I just needed a 13 to win the Lotto - and got 14

Ballybunion-born actor Richard Wall shot to national prominence on the Winning Streak lottery gameshow for sporting a fulsome horseshoe moustache some years ago. At the time, he was “in character” as a tough 70s cop in IFTA-nominated Irish film Anton – but the gameshow’s viewers didn’t know that and his anachronistic moustache inspired a

national inquiry in the media. Richard tells us about his Lotto highs and lows over the years, including getting five numbers right and as close as he possibly could to a life-changing sixth. Richard’s television credits include TG4 series Marú and Saor Sinn ó Olc', a bilingual drama series and also 6 Degrees  on BBC Television. Richard is currently appearing in a free-to-air lockdown-inspired online video available on Youtube - called Decameraon.

What was your biggest National Lottery win?

 I won €47,000 on Winning Streak (the National Lottery gameshow where scratch-card winners spin a roulette wheel.)

Ever come close to a bigger win? I’ve been close to The Big One a few times. I had five numbers in Lotto Plus a while back. My sixth was the number 13 - and 14 came up as the sixth winning number. I won €500 but it felt more like I lost €495,500.

And, the other times?

Yep, I also won €1500 on Euromillions for getting five numbers plus two stars, and would have been delighted except I was just one number away from the jackpot of €100m. I also would’ve been much better off to the tune of a few hundred thousand by getting 5 main numbers and no stars - than 4&2.

Aaaarrrggghhhh! Such are the margins between untold wealth and crushing disappointment in lotteries. What about the bookies would you play there? I play (lottery) numbers in the bookies every couple of weeks and had 4 numbers recently and received €3800 as I included the bonus ball. The odds without the bonus ball are 7200/1 but my fourth number was the bonus ball so it’s lucky I didn’t get greedy.  Four numbers in the actual Lotto gets you around €20. 

How do you rate their odds on the Lotto?

But the thing with Paddypower etc is that the odds can seem a little more attractive than they really are.

If you choose 2 numbers in the Euromillions at 100/1 you have to get 2 from 2 right. Whereas in the actual Euromillions you get 5 chances to get those same 2, albeit they’re random.  It’s still better in the bookies but set up to appear much more attractive.

So, advantage Paddy Power in the bookies versus Lotto debate. Are you still trying for that elusive big prize in the Lotto itself?

Yes but I don’t do it too much any more.

First paid job?

As a caddy in ballybunion. I used to average around £10 a bag

as an 8 year old. The golf bags were as big as myself and I’m  sure it’d be illegal now, but with the money I gathered that summer in the mid 80’s I could have probably bought a house.

Ever been scammed?

No but I came across a car for sale online that was obviously a scam. I got a few days of amusement out of it by playing them along. In the end I said I had decided to buy a Lamborghini instead. They said they had a Lamborghini. Then I told them I had already spent the €250k elsewhere and thanks for all their help.

Best investment?

A First Edition of Live and Let Die by Ian Fleming. I bought it for a fiver in a second-hand book shop and it sold for over a thousand times it’s original price.

And worst?

A drone that cost €700 and flew away on the first flight never to be seen again.