Lotto jackpot to top €16m

Tonight's Lotto jackpot is set to exceed €16 million - the highest in the history of the Lotto game.

With the jackpot not having been won for a record 11 times, tonight's draw will be the longest sequence of rollovers, netting an estimated €60 million for the Lotto company.

Of that, just over 53 per cent will go in prizes, a third will go to good causes, roughly 8.5 per cent on administration and just over 6 per cent on agents' commission.

While there was no jackpot winner on July 18th, 153 players were just one number away, while two had five numbers and the bonus number. They each received prices of €25,000.

There were also two winners of the Lotto Plus 2 top prize in Wednesday night's draw - one in Newbridge, Co Kildare, which was collected yesterday and the other in Limerick which has yet to be collected.

Last Wednesday's jackpot was the largest sum so far, at €13,310,830, but if it is not won tonight it is expected to be in the region of €20 million next Wednesday.

Sales levels are, not surprisingly, also setting records. Last Wednesday's draw were the highest yet, with more than two million Lotto tickets bought by players between Saturday 21st and close of business on Wednesday July 25th.

More than 1.4 million of those tickets were purchased on the day of the draw.

The highest Lotto jackpot won so far this year was on January 31stfor €8,606,212.

The winners were a Kilkenny couple who won with a quickpick ticket.

This year about 20 people have become Lotto millionaires while 315 have become Lotto millionaires since the game began.

The highest Lotto jackpot won to date remains that of November 21st, 1996, for €9,505,290. Two winning tickets shared that scoop.

The National Lottery company has asked players to buy their tickets early today.