THIRTEEN WILL be lucky for some tonight, with the Lotto jackpot heading for a massive €13 million after 13 successive draws in which the top prize has not been won.
Tonight’s jackpot has only been exceeded once this year when in April, a couple who wished to remain anonymous, scooped a €16,717,717 prize.
The pair, who purchased their winning ticket in Dungarvan, Co Waterford, were the recipients of the second largest jackpot win in Irish National Lottery history.
The second largest Lotto jackpot win so far this year was won in January by Co Westmeath mother, Michelle Ryan.
Ms Ryan’s six-year-old son Dylan picked the six winning numbers to win the family €7,457,357.
Their ticket proved doubly lucky, also yielding them a match five prize worth €1,839.
The biggest Lotto jackpot – €18.9 million – was won in 2008 by the Dan Morrissey syndicate from Carlow.
In last Wednesday night’s draw, 96 Lotto players matched five of the six winning numbers.
Two of these players also matched the bonus number which won them €25,000 each.
The National Lottery, which went “up, up and away” yesterday by launching a hot-air balloon in celebration of the draw is advising the public to play early.
A spokesman said: “Sixty per cent of tickets for big Lotto jackpots like this one are purchased on the day of the draw, and 60 per cent of those tickets are purchased in the hours leading up to the draw.
“Our advice is to play early.”
An estimated 86,000 tickets per hour were purchased during peak times before the April Lotto win and similar figures are expected tonight.
