Seventeen individuals became lotto millionaires last year as the National Lottery recorded an increase of 3.4 per cent in sales.
A total of €578.3 million was spent by a hopeful public in return for €305 million back in prizes, or a return of 52.7 per cent on their investment.
The lottery also paid out €191.1 million for beneficiary projects, an increase of €4.4m on the 2003 figure of €186.7 million.
The amount raised for good causes since the launch of the National Lottery in 1987 has reached €2.2 billion, representing 33 per cent of total Lotto sales.
Scratch cards account for €160.2 million in 2004, an increase of €13.7 million compared with the previous year.
The continued improvement in the National Lottery's fortunes came mainly from the EuroMillions game, which recorded sales of €5.6 million for the thirteen weeks following its launch.
The National Lottery's chairman, Mr Donal Curtain, said that 2004 had been a very successful year. "This performance is a continuation of the steady growth that has characterised the operation of the National Lottery over the past 18 years", he said.
Total operating costs were kept to €82.2 million, or 14.2 per cent of sales and €35.9 million, or 6.2 per cent of sales was paid to 3,500 agents in commissions and bonuses.
An Post National Lottery Company is licenced to operate the National Lottery by the Minister of Finance on the Minister's behalf in accordance with the National Lottery Act 1986.