Euro Millions Lottery Sparks Buying Frenzy With $224 Million Top Prize

Feb 2, 2006, 9:38 am (46 comments)

Euro Millions

EuroMillions, the lottery held in nine European countries, is about to eclipse Powerball in the U.S. as the world's single biggest cash prize.

The payoff in tomorrow's draw swelled to 183 million euros ($224 million) after no winners emerged from any lottery since Nov. 11. The jackpot is luring would-be millionaires from across the region.

"I'll buy a desert island somewhere warm, lots of things for my family, and give some to charity," said Martha Dacosta, 25, a nurse's aide who bought two tickets at a kiosk on Paris's Boulevard des Capucines, named after a 17th century convent. "If I don't win? I'm signed up for a training program to work in passenger services, hopefully for British Airways."

EuroMillions was created two years ago by the lotteries of France, the U.K. and Spain to increase revenue by creating bigger paydays. Revenue at the three companies that run the service has risen over the past two years, and the growth prompted Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland and Portugal to join the game in October 2004.

"The huge prize, no matter how little the chance there is to win it, is what drives dreams and ticket purchases," said Simon Holliday, a partner at West Bromwich, England-based Global Betting & Gaming Consultants. The odds of winning the jackpot are one in 76 million. "This could be when it really captures the public's attention."

Soaring Sales

Sales at Francaise des Jeux, the French state-controlled operator, rose 4.3 percent last year to 8.9 billion euros, with most of that gain coming from EuroMillions sales. Revenue from that game rose to 869 million euros last year from 587 million euros in 2004. This year, sales have soared.

"Last Friday I sold 7,000 euros worth of EuroMillions tickets, that's about five times the normal level," said Christelle Bellet, 38, wrapped in a burnt-orange fleece and grey scarf as she doled out tickets in the Boulevard des Capucines kiosk, and bought three herself. Tomorrow she expects sales to equal her total weekly average revenue of 11,500 euros.

Camelot Group Plc, which runs the U.K. lottery, saw its revenue jump as well. "We've had two-and-a-half years of growth now, the longest period in our history," said Ben Rosier, a company spokesman. He said the big prize attracts new players.

"I'd feel left out because loads of people I know are playing it," Pamela Bates, 47, a senior policy adviser at the British Beer and Pub Association, adding that she would quit her job as soon as she found out she had won. "You'd see me running out the door."

Advice for Winners

Dot Renshaw, Camelot's head of player services in the U.K., says she typically arrives at a winner's home or business, makes them a cup of tea, validates the ticket and then drives the winner to one of the lottery company's offices.

Renshaw provides a list of private banks, with most U.K. winners opting for arms of HSBC Holdings Plc, Lloyds TSB Group Plc or Barclays Plc. A bank representative comes to collect the winning check.

"We set up a panel with legal advisers and independent financial advisers so the winners understand the ramifications of what's happened to them," Renshaw said. "We tell them: 'It's important that you don't make any major purchases before seeing the panel and don't start making promises about gifts and don't tie money up until you've seen the panel."'

About 1,000 millionaire winners of U.K. lotteries receive a 24-page glossy quarterly called "Lottery Life" in which they read news about each other and advice columns for their cash.

In most European countries, unlike the U.S., winnings aren't subject to income tax and the money is paid out immediately once the winning ticket is validated.

Powerball Jackpot

Powerball, an association of 30 state lotteries including Arizona, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, has a $180 million jackpot this week. U.S. lotteries are usually paid over a 20-year to 30- year period, or a winner can get immediate cash for only half the prize. Powerball lists the cash payment at $87.2 million this week. U.S. citizens are also subject to income taxes for lottery gains.

Andrew "Jack" Whittaker Jr. of Scott Depot, West Virginia, holds the record for an individual lottery win, getting all the numbers for the Powerball game on Dec. 24, 2002, and taking home a lump sum payment of $170 million, according to Guinness World Records.

In May 2000, Mega Millions, then called the Big Game, had the largest jackpot ever, of $363 million, which translated into a cash payout of $90.3 million for Larry Ross of Shelby Township, Michigan, and the same amount for Joe and Sue Kainz of Tower Lakes, north of Chicago.

At the time, Sue Kainz said her priority was to fix a leak in her roof. Some EuroMillions ticket buyers today have more extravagant dreams.

"I would buy a mountain cabin and a valley in the Alps, so I can go skiing every weekend with my friends, and a nice car like a Maybach" said Patrick Leypold, 25, who runs a massage company in Vienna. Maybach sedans start at about $350,000.

Bloomberg

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dvdiva's avatardvdiva

I know I have my tickets but am not holding my breath that I'm going to win. The prize is the biggest one ever offered so I'm not surprised at sales. I would be shocked at a rollover at this point.

acronym007

Did you buy from Prime Ticket Service? The great thing about this one, NO TAXES. YAHOOOO. LOL.

anonymous77's avataranonymous77

 It goes without saying that winning $220M+ EURO MILLIONS this Friday would be fantastic.

