How To Play Lotto-Pick & Play
The Lotto Pick & Play is a lottery game that is based on the outcome of the Irish Lotto, Lotto Plus 1, and Lotto Plus 2 draws. Enter your numbers in any one or all three of these games. A basic play costs just €1, but you can bet €2, €3, €4, or €5 for a chance at a bigger jackpot. Here's how to play:
New Name Now in Effect!
As part of wide-reaching changes that went live on the 3rd of September, 'Lotto 5-4-3-2-1' has been renamed to 'Lotto Pick & Play'. Use the link below to read about the changes.
Find out more about what's changedChoose Your Numbers
Whether filling out a play slip in a shop or online, you must choose how many numbers to play in each draw. Mark 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 numbers to play in a range from 1 to 45. On your playslip, decide to play either a six-number (indicated by A and B) or seven-number game (indicated by C and D).
Pick Wager Amount
Decide whether to wager €1, €2, €3, €4, or €5. Higher wagers typically lead to higher prizes, so pick carefully! The more numbers that you manage to match, the bigger the prizes that you win.
Add Bonus Ball & Plus (optional)
The Bonus Ball turns the six-number Lotto Pick & Play game into a seven-number game - giving you an extra number to win with. Add Plus if you want to enter your chosen numbers into Lotto, Plus 1, and Plus 2 and get even more excitement.
Wait For The Draw
Watch the draw or return to our Results Page to discover the outcome. We update our pages with the latest Lotto Pick & Play drawings right after they’ve happened, ensuring you can rely on us!
Check Your Numbers
Match the numbers on your ticket against the outcome of the Lotto Pick & Play drawing. If you’ve won, congratulations! Next step is to claim any prize you’re due.
Claim Your Prizes
You have 90 days from the date of the draw in the Emerald Isle. So, keep your ticket safe and secure. Find out more about claiming prizes at our How to Claim page.
How Lotto Pick & Play Actually Works
Unlike the main Lotto draw, where you pick six numbers and win smaller prizes for partial matches, Lotto Pick & Play works differently: the amount of numbers you choose to play is itself your bet, and you only win a prize if every single one of your chosen numbers comes up.
Here's the logic step by step:
- Pick how many numbers to play. You decide to play 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 numbers (from 1–45) on your line. This choice determines which prize tier you're chasing — playing 5 numbers targets the top prize but is the hardest to win; playing 1 number is easiest but pays the least.
- Pick 6-number or 7-number play. In the 6-number game, your chosen numbers are checked only against the six main numbers drawn in that Lotto draw. In the 7-number game, the Bonus Ball is added in too, so your numbers are checked against all seven drawn numbers — giving you better odds, but for a smaller prize per tier.
- All your numbers must match — no partial credit. If you chose to play 4 numbers, you need all 4 of them among the drawn numbers to win anything at all. Matching only 3 of your 4 chosen numbers does not win a smaller prize; it simply isn't a winning line.
- Your wager scales the prize. Every prize below is quoted at the €1 stake. Staking €2, €3, €4, or €5 multiplies the prize by that same amount (e.g. a €6,000 prize at €1 becomes €18,000 if you staked €3 on that line).
- Plus adds more chances, not bigger prizes. Adding Plus 1 and/or Plus 2 enters the exact same chosen numbers into the Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 draws as separate, independent plays — each with its own chance to win the same prize structure below.
Worked Example: A Winning Play
Say you decide to play the 6-number game, choosing to play 4 numbers, and you stake €2 on the line. You chose 07, 15, 23, 41 - all four matched the draw result. Two other numbers were also drawn but weren't yours: 12 and 34 (plus Bonus Ball 09, which doesn't count here since you're playing the 6-number game).
Because you chose to play 4 numbers, and all 4 of your numbers - 07, 15, 23 and 41 - appear among the six numbers drawn, your line is a winner at the "4 of 4" prize tier.
Prize at €1 stake for matching 4 of 4 (6-number game): €6,000
Your stake: €2
Your prize: €6,000 × 2 = €12,000
If, instead, only 3 of your 4 chosen numbers had been drawn - say 34 had come up instead of 41 - your line would not win a prize, because with Lotto Pick & Play you must match every number you chose to play, not just some of them.