Tonight's lotto jackpot could be the biggest in 10 years

Since the National Lottery was launched in 1988, only 27 jackpots over €10m have been won.  Picture: iStock

Ireland could soon have a new multi-millionaire as tonight’s Lotto jackpot is the highest in over 10 years.

The top prize of tonight’s draw is estimated to be in the region of €14m. 

The last time a Lotto jackpot exceeded €14 million was in March 2011 when two players from Cavan and Cork shared a jackpot of €14,037,236.

Since the National Lottery was launched in 1988, only 27 jackpots over €10m have been won.

Tonight’s midweek total has been rolling on since June 9, and if won, it would be the sixth jackpot winner of 2021.

In late January, an online player in Limerick won €8,530,887. 

In April, a player in Co Kilkenny took home €12,740,043. 

On May, 22 a punter in Co Westmeath won €6,489,165. One week later, a player in Myrtleville, Co Cork secured €2,469,871. 

The most recent win of €2,475,303 was taken home by an online player in Co Galway.

Meanwhile, the Monaghan winner of the €1 million top prize from Saturday night’s Lotto Plus 1 draw has finally come forward to claim their prize. 

The winning ticket was purchased in the family-run Birdys Newsagents on the Main Street in Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan. 

Elsewhere a Wicklow player who won the EuroMillions Plus top prize of €500,000 has come forward to claim their winnings after a lucky decision to buy a ticket all the way back on June 25.  

The winner made contact with the National Lottery following a nationwide campaign to find the prize winner ahead of the prize claim deadline on September 23.

The National Lottery has urged anyone planning to play tonight to purchase their tickets early and to adhere to social distancing measures and public health guidelines in place if buying tickets in a shop.

The deadline to purchase tickets for tonight’s draw, both in-store and online, is 7.45pm.