Big surge in Lotto ticket sales ahead of €10m record jackpot

Lottery fever is sweeping the nation and punters have been eagerly snapping up tickets ahead of tonight's record-breaking €10 million jackpot draw.

Ticket agents have reported an increase in the number of people playing Lotto and the number of lines being purchased.

Joe Tierney, a Lotto agent from Navan, Co Meath, says the volume of ticket sales in recent days has been phenomenal.

"Talk of a large jackpot creates a buzz and a curiosity around the lottery and people who don't normally buy tickets do so for fear of missing out on their chance," he said.

"A lot of people seem to be buying an extra line and co-workers seem to be pooling their money together and buying tickets too."

The lottery jackpot has not been won since June 20th and has rolled over each Wednesday and Saturday since, building up to tonight's massive jackpot.

Ticket sales for tonight's draw will cease at 7.45pm before the draw, which is now on its 10th rollover, is made live on RTÉ 1 at 8.05pm.

Those looking to be in with a chance of scooping the top prize have been urged to get their tickets early.

The majority of lottery tickets are purchased in the two hours before the draw and long queues often lead to punters missing the deadline.

The highest jackpot so far this year was on January 31st when a Kilkenny couple scooped more than €8.5 million after buying a "quickpick" ticket.

The game has made 315 millionaires since it began in 1988, about 20 of those winning their jackpots this year.

The previous highest Lotto jackpot was €9.5 million, which came on November 21st, 1996. It was shared by two tickets, in Cavan and Meath.