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The National Lottery operator has come under fire from TDs for not winning the € 19 million jackpot in six months.
Comments before the Oireachtas Finance Committee TD’s concerns about the lottery draw and the amount of prize money that have not been claimed in recent years.
Speaking at the meeting, Andre Algeo, CEO of Premier Lotteries Limited, announced that the number of winners in the tickets sold in the last four months when the jackpot was not won was « higher than normal ».
Mr. Algeo also told the committee that at least 107 million euros in prize money has not been claimed since 2016.
He said, the unclaimed prize money will be used to promote the national lottery, which means more tickets will be sold and customers will benefit from bigger jackpots.
He said the new drawing « must be won » is being rolled out « ASAP » and could split the jackpot between players with five numbers or five numbers and a bonus ball if one didn’t pick the exact six numbers drawn.
National Lottery regulator Carol Boate said that she was contacted by Premier Lotteries in November about the possibility of a « must-be-won » drawing.
But a formal request to change the drawing did not come until December after Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan problems with the jackpot.
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Ms. Boate said the lottery went smoothly and she is confident that the technology in place is of a high standard. She said she would review the must-be-win draw proposal to ensure it did not result in unintended consequences.
She said she had no concerns about the lottery system being hacked when she did was interviewed by Mr. Durkan on the matter.
Mr. Durkan asked Mr. Algeo about his qualifications to oversee the operation of the National Lottery and asked for details of the conduct of the drawing. Mr Algeo announced that he previously worked for the gaming company Paddy Power.
Finance committee chairman John McGuinness said the lottery operator appeared to be benefiting from the unclaimed prize money and asked for a full breakdown of it Winnings not won in recent years.
Mr Algeo said unclaimed prizes in 2020 amounted to 17 million euros; € 19 million in 2019; € 19 million in 2018; € 16 million in 2017; 16 million euros in 2016 and 20 million euros in 2015.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín said the system of the national lottery was « broken » and claimed that it « did not happen by accident ».
Mr Tóibín said adding extra balls to the draw made it more difficult for players to win. The Meath West TD took an exception to Mr Algeo when he said he could not provide a breakdown of his company’s monthly sales for commercial reasons.
Mr Tóibín asked who the National Lottery was competing with and Mr Alego said, “Anyone who competes for available household spending « .
Sinn Féin TD Mairead Farrell said the » privatization « of the National Lottery will » always reduce the number of winners and increase the number of losers « .
Interviewed Fine Gael TD Neale Richmond Mr Alego on what he believed was an increase in advertising from Premier Lotteries as questions were raised that the jackpot was not won by Mr Durkan for six months. The lottery boss said the company’s ad spend varies from week to week.
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