Barry Ward (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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110. To ask the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform the position regarding any systems put in place systems to ensure the integrity of the National Lottery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16314/25]

Jack Chambers (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The National Lottery was established by statute in 1987 and remains in State ownership to this day. It is currently operated by a private Operator, PLI, under a detailed Licence agreement with the State, and is subject to robust oversight by the independent Regulator of the National Lottery since 2014.

The Regulator’s goal is to ensure the interests of participants and the long-term sustainability and good name of the National Lottery are all protected, whilst raising funds for Good Causes.

The integrity of National Lottery games is safeguarded through strict controls on the steps taken prior to, during, and after a draw takes place, or a scratch card game is launched and closed. All draws are overseen by independent observers, whose appointment must be approved by the Regulator.

A range of controls govern how tickets are sold, prizes paid to winners, how the proceeds of sales are accounted for and how monies for Good Causes are transferred to the State.

The National Lottery gaming system shuts down at 11pm every night and players cannot purchase a Lotto ticket until 7am the next morning. Players may only purchase online after providing photo ID proving they are at least 18 years old. Advertising and promotion of the National Lottery is subject to a strict Code that is actively enforced by the Regulator.

Each week the Regulator’s officials review the amounts allocated to prizes, Good Causes, retailers, and the Operator - in every individual draw, scratch card game, and online instant win game. The Regulator also cross-references this financial information with real-time data from the Operator’s gaming system. The Comptroller and Auditor General audits the National Lottery Fund accounts, which are prepared by the Regulator each year.

More generally, the systems and controls used by the Operator are continually monitored by the independent Regulator for compliance and probity. Officials interrogate a range of regular reports from the Operator, including customer complaints. The Regulator conducts proactive surveillance and reviews, such as mystery shopping exercises and Expert IT assessments of aspects of the Operator’s systems.

The integrity of the National Lottery is demonstrated by the transparency of its operation and regulation. The odds of winning and games rules are available for every game via its website. The Lotto draw is broadcast live on national television since 1988. Any breaches of the Licence have been published by the Regulator, in a timely manner.