There should be an investigation of the National Lottery after the €19million record-jackpot wasn't won again, a TD has claimed.
The top prize itself has not been won since June 6, with 46 separate roll-overs in the meantime.
Fine Gael Deputy for Kildare Bernard Durkan also believes that the number of balls used in draws should be reduced to increase the public's chance of winning.
He said: “It’s been almost six months since it was won. This didn’t happen in Ronan Collins’ day. The jackpot has been stuck on €19m since September. What’s going on?
“We need a full investigation and audit into the draw.
“I have never agreed with Premier Lotteries Ireland’s decision to increase the number of balls to 47. I’m old enough to remember 1986 when there were 36 balls and that’s how it should have stayed.
“I call on the Chief Executive of Premier Lotteries Ireland, Andrew Algeo, to drop a couple of balls as a mark of good faith and make the draw more winnable. In 1988, there was 36 balls, 39 in 1992, 42 in 1994, 45 in 2006 before reaching a hefty 47 in 2015.
“Mr Algeo, tear down those balls."
Deputy Durkan, who is on both the Oireachtas Finance and Public Expenditure committees, added: “I’m not saying anything odd has happened, but it’s the longest run in the history of the game so we need a bit of reassurance.
“I’ll also be writing to Public Expenditure Minister Michael McGrath, whose department oversees this, to express my concern here and to get his views on the matter. As part of the terms of the National Lottery licence, almost 30c from every €1 spent on National Lottery games is returned to the Exchequer to be utilised by Good Cause projects.
“Currently ahead of tomorrow night’s lotto draw, the prospect of winning is so remote that punters must be thinking Shergar would have a better chance at winning Squid Game."
Premier Lotteries Ireland has been contacted for a comment.
