Lotto to hit €18m tonight

Tonight’s lotto jackpot is heading for the state’s highest in history at €18m.

Lottery fever is expected to grip the country with bookies Paddy Power offering odds of 1/2 that the massive sum will be won.

The prize fund has rolled over for 16 draws since Saturday May 3 making it the highest single total since the game began 20 years ago.

The previous biggest prize was picked up last July by the Cunningham family from Cork after they scooped €16m.

The national lottery expects around 3,500 people to buy a ticket at peak time this evening.

Paddy Power is offering odds of 2/1 that the jackpot winner will be over 65 and 6/1 that it will be a youngster’s dream come true with the winner aged between 18 and 25.

They are also taking bets on the winner’s profession, marital status and family status.