Cap on the Number of Lotto Roll Overs a Must. – Tóibín
Aontú leader, Meath West TD and Oireachtas Finance Committee member Peadar Tóibín has stated;
“The purpose of the National Lotter is to have a regular draw for a large prize. That’s not happening at the moment. Its clear that the system is broken. This did not happened by accident. 11 more balls have been added into the game since 1988 bringing the total up to 47. This has made this 6 month gap in the winning of the jackpot far more likely. Some feels that this normally benefits the profitability of the company running the Lotto as larger jackpots grab more attention and sell more tickets. However its clear now that the many within the public are coming to the view that the jackpot is unwinnable. This perception will effect a downward pressure on the draw”.
“The National Lotter is a billion-euro industry which pays out significant money to good causes around the country. Its also one from which significant profits have been made. Its important to remember that the operation of the National Lottery is on licence from the state. As such the state has a responsibility that it achieves its initial objective of a regular large jackpot win. We are calling on the government to ensure that there is a cap to the number of times the jackpot rolls over. There is a number of ways this could be achieved. The number of balls in the draw could be reduced or after a certain number of draws the prize could be won by those who have achieved 5 correct numbers”.