Latest news with #BeattheLotto
Metro
17 hours ago
- Business
- Metro
Man who took on the Lotto and won reveals what he'd do with £208,000,000 jackpot
Paddy Kehoe is still recognised on the streets as the man who changed the way Ireland's lottery system is run. In 1992, the now 78-year-old formed a group with mathematician Stefan Klincewicz to win the £1 million euro jackpot. But this jackpot, which saw a fellow Irish citizen claim £208 million, he forgot to buy one. Sitting across from me in an upscale Dublin hotel, Paddy said: 'I don't do the Irish lotto anymore, it's not as exciting anymore.' The year Paddy won, there were only 36 numbers in the draw, making it possible to buy every single combination and make a decent profit after. It was a flaw in the system, but it a flaw ready to be exploited by anyone who was brave enough to do it first. But Paddy, who is well-known in the world of horse-racing, is still bitter about how the plan unfolded. He explained to Metro: 'We came to the conclusion that we can cover every possible combination for less than one million euros, but we didn't get what was owed to us.' Unsurprisingly the group won the jackpot, but it was announced the jackpot would be shared with two others who had also bought a winning ticket, reducing the syndicate's share to £568,682. In the end, Paddy's profit sat at a modest £40,000 which he said 'is nothing in the world of gambling'. He said: 'That wouldn't even get you a deposit on a house these days. I still have my suspicions that there was not a third winner.' Paddy lost most of his lottery winnings in the 2008 financial crash, and continues to lose money 'every time Trump opens his mouth'. And if he won the full jackpot today? It would go back into investments and gambling. Scowling, he said: 'If I were to win that money, I would try and get my stock values back up to where they were, but Trump is the worst person to have ever been born. He just makes my shares plummet.' Paddy is now urging the winner of this week's £208 million to claim the money as soon as they possibly can. 'I nearly took the National Lottery to court after they wouldn't hand over the money quick enough,' he said. 'They need to get on it and get it in their accounts. You never know what's going to happen, your house could burn down tomorrow so they need to sort it.' Although Kehoe's plan didn't play out the way he wanted to, it changed the way to lottery was ran after he eventually collected his money. In the fall out the numbers in the draw were quickly raised and today sits at 47. More Trending No one can possible replicate his scheme now after the jackpot was capped at 19 millions euros as well, but a film called Beat the Lotto is being released on the group's plan. He said: 'My young nieces and nephews ask me about my Lotto winnings, and I still get people recognise me. Since his lotto wins and his financial highs and lows, Paddy still works in his suspended ceilings business which he started up 50 years ago. 'I should have given up a long time ago,' he said. 'But it's good to keep busy.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Biker dad will retire and buy wife a hot tub after £3,900,000 Lottery win MORE: EuroMillions players urged to check tickets with £208,000,000 jackpot unclaimed MORE: Scaffolder wins £11,500,000 million from a £1.50 bet
RTÉ News
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Beat the Lotto coming to cinemas next month
Beat the Lotto, the award-winning documentary from director Ross Whitaker (Between Land and Sea, Katie), will be released in cinemas on Friday 4 July. The film "charts the 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". Describing his film as "a reflection of Ireland in the 1990s", director Whitaker said: "We wanted to make a film that encouraged people to reflect on what side they take - are they in favour of the syndicate who are trying to beat the system, or the trusted national institution that was a very positive force in 1990s Ireland? "It was enjoyable to build the film to an exciting climax and for the audience to wonder who would win out in the end." Beat the Lotto received its world premiere at the Dublin International Film Festival in February 2025, winning the Best Irish Film award from the Dublin Film Critics' Circle.
