenient option of playing National Lottery games over the internet.

“Since we introduced this facility, 6,000 players have generated €744,000 in revenue and we expect that this channel will be a significant source of growth in the future in keeping with the general uptake of digital communications. We are also working with our EuroMillions partners to enhance this game and we will be involved in the development of plans for Ireland’s inclusion in a World Lottery game which we expect will be launched in 2012.”

Sales of EuroMillions in 2009 were €105.7m, down marginally from €109.0m the previous year. Scratch cards sales at €163.8m, compared to €170.2m in 2008, decreased also.

Sales of TellyBingo were up 2.4% to €14.3m from €13.9m in 2008 and in its first full year of operation, Monday Million achieved sales of €25.4m.