49s FAQs
View all of our most common question for the 49s lottery here. Find out more about 49s prizes, odds, draw times, the Booster Ball, and more.
How often are 49s draws held?
The 49s are held four times daily: the Brunchtime draw is held at 11:49 PM , Lunchtime is held at 12:49 PM, Drivetime is held 16:49 PM, and the Teatime draw is at 17:49 PM (all draw times are GMT).
What is the Booster Ball?
The Booster Ball is a bonus ball that increases your chances to win (playing it is known as a 7-number game), though the prizes won using the Booster Ball are lower than their six-number equivalent.
How can I play the 49s?
To play in any (or all!) of the 49s daily draws, it's as simple as choosing which six or seven numbers you would like to play, all between 1 – 49, and then select which draw you want to enter.
How do I check my numbers?
You can always look through our Archive Pages to find previous results, but an easier alternative is our number checker for instant matches.
Are prizes fixed?
The prize depends on your stake, and the number of balls that you match in the draw. Visit the Prizes Page to check out the full list of prizes available and the odds of winning them each.
What are the colours of the 49s balls?
Ball 1 starting at green, ball 2 is red, ball 3 is orange, ball 4 is yellow, ball 5 is brown, ball 6 is purple, and ball 7 is blue. This pattern repeats until ball 49, which is blue.
Is 49s the same as the Irish Lotto?
No, 49s is a numbers betting game with flexible stakes and payouts. You can read about Irish Lotto on our dedicated How to Play Lotto page.
What exactly is the 49s?
The 49s (sometimes called UK49s) is a numbers betting game rather than a traditional lottery. Bookmakers take bets on which numbers, from a pool of 1 – 49, will be drawn in each of the day's draws. Because it's a betting product rather than a pooled-prize lottery, odds, stakes and payouts are set by each bookmaker.
How many numbers are drawn in each 49s draw?
Six main numbers are drawn from the pool of 1 – 49, followed by a seventh number known as the Booster Ball, drawn from the same pool.
What's the difference between the 49s and the National Lottery?
The National Lottery pools stakes from all players into a shared prize fund, so jackpots grow and payouts depend on how many people share a winning tier. The 49s works differently: it's a fixed-odds betting product, so your payout is agreed upfront based on your stake and the odds for the numbers and bet type you choose, regardless of how many other people bet the same numbers.
How many numbers can I bet on?
You can typically choose a "1 Ball" bet up to a "6 Ball" bet (picking anywhere from one to six numbers), or a "7 Ball" bet that includes the Booster Ball alongside your six main selections. The more numbers you correctly match, the higher your potential payout.
What is the minimum and maximum stake?
Stakes are set by individual bookmakers rather than fixed across the game, so minimum and maximum bet amounts can vary. Most operators allow relatively small stakes, with maximum payout limits also varying by company — check your chosen operator's terms before betting.
How are 49s prizes worked out if there's no shared jackpot?
Because the 49s is a fixed-odds game, your bookmaker sets the odds for each bet type (for example, matching 3, 4, 5, or 6 numbers) and multiplies those odds by your stake to calculate your payout. This means two players betting the same numbers with the same bookmaker will receive the same odds, but odds can differ between bookmakers.
If I include the Booster Ball but only my six main numbers come up, do I still win?
Yes — including the Booster Ball as a seventh selection simply gives you an extra way to win (if it's drawn as any of the seven balls), it doesn't reduce your ability to win on your original six numbers. Payouts for 7-ball bets are generally lower than 6-ball bets of the same stake, since the extra ball makes winning easier.
What happens if my chosen number is drawn as the Booster Ball rather than a main number?
This depends on the bet type you placed. If you specifically bet on the Booster Ball being drawn, matching it wins in the normal way. If you placed a standard 6-ball bet without including the Booster Ball, a number drawn as the Booster Ball doesn't count towards that bet.
Can I use the same numbers across multiple draws?
Yes. Most bookmakers let you repeat the same numbers across the Brunchtime, Lunchtime, Drivetime and Teatime draws, or set up a bet to run across several draws automatically.
How do I know if I've won?
Winning bets are usually confirmed by your bookmaker via your account, email or app notification. You can also cross-check your numbers yourself using the Results Archive or Number Checker as soon as a draw has taken place.
How and when do I receive my winnings?
Winnings are typically paid directly into your betting account shortly after the draw result is confirmed, and can then be withdrawn using your bookmaker's standard payment methods. Processing times vary by operator.
Do I need to register an account to play?
Yes. Because the 49s is offered through licensed bookmakers rather than a single central lottery, you'll need a registered and age-verified account with a betting operator to place a bet.
By what time do I need to place my bet before a draw?
Cut-off times vary by bookmaker, but most require bets to be placed a set number of minutes before the scheduled draw time — commonly around 15 minutes. Check your operator's specific deadline for each draw.
Are 49s draws random and fair?
Yes. Each draw is conducted independently, with every number in the pool having an equal chance of being drawn, and results are published shortly afterwards so they can be independently verified against the official results archive.
Do certain numbers come up more often than others?
Over any short run of draws it can look like some numbers appear more than others, but each draw is independent and random — past results don't influence future draws. "Hot" and "cold" number patterns are a matter of statistics, not a reliable way to predict future outcomes. You can browse our 49s stats over on the 49s Statistics page.
What does "6/49" mean?
"6/49" refers to the format of the game: six numbers are drawn from a pool of 49. It's the same basic format used by several lotteries and betting games worldwide, though rules and prize structures differ between them.
How long are draw results kept in the archive?
Our Archive Pages hold historical results for all four daily draws, allowing you to look back over past Brunchtime, Lunchtime, Drivetime, and Teatime results at any time.
What time zone are the published draw times shown in?
Draw times on this page are shown in GMT. If you're checking times from outside Ireland or the UK, or during British Summer Time, convert accordingly or check with your bookmaker to confirm local draw times.
How old do I need to be to bet on the 49s?
You must be 18 or over to open a betting account and place bets on the 49s, in line with Irish gambling law. Licensed bookmakers are required to verify your age before allowing you to bet.
Is betting on the 49s legal?
Betting on the 49s is legal in the Ireland when placed through a bookmaker licensed by the GRAI (or the relevant licensing authority in your country). Rules vary by jurisdiction, so check that your chosen operator is licensed to accept bets where you live.
Where can I get help if I'm worried about my gambling?
If gambling stops being fun or starts to feel like a problem, free, confidential support is available at any time from services such as GamblingCare and Gamblers Anonymous Ireland, or via self-exclusion tools offered by most bookmakers.