Filmmaker Ross Whitaker introduces his new documentary Beat The Lotto, charting the wild true story that captivated Ireland in 1992; the syndicate helmed by mathematician Stefan Klincewicz and their attempt to cover close to two million combinations and guarantee a rollover Lotto jackpot win.
What I love about this story is how it illuminates a pivotal moment in Ireland's history in a fascinating and highly entertaining way. Beat The Lotto is a heist film, a caper, a thriller that builds to a very specific climax. In the end, do they win the jackpot or not!? But it’s also about the Irish psyche—how we felt, and still feel, about institutions and taking on the system.
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Listen: The team behind Beat The Lotto talk to Miriam O'Callaghan
The idea for Beat The Lotto first sparked over a decade ago at a friend’s wedding. I found myself sitting beside a guy who worked in big data, which felt relatively new at the time. I asked him if there were any interesting stories in the data world that might make a good documentary. He laughed and said, "No, no! But a story you should look at is that time a syndicate tried to buy all the numbers in the lottery!"
Suddenly, I was transported back to 1992. I’d always loved that story. I remembered listening to the radio before school, hearing about a syndicate attempting to buy every possible lottery combination. The sense of intrigue was palpable—a race against time as the lottery scrambled to slow them down.
As I dug deeper, the story revealed itself as a fascinating artifact of a very different Ireland.
For years, I’d carried this enduring impression of the syndicate as an unknowable, shadowy group. I wanted to find the people behind the heist. Who were they? What motivated them? How did they come up with the idea... and did they win? Most importantly, could this story make a compelling film?
As I dug deeper, the story revealed itself as a fascinating artifact of a very different Ireland. It seemed like something that could only have happened at that time, in that place.
By now, we’re all a bit tired of hearing how grim the '80s and early '90s were in Ireland. But this story approaches that era from a fresh angle, tapping into the Irish psyche pre-boom and exploring how we’ve changed as a nation.
Ireland's history in a fascinating and highly entertaining way.'
What struck me when looking at the archives was how divided the country was over the syndicate’s efforts. On one hand, there was national pride in the Lotto—a new institution and a phenomenal success. On the other, there was a certain roguish admiration for the idea that systems exist to be beaten.
It didn’t take long to track down Stefan Klincewicz, the charming Cork mathematician who masterminded the scheme. From there, we located other syndicate members, some spread across the country. Far from being dark and shadowy, they turned out to be a fun, diverse bunch who, with a little persuasion, were eager to tell their story.
They spoke about how the plan took over a year to prepare, with around two million lottery squares filled out by hand. They described being recruited by a persuasive pitch that explained how a Lotto profit was guaranteed on weekends with certain special offers. They recalled the buzz of the build-up and the excitement of executing the plan. And, of course, they shared how—despite all the planning—not everything went smoothly!
Initially, I’d hoped to tell the story from both sides, including interviews with former Lotto representatives like Ray Bates, the National Lottery’s former director. Ray was a brilliant public servant who designed a fantastic, clockwork-precise lottery game and became its warm, likeable public face. Unfortunately, that two-pronged approach didn’t pan out. The folks at the Lotto didn’t remember the episode all that fondly.
So, the focus became solely the syndicate—diving deep into the inner workings of this remarkable caper, as told by the people who lived it. I wanted the film to feel modern but not too modern; to capture the essence of the 90s without feeling dated.
We shot much of the film during lockdown, which forced us to keep things simple. But I think that worked in our favor—lending an understated feel that draws the audience in and holds them there, watching a meticulously planned heist with all the twists and turns that make for a great movie.
So, do they win the jackpot in the end? Come along to see the film and find out!
Beat The Lotto is released in cinemas nationwide from July 4th
