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A EuroMillions ticket holder in Munster, Ireland won 250 million Euros, or 205 million pounds, the biggest prize on record yesterday.
How it happened
The winning draw came on Tuesday, June 18, at 9:45 p.m. in Paris, from a ticket holder in Ireland. All EuroMillions winners are anonymous by default, and as of today, the winner hasn't claimed the ticket. It has been revealed, however, that the ticket was purchased at a store, not online.
The winning numbers were 02, 28, 40, 43, and 45, and the additional lucky stars were 03 and 07. The winner matched all the numbers.
Prior to the win last night, the jackpot had rolled over four times. Per EuroMillions rules, the jackpot capped at 250 million Euros on the previous Friday, June 13th draw.
The EuroMillions draw occurs twice a week: Tuesdays and Fridays.
Advice for the winner
While the National Lottery waits for the winner to make their claim, some officials are chiming in with advice.
National Lottery Spokesperson Emma Monaghan spoke with RTE's Morning Ireland:
It's great news for Irish players, we are delighted for the winner. They've now become the highest ever winner of an Irish National Lottery game. So that is some title to hold. If anyone has found they are holding the winning ticket, they should sign the back of it and keep it somewhere safe.
She advised the player to let the win sink in and, if possible, stay calm, even though that might be easier said than done.
The player has 90 days to make their claim, and Lottery USA advises all lottery jackpot winners to consult an accredited financial advisor and an estate and tax attorney.
Must Be Won draw avoided
If a jackpot is capped out in EuroMillions, there can be four subsequent draws at the cap amount. If no one hits the jackpot after four draws at the cap, the grand prize trickles down to the second tier of winners: those who matched all the main numbers and only one of the lucky stars.
Because of the win yesterday, a Must Be Won draw has been avoided, and only one winner took the jackpot.
Historic wins
While Tuesday's win was a record, it ties the EuroMillions jackpot on March 28, 2025, in which an Austrian player also took home 250 million Euros.
The EuroMillions jackpot record has steadily crept up to the current cap over the past five years, beginning with a French winner of 200 million Euros in 2020. A 2023 Austrian winner took home 240 million Euros, while a UK player won 230 million Euros in 2022.
EuroMillions launched in 2004. Since then, there have been 18 jackpot winners from Ireland.
Revenue from EuroMillions is funneled to the nine participating countries. In each country, approximately 20-30% of revenue is given to social causes, including education, arts, and sports. The National Lottery is based in the UK.
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