Lottery raises prices and prizes

A lotto price and prize restructuring, which will see the cost of the minimum Lotto play increase by 50 per cent to £1.50 and the minimum jackpot rise to £1 million, was strongly criticised by politicians and others yesterday.

The Labour Party TD, Mr Tommy Broughan, said the move was "scandalous" and would have the greatest impact on low-income families. The Democratic Left TD, Mr Eamon Gilmore, said it was time the National Lottery became publicly accountable.

The restructuring comes into effect from September 26th. The price of playing a single Lotto panel will increase from 50p to 75p, making the minimum play £1.50, up from £1, while the minimum Lotto jackpot will be doubled from £500,000 to £1 million. There will also be a new Match Four bonus prize of £100.

All other prizes will increase by 50 per cent. Match Five (plus bonus) winners will receive £7,500 - up from £5,000; Match Five winners will get an average £840 - up from £560; Match Four winners will get £35 - up from £23 and Match Three (plus bonus) winners will receive £15, an increase of £5.

The National Lottery's director, Mr Ray Bates, defended the price and prize increases as necessary "to keep the game exciting and raise more money for beneficiary projects.

"It costs more to buy dreams today than it did 10 years ago when Lotto first started." The Independent TD for Dublin Central, Mr Tony Gregory, urged the Lottery to reconsider the "retrograde" increase.

Instead of a minimum £1 million jackpot, the Lottery should instead increase the number of prizes for draws, the Fianna Fail TD, Mr John Moloney, said.

The Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed said the move would encourage people to spend more money. "At the end of the day, it is the people who have less who will suffer," a spokeswoman said.

Mr John Maguire, head of Rehab Lotteries, said the Lotto restructuring distorted competition and put the National Lottery in a better position.