Chase is on for record lottery jackpot

Thousands of people nationwide are expected to take part in tomorrow night’s multi-million euro mid-week lotto draw, buoyed by the chance to snap-up the biggest jackpot in the state’s history.

Lotto chiefs are urging those hoping to scoop the massive payout, set to top €12m, to buy their tickets early.

This marks the tenth time the jackpot has rolled over without a winner.

“Tomorrow night’s Lotto jackpot will be the biggest in the history of the Lotto game,” said a National Lottery spokesman.

“The final jackpot amount is expected to be well over a magic €12m.”

The jackpot has not been won since June 20, and has rolled over each Wednesday and Saturday since, building up to the massive windfall.

If it is not won tomorrow night it will again roll over to next Saturday evening.

The prize money is expected to bring out bigger crowds than usual betting on their chances of being the lucky winner.

The highest jackpot so far this year was on January 31 when a Kilkenny couple won more than 8.5 million euro after buying a three euro Quickpick ticket.

The game has created 315 millionaires since it began in 1988, around 20 of those winning their jackpots this year.

The previous highest Lotto jackpot was for €9.5m and was shared on November 21 1996,