The successor to Fame and Fortune (1996–2006) and The Trump Card (2007), The Big Money Game was first broadcast on Saturday, 14 June 2008.
As with Winning Streak, production costs for the programme are paid by RTÉ and the prize money is funded by the Irish National Lottery.
Entry to the game show is based on getting three "lucky stars" on associated National Lottery scratchcards and submitting them for a televised drawing.
Within a few weeks, Ciarán Hyland, the Wicklow Gaelic footballer, had won €124,000 during an appearance on the game show.
On 17 August 2013 edition, Ormond's wife Pippa (née O'Connor) stood in for Sinead Kennedy, who was attending her close friend's wedding.