Odds on Lotto win shorten with extra numbers

The price of a lottery ticket is going up while the odds of winning the big jackpot are going down, as part of a raft of new changes to the National Lottery.

Starting from next month, customers will be charged an extra 50c per line – a price hike of a third. Punters will now have to pay a minimum of €4 per ticket, for two lines with no plus, where they would previously have paid only €3. With the addition of Lotto Plus, two-line tickets will cost €5.

Two extra numbers will also be added to the draw, meaning the chance of picking all six numbers and winning the jackpot is considerably reduced.