The increased cost of a ticket and the “litany of problems” faced by the National Lottery over the past several months are a result of its privatisation by the Government, according to Fianna Fáil spokesman on Public Expenditure Seán Fleming.
Contracts for the €405 million sale of the National Lottery to Premier Lotteries Ireland were signed in February 2014, placing the franchise in private hands for the first time in its history.
The cost of playing the lotto is to rise for the first time in nine years as part of a series of changes being introduced by the new operator.
From next month, the price of a minimum two-line play will increase from €3 to €4. The changes will also see two new numbers added to the play-slip for a 47-number format, significantly lowering players’ chances of winning the jackpot.
‘Serious questions’
Mr Fleming said the Government had “serious questions to answer” in relation to its decision to sell off the brand.
“Since the operation of the National Lottery was handed over to Premier Lotteries Ireland last year, we have seen a litany of problems including the first ever cancellation of a Lotto draw after machines broke down in February this year,” he said.
“Now we see price increases being brought in, while the chances of winning the main prize are being reduced.
“The main concern is that it will be the same number of people paying more. Really they should be trying to get more people to play rather than extracting more money out of the same few.
Premier Lotteries Ireland has said the changes will improve the odds of winning a prize from one in 42 to one in 28, but Mr Fleming said prizes would not be increased “at the top end”.
More scratch card prizes
“They talk about the extra prizes and the odds, but when you play the lotto, invariably the prize is a scratch card,” he said. “So, it’s easy saying they’re going to have more prizes, but it won’t be at the top end.”
Independent TD for Roscommon-South Leitrim Michael Fitzmaurice said the price increase for tickets was “a clear indication of what can happen when State assets are sold off”.
