Cork People have won €17m on Winning Streak TV gameshow since it began 28 years ago

23 February 2018
By Mary Bermingham
mary@TheCork.ie

Winning Streak Presenters Marty Whelan and Sinead Kennedy Pic: Mac Innes Photography.

More than €168 million has been won by players on the iconic Winning Streak game show on RTE One since it first launched more than 28 years ago, figures released today by the National Lottery reveal. Over the 28 years, 574 players from Co Cork have taken part in the game show, winning a total of €17,619,767. 

The popular programme, one of Europe’s longest-running game shows, is celebrating its 1,000^th episode this Saturday (February 24^th) and has featured 5,925 players since it first aired on September

An analysis of winnings over the 28 seasons of the programme shows the luckiest counties by appearances (with Dublin no. 1), and by highest average prize per player (with Kilkenny at no. 1).

The top five luckiest counties by appearances are:

1. Dublin – 1,044 players winning a combined €29,139,734.
2. Cork – 573 players winning a combined €17,619,767
3. Galway – 346 Winning Streak players winning a combined €9,336,018
4. Donegal – 283 players winning a combined €7,421,147
5. Limerick – 266 players winning a combined €7,956,136.

(Full county by county breakdown below)

The top five luckiest counties by highest average prize per player:

1. Kilkenny – average win of €34,530 per player
2. Wicklow – average win of €33,030 per player
3. Cork – average win of €30,750 per player
4. Leitrim – average win of €30,607 per player
5. Westmeath – average win of €30,395 per player

RTÉ’s dynamic duo of Marty Whelan and Cork’s Sinead Kennedy have been presenting the show together since 2013, with Marty presenting since 2009.

Speaking ahead of the 1,000^th episode of Winning Streak this Saturday, Marty Whelan said: “1,000 shows is such an impressive feat but a true testament to how the format of Winning Streak works. It is reality TV, before reality TV existed, and to get to know each of the five players every week while guiding them through the games and watching them win thousands of euros is fascinating. It has been an honour to have played a part in the success of the show which has been a Saturday evening staple in households across Ireland for almost three decades.”

Entering her fifth series on Winning Streak, Sinead Kennedy said: “My favourite part of the show is getting to know each contestant over the week leading up to the show, first by having a conversation or two over the phone, and then meeting them in person. Even though the show is only on for one hour, in that hour I think that the viewers also get to know five players on screen and that is what makes the show so successful.”

National Lottery CEO, Dermot Griffin, said: “Winning Streak is unique and there is nothing else like it around the world. The show is a very important and treasured part of the National Lottery “family”. Part of its success is the fact it reaches into every community in Ireland. Over the years we have had players from every County who bring with them supporters to RTE every week to celebrate. This inclusiveness is part of the success of the show and why it has sustained over so many years.”

The National Lottery or ‘Lotto’ is the umbrella brand for Winning Streak. The enterprise is viewed as a form of Entertainment. Despite the use of the words ‘play’ instead of ‘bet’ or ‘gamble’ one must remember that it is a form of gambling, as indicated by the fact that players must be 18 years or older.

Facts & Figures

• One of Europe’s Longest Running game shows
• Winning Streak is in its 28^thyear and 28^th season
• Show has featured 5,925 players in total
• Those players have shared €168 million between them
• Almost €2.5 million won in last season of Winning Streak
• In this current season of WS, more than €2.6 million has been won
• First episode aired on 21^stSeptember 1990
• 1 in 1.86 Winning Streak scratch cards have a cash prize or 3-star entry for TV show

Most Winning Streak Appearances Per County

Average Prize per County

1. Kilkenny – €34,530
2. Wicklow – €33,030
3. Down – €31,505
4. Derry – €30,751
5. Cork – €30,750
6. Leitrim – €30,607
7. Westmeath – €30,395
8. Sligo – €30,382
9. Wexford – €30,090
10. Carlow- €30,050
11. Monaghan- €30,004
12. Louth – €29,978
13. Limerick – €29,911
14. Mayo – €29,857
15. Meath – €29,521
16. Cavan – €28,955
17. Fermanagh – €28,844
18. Roscommon – €28,793
19. Offaly – €28,206
20. Dublin – €27,912
21. Laois – €27,712
22. Clare – €27,670
23. Kerry – €27,480
24. Galway – €26,983
25. Longford – €26,672
26. Armagh – €26,606
27. Donegal – €26,223
28. Waterford – €25,795
29. Kildare – €25,085
30. Tipperary – €24,536
31. Tyrone – €23,728
32. Antrim – €18,400