The €19 million Lotto jackpot that has been left unclaimed for a record-breaking 63 draws "will be won" on Saturday, Lotto bosses have confirmed.
There was no winner of Wednesday’s Lotto jackpot meaning a must-win draw will go ahead at the weekend.
For Saturday’s Lotto, if no one matches all six numbers to win the €19 million jackpot, the prize money will move down to winners in lower tiers.
The jackpot will then be split among players who match five numbers and the bonus number.
If there is still no lotto winner matching those numbers, it will flow down to anyone who matches just five numbers.
This format will likely result in several lotto winners.
A National Lottery spokesperson said: “We know that most of our Lotto players would like to see the €19m jackpot won, so we are delighted to be able to make this announcement.
"While this current Lotto jackpot rollover is truly unprecedented, and has generated so much excitement and participation in the Lotto game, the National Lottery is now pleased to announce that this ‘will be won’ event will take place on January 15th.
"In addition, the National Lottery will operate the same ‘will be won’ event going forward, with Lotto jackpots guaranteed to be won no more than five draws after the cap has been reached.”
It comes as no jackpot has been won since the start of June 2021, leading to calls from TDs and members of the public for an investigation into what has been dubbed a "seemingly unwinnable" jackpot.
The top prize has been capped at €19,060,800 since October.
What that has meant is that the prize money which would usually be added to the jackpot has been added to the lower tiers.
