The Irish National Lottery announced three structural updates to its Lotto and Lotto Plus games on July 17, 2026. The modifications include a reduction in the main draw pool, a prize increase for a secondary game, and the introduction of an additional weekly draw.
The primary Lotto draw will now operate with 45 balls instead of the previous 47. A new Monday draw has been added to the existing Wednesday and Sunday schedule. The entry cost for both Lotto and Lotto Plus tickets remains unchanged.
Prize Adjustments and Historical Context
The maximum payout for the Lotto Plus 2 game rises from €250,000 to €1,000,000. National Lottery CEO Cian Murphy stated that the updates aim to increase the frequency of high-value wins across the country. He noted that players will now have three chances per week to reach the top prize tier.These adjustments mark the first major overhaul of the Lotto format in eight years. The operator recorded 15 new millionaire winners in the previous year and set a target of 28 for the upcoming cycle. The official launch date for the revised format will be confirmed in the following weeks.