In the first six months of this year over €5m in cash prizes has been won by prize bond holders, and net sales have gone up by €33m.
The value increase in prizes is over 19% higher than in the same period last year, while prizes actually paid out are up 13% in the period.
Sales increased by over 195%, with net sales to the end of July reaching €50m. Net sales were €16.9m for the same period in 2002.
Michael O'Keeffe, Prize Bond Company chairman said: 'The low interest rate environment is prompting investors to look at alternative ways of investing. Equity markets have also proved to be volatile in recent times. Investors want less risk and no other investment option offers the chance to win tax-free, state-guaranteed, cash prizes of up to €150,000 without losing one's original investment'.
