At the end of every year the big number lotteries want to say goodbye to the old year in an impressive way.
Life in Spain came to a standstill on Dec 22 for the drawing of a US$1.7 billion Christmas lottery. "The Fat One" is billed as the world's richest lottery. Images of the winners, a local soccer team, have been broadcast worldwide.
The huge win in Spain is just one example of the growth of lotteries and the world is taking notice.
In my home of Turkey, even the Turkish Daily News, which isn't known for highlighting lotteries, has turned its attention to what's happening in the lottery circles; the publication recently reported on another a few other "fat ones." First, there was an extensive article on the U.S. Powerball jackpot of US$314.9 million, won last week by a single ticket--a story that's been all over NBC, CNN and many other international media outlets.
Another story in the same edition of the Turkish Daily News focused on Milli Piyango, the Turkish New Years' National Lottery, which printed 23.4 million tickets. The main prize was 8 trillion TL (US$4.85 million) and the total prize money was 42 trillion (US$25.48 million). Even during a severe economic crisis in Turkey, the tickets sold out completely. They were even offered on the black market.
The state lottery of the Netherlands, where I'm originally from, the "Old Year's" lottery drew a top prize of US$10 million and total prize money of US$56 million. According to the Dutch State Lottery, all 4.2 million tickets were sold (at US$25 per ticket).
The Big Picture
The gambling industry, especially in Europe, is on the threshold of a dramatic change. Confronted with the rise of Internet gambling and multinational lotteries, national operators are challenged to raise prizes beyond their capacities. Markets in smaller European countries--Luxembourg, Malta, Iceland, the Baltic countries, the former Yugoslavian countries, Belgium, etc.--have no more future as "stand-alones."
The year 2002 showed the beginning of a new trend, which will give the term "cross-border" a new meaning:
- March 21, 2002 - The Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland commissioned preliminary research on the feasibility of a global lottery as a new innovative source of finance for the United Nations. National lotteries--WLA members--would run the game. The portion of the revenue aimed for global beneficiaries would be managed by an independent fund created by a framework agreement between the UN and national lotteries. The Crisis Management Initiative, an NGO headed by its founder, the ex-president of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari, is conducting the research. Dutch operator Novamedia has also presented itself to UN Secretary General Coffy Anan as a potential operator.
- August 27, 2002 - According to the Kansas City Star, 17 states and 10 national lottery organizations have signed to participate in a proposed international lotto game. The newspaper said that although nothing is definite, Missouri Lottery's Executive Director James R. Scroggins is quietly optimistic and said the game could be up and running as early as fall 2003. The newspaper said Austria, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands and three Australian lottery jurisdictions have signed up already.
- December 17, 2002 - Details of what could become a Europe-wide Lotto style draw have been released by National Lottery organizer Camelot. A jackpot prize of about 15 million euros (£9.6 million) will be on offer if the planned game receives regulatory approval. It would first played first in England, France and Spain. The draw, to be held every Friday night, has been provisionally named "Euromillions" for England and France and "Euromilliones" for Spain.
Players of Euromillions would have to pay two euros, or the equivalent in sterling in England to play the game, which is projected to launch in the first quarter of 2004. After it's launched, more European countries will be invited to join.
Camelot announced the project in October, upon the signing of a "statement of intent" to link up with its counterparts in France and Spain. The company said in a statement that the game would be marketed by each lottery operator in its own country.
For each draw, if no one wins the jackpot, the money would be rolled over to the following week.
Two years ago, the Lottery Commission ruled that a pan-European lottery
would be illegal, but it is believed to have reconsidered this position. The commission has yet to rule on the new Euro Lotto game.
I would bet on the commission giving it the OK next time.
Happy New Year, with more "fat ones!"