Irish Sweepstakes

Irish Sweepstakes, in full Irish Hospitals’ Sweepstakes, one of the largest lotteries promoted internationally; it was authorized by the Irish government in 1930 to benefit Irish hospitals. A private trust was formed to run the lottery and market tickets throughout the world. During the 57 years of its existence, the contest derived more revenue from the United States than from any other country, although all the tickets sold there were smuggled in and sold illegally. There was much counterfeiting of tickets, seldom detectable because the purchaser had no further interest in the ticket if it was not a winning ticket.

Ticket stubs were returned to Ireland to be drawn from a barrel and matched with the name of a horse running in a major Irish or British race. The largest prizes went to ticket holders whose horses won, placed, or showed. A state lottery replaced the Irish Sweepstakes in 1987.