Posted on: 06 Apr 2022

Lotto presenter Kamal Ibrahim, Seamus Griffin CEO Griffin retail group, Sarah Orr, National Lottery and Con Horgan of Fanzini productions and national circus festival pictured at the announcement. Photo: Justin Farrelly / Mac Innes Photography.

 Approximate figures for the year ending 2020 are: 
 

• €918 million sales revenue generated.  
• 58% returned in prizes (€528.9million).  
• 27% transferred to the Good Causes Fund (€253.6 million).  
• €49.3 million (5%) paid in retail network commission.   
• Cost of operations, administration and profit 10%.  

Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI), the operator of the National Lottery, has revealed that 90% of all revenue generated from sales of National Lottery games is returned to communities in the shape of prizes, funding good causes and commission to retailers all over Ireland.  

Andrew Algeo, Chief Executive of Premier Lotteries Ireland said:   

“For every euro spent on National Lottery games in Ireland, 90c is returned to our communities in the form of prizes, Good Causes and retailer commission. Each day, our players continue to have an enormous impact every time they buy a National Lottery ticket. Last year, over €289 million was raised for the Good Causes fund which directly impacted thousands of charitable and community groups in towns and villages across Ireland.”  

With almost 5,500 retail partners, the National Lottery retail network contributes significantly to the Good Causes fund and in 2020, retail sales amounted to €783.1 million. Retailer commission also grew to almost €50 million which benefited retailers all over Ireland.  

 
2021 proved to be a life-changing year too for National Lottery players throughout the country with 29 brand new millionaires made with jackpot and top prize wins with amounts between €1 million and €12.7 million.”  

 
Approximately 1.3 million adults play National Lottery games and draws regularly.  In 2021, this generated an average of €5.5 million for the Good Causes Fund each week. One of the main purposes of the National Lottery is to raise money for Good Causes all over Ireland and since the inception of the National Lottery in 1987, more than €6 billion has been raised for Good Causes. Nearly 30 cent in every euro spent on National Lottery games goes to the Good Causes fund and over 4,000 groups on average receive funding every year.  

Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath T.D. announced in January that last year was a record-breaking year for the Good Causes Fund. National Lottery players raised an astonishing €289 million for Good Causes in 2021 which represents a significant increase on the previous year and marks the sixth consecutive year in which the Good Causes fund has experienced significant growth.   

Breakdown of National Lottery Revenue 2020   
   

   
 National Lottery Millionaires in 2021  

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