But, in the news, I find some reasons why winning $14M+ UK Lotto 6/49 rollover draw this Saturday would be nice as well. Wink  UK lottery's really good services for the winners - almost everything on it!

 

Good luck to all that play the games!

 

JAG331

"I'd feel left out because loads of people I know are playing it," Pamela Bates, 47, a senior policy adviser at the British Beer and Pub Association, adding that she would quit her job as soon as she found out she had won. "You'd see me running out the door."

Pam has the right idea.  Let's hope no one at the BBPA reads this! 

fxsterling

I've got tickets but lost my passport   

mil92

Well, Euromillions seems to be a much fairer game. Here you get screwed twice - first they don't give you the lump sum that is advertised but about 1/3 of it, then the taxman comes and takes a share. I wonder if an online service will honor the winning ticket though, it's just too tempting...

By the way, what is this supposed to mean?

U.S. citizens are also subject to income taxes for lottery gains.

If a foreigner wins, do they get away without taxes or they don't get any prize at all?

Chewie

"I would buy a mountain cabin and a valley in the Alps, so I can go skiing every weekend with my friends, and a nice car like a Maybach" said Patrick Leypold, 25, who runs a massage company in Vienna. Maybach sedans start at about $350,000.

Much more thoughtful statement then some dumb "Winning millions and millions will not change my lifestyle" statement!  Money ALWAYS changes your life.  Try living on Social Security for three years, and making $60K a year for 20 years!  I see hundreds of thousands driving to and from Pennsyvania and New York City every day.  It is NOT for the fun of sitting on a U.S. Highway for hours!

Todd's avatarTodd

I still can't buy through Prime Ticket Service as cards keep getting declined. Crying

They use Verified by Visa and MasterCard Secure Code, so if you can find a credit card that uses either of those programs, you will definitely get approved.  Try contacting your credit card company to be sure you're enrolled.

But do it quick, because you only have until 9:00 AM tomorrow morning.

allcash!

we are having same problem!!!!!!!!

TheGameGrl's avatarTheGameGrl

Lottery tickets that are administered in the US carry a federal tax. there is no getting around that whether you are a citizen or not. They have higher taxes imposed for foreigners making claims on state and multi state lottery wins.

If memory serves correctly, the euromilllion will only roll so many times before it devies out the pot to lower ticket prize levels if the major pot isnt won. I beleive this is the last play before that occurs. I like that the *odds * are far lower then megamillions or PB.

striper- use a major credit card, like Mastercard,or visa. Some of the best cards that are verisigned approved work best- such as MBNA, BANKONE, CHASE ,CITIBANK and American Express. Bank debit cards wont work.

 

Chewie

Actually, I use a debit card with PTS all the time - at least since they got the system fixed.

Chewie

Well, Euromillions seems to be a much fairer game. Here you get screwed twice - first they don't give you the lump sum that is advertised but about 1/3 of it, then the taxman comes and takes a share. I wonder if an online service will honor the winning ticket though, it's just too tempting...

By the way, what is this supposed to mean?

U.S. citizens are also subject to income taxes for lottery gains.

If a foreigner wins, do they get away without taxes or they don't get any prize at all?

For MegaMillions and Powerball, both annuity and cash value are advertised - and promoted.  The human eye only see's what it wants to see.

 

There is a simple solution to your worrying about not being paid any winnings from an online service.  Don't buy from them.  Walk away.  No chains, no pressure.  Hummm - no winnings either.

 

Income is income!  The IRS calls it income tax because they tax your income.  Why would you think you could increase your income in America, regardless how, and not pay any income taxes?  The IRS has been around a long time, and have pretty much thought of every way they can to get "revenue" for the politicians to spend.  Do you think they would overlook a little thing like a foreign lottery?  Remember, they are the professionals, you are the amateur.   There is only one way to avoid U.S. taxes, permanently live outside of the U.S. and never come back.

 

 

smd173

Plus if you can't live off of $90 Million, you have a serious problem.

The only time being taxed on your lottery winnings would be a problem is if your dream is to own an NFL team. Then Uncle Same is ruining your dream.

dvdiva's avatardvdiva

For those having problems with prime service:

1.Make sure your browser works with java. Check at www.java.com to make sure you have the latest version.

2.Make sure your card supports verified by visa/mastercard. Check with your bank if you are not sure.

3.Make sure the uk national lottery website is up. www.national-lottery.co.uk often when the uk site is down Prime ticket may not work.

4.When you order you should enter your card number and the other number on the pay screen and check all three boxes. You can always enter your card as a new card even if it's not if it fails for some reason.

5.After you order it should kick you out to a pay script and you have to hit continue. If your browser doesn't do this and you just see the declined page on prime ticket try another browser like firefox. www.mozilla.org then make sure java works like in step 1.

6.If it does kick out to a third party, you click continue and then it's declined it should show up on your bank's records and you should call your bank to have the card released so you can spend your money the way you want.

7.Prime ticket fixed the payment problems they had earlier and you can always send them a help message. They responded the same day I was having problems. 

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