How €238 Million Vanishes from Retail—The Shocking Impact of Lottery Betting You Can’t Afford to Ignore
Ever wondered how something as seemingly harmless as lottery betting could quietly siphon off a staggering €238 million a year from Ireland’s National Lottery? It might sound like a twist in a financial thriller, but this is real—and it’s shaking the foundations of funding for crucial community programs across the nation. Unlike 25 other EU countries that have put their foot down on lottery betting in bookmakers, Ireland remains an outlier, inadvertently allowing revenue—and with it, vital support for local sports clubs, youth centers, and arts initiatives—to slip through its fingers. As the National Lottery’s CEO, Cian Murphy, eloquently puts it, this isn’t just about numbers; it’s about preserving an ecosystem that sustains thousands of jobs and millions of euros in good causes yearly. So, what happens when a State asset designed to empower communities and drive economic output faces such erosion? It’s time the government steps in before the stakes get any higher—and the losses deeper. LEARN MORE
The National Lottery has called on the government to take action after finding that it is losing €238m in revenue annually from lottery betting.
The practice of betting on lottery games in bookmakers is banned in 25 EU countries, but not Ireland, and the National Lottery said it is being “undermined” as a result.
A study carried out by Indecon International Economic and Strategic Consultants found that approximately €289m in potential National Lottery sales has been diverted in 2024.
Furthermore, lottery betting reduced potential funding for good causes by around €81m and potential retail sales of National Lottery products by €238m.
“Lottery betting in bookmakers is a very real risk to this ecosystem, reducing the funds available for local sports clubs, youth centres, arts programmes, and community services,” said Cian Murphy, CEO of the National Lottery.
“As the holder of the operating license, we have a responsibility to protect the National Lottery’s long-term value. We take this responsibility seriously.
“Given the scale of these impacts, we have no option but to request relevant action by the Government on the issue in the interests of preserving the current levels of funding for Good Causes, safeguarding players and ensuring that the National Lottery, as a State asset, will continue to be an attractive investment and provide real returns for the State when the licence is up for renewal in eight years’ time.”
The report, which was commissioned by the National Lottery, also estimates a loss of 1,929 jobs across the retail sector and among Good Causes beneficiaries.
Lottery betting, it is also claimed, resulted in the loss of approximately €12.7m to the Exchequer and to have reduced the value of the National Lottery licence to the state by €118m to €250m.
The National Lottery supported economic output of €2.1bn and 18,318 jobs in 2024 while providing funding of €239.3m to good causes.
Since 2018, the National Lottery has supported over €15bn in economic output and 18,000 jobs.
The research shows that without National Lottery funding, 59% of good cause beneficiaries would be unable to provide their services or could only do so on a reduced basis.
Approximately €700m worth of National Lottery products were sold in 2024, supporting €390m in wider retail sales.
“The National Lottery is hugely important to local retailers. Not only does it help to generate footfall into the shops, but it makes a major contribution in their local communities,” said Tara Buckley, director general of the Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association.
“Retailers can see the real difference that Good Causes funding makes to clubs and organisations, usually volunteer led, within their local areas.
“It is important that the Government acts now to protect Good Causes funding and to prevent the National Lottery being increasingly undermined by lottery betting. Ireland should stop being an outlier in Europe and move now to ban lottery betting.”
Photo: The offices of the National Lottery on Abbey Street, Dublin, Ireland. (Pic: File)
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