National Lottery: harmless fun or gateway to gambling – and do good causes get much money?

I had a call this morning from a gent – he just rang me out of the blue – and he was so, so angry,” says Sharon Byrne, chairperson of the Irish Bookmakers Association. She is referring to a practice that angers the National Lottery: bookmakers allowing people to bet on specific numbers drawn in the national draw. According to Byrne, many people place this type of bet regularly, selecting numbers with personal significance, such as children’s birthdays and wedding anniversaries. The odds offered—typically 33/1 on two out of seven numbers being drawn—give punters a much better chance of winning than the actual lottery. This week, the operators of the National Lottery came out strongly against this practice, arguing it deprives good causes of €81 million in potential revenue and calling for a ban. They note that this practice is not permitted in 25 out of 27 European Union member states. The National Lottery also faces scrutiny over its marketing, which is portrayed as harmless fun but critics argue normalizes gambling among children. Researcher Frank Houghton from Technological University of the Shannon says the National Lottery’s advertising is ubiquitous and its impact on children is a concern, given Ireland’s underage gambling problem. The National Lottery’s revenue breakdown shows 57% goes to prizes, 28% to good causes, 10% to costs and profit, and 5% to retailers. Four percent of prizes go unclaimed, with this money used for marketing. The lottery’s parent company, Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI), was sold to La Française des Jeux (FDJ) in 2017. Since 1987, the lottery has generated nearly €7 billion for causes, with 28% of ticket sales funding good causes in 2024. The National Lottery Fund distributes grants to organizations like drug and alcohol treatment centers and bat rehabilitation groups. Critics argue the lottery’s exemption from the Gambling Regulation Act allows extensive advertising, while bookmakers face stricter rules. The National Lottery’s business model differs from bookmakers, as it guarantees a pot of money, whereas bookmakers could lose money. The National Lottery’s operating loss in 2024 was €5.9 million, but dividends to FDJ International Lotteries were €20 million, with a proposed €10 million in 2025. The bookmakers association claims the National Lottery is growing while their sector shrinks, with PLI’s turnover not dropping despite accusations of cannibalizing their market. The new Gambling Regulatory Authority is set to issue remote betting licenses in July, with retail licenses following later. The debate continues over whether the National Lottery’s practices harm good causes and normalizing gambling, particularly among children.