There needs to be an urgent “audit and investigation of the National Lottery draw” as the current jackpot seems to be going on forever, a Fine Gael TD says.
Bernard Durkan says the audit is needed as there hasn't been a winner of the top lotto jackpot in almost six months.
He also wants to see fewer numbers in the draw to make it "more winnable".
The top prize was last won on June 6th, and has since rolled over 46 times.
The jackpot reached a record €19 million in late September, and under Lotto rules will remain capped at that level until it’s won.
For now, the big prize remains unwon - and Deputy Durkan is now set to write to the Public Expenditure Minister to voice his concerns over the lack of winners.
He said: “It’s been almost six months since it was won. This didn’t happen in Ronan Collins’ day. The jackpot has been stuck on €19m since September. What’s going on?”
Speaking on Lunchtime Live, Deputy Durkan said he has heard from a number of constituents concerned that it seems to be "ongoing forever".
He said: “That the lottery main prize is being carried over week after week and month after month.
“It may be only a coincidence - something that would normally happen in the course of a draw. But the National Lottery is based on legislation… and it’s important that the public interest and confidence is retained at all times.
“We need to be absolutely certain about the integrity of the process.”
He acknowledges that rollovers of this magnitude do happen, but it’s important to look into the process to ensure there’s no “glitch in the system”.
Deputy Durkan noted that the game changed several years ago with the addition of more balls to the draw - leading to even lower odds of a player winning the jackpot.
He said: “Roughly speaking, the chances were two million to one to winning… they’re now up to 10.7 million to one, or thereabouts. That’s quite a difference.”
He argued if the public loses confidence in the lottery then there would be a need to “recalibrate” the current system.
Brendan Gildea - maths teacher and author of the Less Stress, More Success maths books - said he agrees with Deputy Durkan's call for a review.
He argued: “Whoever decided to have 47 numbers was absolutely crazy.
“It’s too big - 10.7 million [in one] is too big. We should have 38 numbers in the Lotto, according to my calculations. 47 is just a bridge too far.
“The chances of winning are so remote.”
