Lotto clarifies ‘illusion’ after ball appeared to have two numbers

The National Lottery has issued a statement assuring all players of the integrity of Saturday night's Lotto Plus One draw, after one ball appeared to have two different numbers on it.

The second ball to come out of the draw was the number 38, however due to the reflection of light on the lotto ball, it appeared to show the number 33 and 38.

A spokesman for the National Lottery said “the National Lottery would like to assure its players of the integrity of Saturday night’s Lotto Plus One draw”.

In a statement released on Sunday the spokesman said “a brief reflection of light during filming caused an illusion and some players to think there were two numbers on ball 38. This was not the case”.

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“The weight and size of all lotto balls, and the numbers, are strictly checked in advance of each draw. This process, as well as the draw itself, is independently observed by our auditors KPMG,” he said.

The disputed number 38 ball was the second ball to come out of the draw. However when the fourth ball was drawn it knocked the 38 ball into a line of light that gave the impression it was also numbered 33. The sheen from the light on the glass tube the winning lotto balls were held in created the effect.

The winning lotto numbers in the Plus One draw were 1, 38, 45, 4, 29, 46 with the bonus number 26. The top prize in the Lotto Plus One draw was €500,000.