THE National Lottery said yesterday it was not concerned by the Director of Public Prosecutions' decision to withdraw a case against a Dublin newsagent who has been selling British lottery tickets.
"Our sales are very despite the hype created by the big jackpots in the UK," said a spokeswoman for the National Lottery.
The National Federation of Retail Newsagents said it deplored the Government's handling of the issue, which it described as confused. "We are still not closer to a legal resolution as to whether retailers are within their rights to sell these tickets", said the federations' chief executive, Mr Joe Holmes.
The odds on winning in the National Lottery are significantly better than in the British lottery, the spokeswoman for the Irish lottery added. "People understand our game is easier to win and they also know the money stays in Ireland," the spokeswoman said.
On Monday the DPP with drew a case against Mr Pat Shevlin, the owner of Alans' newsagents in Templeogue who had been charged with illegal selling of lottery tickets' under Section 21 of the 1986 Gaming and Lotteries Act, which was introduced to set up the National Lottery.
There are a number of similar cases pending against other newsagents selling British lottery tickets in the Republic.
Mr Shevlin and other newsagents selling British lottery tickets charge a small premium over the tickets' face value to cover the cost of a courier service between the Republic and Northern Ireland.
A spokeswoman in the Department of Justice said the Minister, Ms Owen, would be considering the effectiveness of Section 21 of the 1986 in the light of the DPP's decision.
Meanwhile, a married couple from Dublin's south side yesterday became the country's 52nd Lotto millionaires when they collected a cheque for £1,000,012. Their winnings include last Saturday's £1 million jackpot and a match four amount for £12 on a separate ticket.
The couple, who want to remain anonymous, are described as professionals in their late 30s and early 40s, who work full time. They have a young family and have lived and worked in Dublin for the past 20 years.
The winning ticket was bought last Friday at the post office on Carrickbrennan Road, Monkstown.