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Irish Lotto Betting Explained
Irish Lotto betting means backing numbers with a bookmaker instead of buying a lottery ticket. You pick your numbers at fixed odds, and the bet wins only if every number you picked is drawn in the official draw. The latest numbers are on our Irish Lotto results page.
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How an Irish Lotto bet works
The Gambling Act 2005 stops bookmakers licensed in Great Britain taking bets on the UK National Lottery, but not on the Irish Lotto. You choose how many numbers to back and which draw the bet is on, and some bookmakers also take bets on the Lotto Plus draws. A winning bet pays at the odds you took, however many other people win. There is no ticket, no jackpot and no money for Irish good causes, and the bookmaker’s rules apply.
With or without the Bonus Ball
Many bookmakers let you choose whether the Bonus Ball counts. With it, seven balls can match your numbers instead of six, so your numbers are more likely to come up and the odds are shorter. Without it, only the six main numbers count.
Combination bets
A combination bet, sometimes called full cover, backs every smaller group inside your numbers at once. Each part is a separate bet with its own stake:
| Numbers picked | What full cover includes | Bets |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | 2 singles and 1 double | 3 |
| 3 | 3 singles, 3 doubles and 1 treble | 7 |
| 4 | 4 singles, 6 doubles, 4 trebles and 1 four-number bet | 15 |
So two numbers with full cover at 50p a bet costs £1.50. Four numbers has the same shape as a Lucky 15: 15 bets in all.
The real chances since the 45-ball change
In September 2026 the Irish Lotto went from 47 balls to 45, so each number you back is more likely to come up. The true chances for the main draw, without the Bonus Ball:
| Numbers backed | 45 balls (from September 2026) | 47 balls (before) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 in 7.5 | 1 in 7.8 |
| 2 | 1 in 66 | 1 in 72 |
| 3 | 1 in 710 | 1 in 811 |
| 4 | 1 in 9,933 | 1 in 11,891 |
| 5 | 1 in 203,627 | 1 in 255,657 |
Bookmakers pay at odds shorter than these chances, and that gap is their margin. Because the chances changed, prices may have changed too.
Frequently asked questions
Can you bet on the Irish Lotto in a UK betting shop?
Yes. Bookmakers in the UK take Irish Lotto bets in shops and online, although those licensed in Great Britain cannot take bets on the UK National Lottery.
What is a combination bet on the Irish Lotto?
A bet that covers every smaller group inside your numbers, such as two singles and a double from two numbers, each with its own stake.
Does the Bonus Ball count in Irish Lotto betting?
Only if you choose it. Including the Bonus Ball makes your numbers more likely to come up, so the odds are shorter.
What days can you bet on the Irish Lotto?
The draws are on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday evenings; the Monday draw started in September 2026.
Related guides: 49s results, the Irish Lotto from the UK and whether you can bet on the UK Lotto.
More on Irish draws: Irish Lotto results, Daily Million results, Plus 1 and Plus 2, where to find Irish Lotto results and all our lottery guides.
Checked on 1 November 2026 against the Irish National Lottery's How to play Lotto page and its announcement of the 2026 Lotto changes, and section 95 of the Gambling Act 2005. How we research and check our guides: our editorial policy.