EuroMillions Lottery draws in nine countries

Tickets for a new European lottery with potential weekly jackpots in excess of €50 million go on sale in Lotto outlets tomorrow.

The EuroMillions Lottery will operate in nine countries, with a weekly televised draw broadcast from Paris every Friday night.

Irish gamblers will be in with a chance to win jackpots of from €10 million to more than €50 million, by purchasing a €2 ticket.

EuroMillions will be run through the National Lottery in Ireland and is similar to the "Lotto" game. Players enter by completing up to five panels on a playslip available at all Lotto agents. Each panel takes five numbers between one and 50 and two "Lucky Star" numbers from one to nine. A "quick pick" option is also available.

The odds of winning a cash prize are one in 24, while the odds of hitting the jackpot are 76 million to one, according to the National Lottery.

Ireland is one of six countries - the others are Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Switzerland and Austria - to join the lottery this week. It is already running in Britain, France and Spain. The first draw will be televised next Friday on TG4 at 9.25 p.m.