GAA, football, and community sports clubs across Ireland are reporting record engagement and jackpot wins through a new fundraising model that removes financial risk and improves long-term revenue from club lotteries.
Club Lotto Jackpots, an Irish-owned company, is helping clubs modernise their traditional weekly fundraising draws by using prize cover to enable larger jackpots without the need to self-fund or build up prize money gradually over time.
The result is higher player participation, better returns for clubs, and a more stable source of income.
Recent wins by Lavey GAA in Cavan and Claregalway GAA in Galway have drawn attention to the model’s impact.
Lavey paid out a €20,000 jackpot earlier in June, while Claregalway had a €15,000 winner last week. In both cases, the clubs were able to immediately reset their jackpots at the same high value the following week — something that would be difficult under a traditional self-funded approach.
Transformed
“It has transformed our club lotto,” said Marie Glennon, Secretary of Lavey GAA.
“We used to build up small jackpots over time, then pay out and start again — it was frustrating. Now we have a consistent large jackpot every week, more players, and significantly more revenue. Best of all, there’s no risk.”
At the core of the system is a prize cover model, which enables clubs to offer large jackpots from the outset without needing to build slowly by accumulating funds off a low jackpot in the early stages.
Under the arrangement, clubs pay a fixed cost per lotto line, which includes cover for the jackpot.
If a player wins, Club Lotto Jackpots pays the prize, not the club.
The company collaborates with several lotto platform providers, including fellow Sport for Business members Clubforce and Clubspot.
Jackpot Power
Brian Farrell, founder of Club Lotto Jackpots, says the approach gives clubs what he calls “Jackpot Power.”
“Bigger jackpots drive more lotto lines sold, and that means more revenue for club development,” he explained. “Clubs no longer have to worry about having a winner wipe out their profits for the year. We take on the risk, and they keep the income.”
He believes the traditional fundraising model — where clubs manage jackpots themselves — is no longer sustainable in today’s environment.
“How can it still be OK in 2025 for a club to lose money because of a winner or two? There’s a smarter way to do this. Clubs like Lavey and Claregalway are already seeing the benefits.”
Club Lotto Jackpots operates as an agent of PIMS-SCA, a global leader in prize coverage and promotional risk management. The model is commonly used by major brands, lotteries, and professional sports organisations worldwide — and now, it’s being adapted for use by grassroots clubs across Ireland.
Consistent Income
The prize cover system not only offers financial protection but also provides clubs with predictability. Instead of relying on chance or small-scale wins, clubs can plan their finances around consistent income from their lotto.
Farrell believes club lottos remain one of the most powerful tools for community fundraising.
“Lotto is accessible, fun, and deeply local. People know where their money is going — to support the teams, facilities, and volunteers in their own area. When there’s a win, the whole community shares in it.”
The company is now working with a growing number of GAA, soccer, and multi-sport clubs across the country. Its message is clear: fundraising can be modern, sustainable, and risk-free.
“Whether you’re a rural GAA team or a large urban club, this model gives you full control over your lotto — and guarantees income without the uncertainty,” Farrell said.
You can find out more about the Club Lotto Jackpots service here.
The potential of a sporting body providing the service across all of its clubs could be a game changer for local fundraising.
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