Lottery games are legal in Ireland and governed by the National Lottery Act of 2013, which provides the legislative framework for holding a national lottery on behalf of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. The National Lottery began operations in 1987 with scratchcard games, followed by the Lotto game in 1988. Players can participate in three types of drawing games including Lotto, EuroMillions, and Daily Million, while the National Lottery also funds televised bingo and game shows (1).
The 2013 Act was established to facilitate the sale of the National Lottery License to a third party, driven by financial hardships experienced by the Republic of Ireland. This legislation eliminated restrictions on interactive gambling to foster the online sale of lottery tickets, with a portion of proceeds used to assist in building a national children's hospital. The Office of the Regulator of the National Lottery was also established under this Act to oversee operations (2).
"The law eliminated restrictions on interactive gambling in order to foster the online sale of lottery tickets."
Most lotteries in Ireland require a license, except for the National Lottery which operates under separate control. Recent amendments to the Gaming and Lotteries Act of 1956 have raised the legal gambling age from 16 to 18 and increased prize pot limits for local lotteries. Lotteries of up to €5,000 require a permit from a Garda superintendent while those with prizes up to €30,000 need a District Court license (1).
Source:
https://www.legalgamblingireland.com/laws/
https://www.lottery.ie/legal
Last updated: 16-10-2025 Disclaimer: This article does not provide legal advice. If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney directly.
