Over €615 million worth of prize bonds were sold last year, according to new figures from the Prize Bond Company, which administers prize bonds on behalf of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA) for retail investment customers.
The value of the prize bonds fund reached almost €4.7 billion at the end of last year, an increase of 5.7% on 2021.
This is the highest value in the fund since it was first established in 1957.
In 2022, 237,659 prizes were paid out to customers worth €16m, up 4.7% on the previous year.
The company said over 19% of prize bond sales last year were carried out online, compared to 18% the previous year.
The Post Office remains the primary point of sale, accounting for almost 57% of sales.
"We have worked closely with the NTMA to improve the customer experience. With the introduction of more self-serve online services, customers are now able to see their State Savings holdings, including Prize Bonds, online and to undertake more activity with us using their choice of channel," said Debbie Byrne, Chairperson of the Prize Bond Company.
At the end of last year, unclaimed prizes or prizes not claimed after six months and which have accumulated since the company was established, amounted to €3.38 million.
The Prize Bond Company said unclaimed prizes are held indefinitely until claimed by a bond holder.
It said every prize winner is contacted at the address last registered with the Prize Bond Company.
