Lottery sales increased for the fourth year in a row to €805 million, although that figure was slightly held back by the lack of rolling jackpots.

More millionaires were created than ever, with 24 added in 2018, and more than €453 million in prizes paid out.

The franchise, which is run by Canadian-owned operator Premier Lotteries Ireland (PLI), has grown the business 17 per cent since privatisation, and raised €860 million for good causes, including €228.5 million last year.

Online sales grew 20 per cent and now represent 7.7 per cent of the total at €61.8 million with about 102,000 people per month participating in the various games online.

Pádraig Ó Ríordáin, chairman of PLI, said the company has a good mix of retail and online and is “at the level we want to be at” in terms of its retail presence which comprises post offices and all major retailers.

The National Lottery was freed to trade online as part of the 2014 privatisation process, which resulted in the business being sold to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, which owns PLI.