The number of prizes awarded from the State’s Prize Bond scheme fell more than 25 per cent last year while the value of prizes awarded also dipped by almost a quarter.
This follows a trend seen in previous years although the average prize value has risen slightly, from €70.51 in 2017 to €73.06 in 2018. The value of prizes awarded in the past four years has almost halved.
More than 75,000 fewer prizes were awarded in 2018 compared with the previous year with the total coming in at 224,474. The value of prizes fell more than 23 per cent to €16.4 million.
Meanwhile, the value of the Prize Bond fund reached a record €3.41 billion while gross sales increased to €574 million, the second-highest result on record.
Founded in 1957, the Prize Bond draw is the Republic's longest running prize draw. The Prize Bond company is a joint venture between An Post and Fexco and all money is placed under the management of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) with the money forming part of the Republic's national debt.
Contract fees for the joint venture company rose 8.6 per cent to €10.8 million in the year.
Improved website
Having launched an improved website in 2018, the company found that 8 per cent of sales are now completed online.
At the end of 2018, unclaimed prizes amounted to €2.74 million. These are held indefinitely until claimed by a bondholder.
"Customers are investing with confidence in this unique State savings product, and that is reflected in the figures released today," said John Daly, the company's chairman.
Currently, more than 4,600 prizes are issued weekly and the million-euro prize draw takes place twice a year, in June and December. In 2016 however, there were more than 7,000 prizes issued weekly while the million-euro draw took place four times a year.
Prize bonds can be purchased in units of € 6.25, and there is a minimum purchase of four units costing € 25 and a maximum purchase in any single transaction of €250,000 (or €500,000 for a couple). Prize Bond winnings are not subject to Dirt or other taxes, which means that even if someone puts €10,000 into prize bonds and wins just €50 a year, they will have done better than putting their money in the top paying deposit account.
