‘It could be you,’ says the National Lottery ahead of a must-win draw for the evasive €19m jackpot on Saturday - but for 200 people, it definitely won’t be them because they are not allowed to play!
“We will probably be the only office or workplace that won’t have a syndicate because the staff aren’t legally allowed to own a lottery ticket,” said Fran Whearty, Communications Executive of the National Lottery.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to buy that golden ticket for Saturday night’s draw set to finally bring to an end the seven-month rollover jackpot which has been capped at €19m since October 2.
But for the 200 staff of the National Lottery, they can only dream about winning such amounts in Ireland.
“Under the National Lottery Act legislation, which prohibits certain people from buying a ticket, the staff here are not legally allowed to play any National Lottery Game or buy scratchcards.
“As our slogan says, on Saturday night it could be you, but it definitely won’t be us,” said Fran.
“As part of my job in pre-Covid times, I got to meet with the winners and open the champagne and share somewhat in their excitement and I love that aspect, but I know it’s never gonna be me.
“On average, every day we pay out over €1m in prizes so we all see that winner awareness regularly and seeing that excitement and joy that a win brings would make you inclined to buy a ticket, but we can’t.”
Fran says that most winners of life-changing sums won’t go public with their luck and he has seen lightning strike twice - and even three times.
“About 95% of winners choose not to stand in for a picture or go public but they will tell family and friends so a lot of communities will know and be able to celebrate their luck with them.
“We had 29 new millionaires in the country last year.
“We have had people who have won large prizes a number of times and there was one who won a six figure sum three times, so they are probably one of the luckiest people in the country,” he laughed.
Fran is asking people to buy earl
y and buy small as lottery fever again grips the nation.
“It’s advised to buy your ticket early to avoid queues and we want our players to play responsibly. Buy one ticket. If your luck is in, it’s in.”
If the jackpot is not won on six numbers on Saturday night, the €19 million will filter down to anyone who has five numbers and the bonus ball.
If that is not won, then the jackpot will filter down through the prize tiers until it is won.
