Irish Prize Bonds
Frequently Asked Questions
How often are Prize Bond draws held?
Every week. On the last draw of each calendar month, an additional €500,000 jackpot prize is included alongside the usual weekly prizes.
What are my odds of winning?
Odds depend on how many bonds you hold and how many bonds are in circulation overall. Irish press coverage has put the odds of the top weekly prize at roughly 1 in 141 million for the €25 minimum holding, improving with a larger holding. See our odds calculator for an estimate, and our How It Works page for more context.
Are Prize Bond winnings taxed?
No. Winnings are exempt from DIRT, Income Tax, PRSI and Capital Gains Tax — what you win is yours in full.
What's the minimum and maximum I can hold?
Minimum €25 (4 bonds). Maximum €250,000 (40,000 bonds) per person.
Is there a minimum holding period before I can cash in new bonds?
Yes. Newly purchased Prize Bonds must be held for a minimum of 3 months (90 days) before they can be cashed in / repaid. This restriction is about cashing in only — it does not delay when a bond first becomes eligible for a draw. Bonds you receive automatically through reinvested prize winnings are exempt from this waiting period. See our How to Buy and Cash In guide for the full process.
How do I check if my numbers have won?
Use our Check Numbers tool for up to 5 numbers at a time, or Power Search to paste a longer list. You can also browse every draw individually in the Draw Archive.
Can I check old Prize Bonds online?
Yes. Old Prize Bonds stay valid indefinitely and remain in every draw until they are cashed in, and unclaimed prizes never expire. Enter any bond number — however old — into our Check Numbers tool and it is matched against every published draw we hold. If you have lost the certificate for an old holding, the official statesavings.ie site can trace it from your name and address.
What happens to Prize Bonds when the holder dies?
They become part of the estate, the same as a bank account or shares — they don't automatically pass to next of kin or get cashed in on their own. Whoever is handling the estate needs to notify Ireland State Savings, after which the bonds can be transferred into the inheritor's name or cashed in. See our Unclaimed and Inherited Prize Bonds guide for the full process, including when a Grant of Probate is required.
Can I buy Prize Bonds for a child?
Yes — Prize Bonds are a common gift for children, since the capital stays fully safe and every bond keeps entering the weekly draw for as long as it's held. A parent or guardian handles the purchase and any transactions until the child turns 18, at which point full control transfers automatically. See Buying Prize Bonds for a Child for the documents needed and how it works in practice.
How soon after a draw are the results published here?
Prize Bond draws take place each week and the official results are released shortly afterwards. We import each new draw as soon as the official figures are available, usually within a day, so the latest results page and number checker stay current. There is no minute-by-minute live feed — draw results are a single published set, not a rolling broadcast.
How far back do your results go?
We're continuously building a historical archive of draw results. Check the Draw Archive for the current range of draws covered.
Are Irish Prize Bonds the same as UK Premium Bonds?
They are the same idea run by different countries. Irish Prize Bonds are issued by the State through the NTMA and Prize Bond Company; UK Premium Bonds are issued by NS&I. This site only covers the Irish scheme — draw dates, prize tiers, tax treatment and the checker here all relate to Irish Prize Bonds, not UK Premium Bonds.
How long have Prize Bonds existed?
Since 1957 — one of the longest-running Irish state savings products. See our History page for the full timeline.
How is a Prize Bond number formatted?
Each individual bond has a unique number: a short letter prefix (2-3 letters) followed by a six-digit number, e.g. AHU176759. If you hold multiple bonds, each has its own separate number and separate chance to win.
How do I get paid if I win?
Prizes are paid directly to a registered bank account, or automatically reinvested into new Prize Bonds if you haven't registered bank details.
Is this the official Prize Bonds website?
No. This is an independent, unofficial results checker, not affiliated with An Post, the Prize Bond Company, or the NTMA. To buy bonds, cash them in, or claim a prize, use the official site at statesavings.ie.