Recently, the multi-state EuroMillions lottery recorded a fabulous win of 177 million British pounds - the equivalent of around 212 million euros - for a ticket from England. This is the third largest jackpot ever to go to Great Britain. However, the allocation proved difficult due to a particular error. It took several days to find the lucky winner.

177 million pounds or the equivalent of 212 million euros - a sum that literally takes your breath away. This gigantic figure recently turned out to be the jackpot win in the EuroMillions lottery in the UK. But instead of causing cries of joy and a flurry of flashbulbs, a confusing interlude followed that kept the country in suspense for a whole two days. The reason was a curious twist in the announcement of the winning numbers, which caused the lottery world to stumble.

What had happened? The actually simple EuroMillions numbers were published by the renowned Press Association - one of the UK's largest news providers - with an additional number. This tiny but momentous glitch set off an unprecedented chain reaction: players frantically checked their tickets, many media outlets picked up on the erroneous report - and the actual winner remained hidden. Hours later, the news agency published the numbers again, which then read as follows: 07, 11, 25, 31 and 40, with the lucky numbers 09 and 12.

Only after two days and an official correction could the record amount finally be paid out.

From euphoria to confusion: the hunt for the jackpot

When the news of the gigantic win made its way through the British media and lottery companies, there was initially great enthusiasm. The operators of the EuroMillions lottery promised a quick validation process in which the lucky ticket would be officially confirmed and the win paid out after a personal appointment with a National Lottery advisor. Speaking of which: in early summer, the EuroJackpot lottery (as a direct competitor of the EuroMillions) published interesting impressions as part of a study on what Germans would not buy with a lottery prize paid out.

The life-changing sum of 177 million pounds was compared with the fortunes of celebrities: The winner would have more in the bank than celebrities like Harry Styles or Anthony Joshua. He could join the upper echelons of the British rich list.

But instead of a smooth process, the payment of the jackpot took an unusually long time.

Why the winner took his time

The Press Association, responsible for passing on the winning numbers to the media, had inadvertently included an additional number in the combination. The consequences were considerable:

Many players who had initially checked their tickets put them aside in disappointment or threw them away - convinced that they had not been lucky. It was only when the major media houses - including the Mirror - called for tickets to be checked again that things started to move.

In a breaking news story, the Mirror declared:

"Britons are being urged to double-check their EuroMillions tickets after the wrong winning numbers were broadcast to the public - as a huge jackpot remains untouched."

The urgent appeals finally had an effect.

A win for the history books

Andy Carter, Senior Winning Advisor at UK lottery company Allwyn, summed up the situation with palpable delight:

"Wow, it's been a truly incredible night for a single UK ticket holder who hit the staggering £177 million EuroMillions jackpot tonight. The win has earned him a place on the National Lottery's top list as he has become the third biggest winner of all time! What a wonderful win just before Christmas. We can't wait to pay out this amazing prize."

It's hard to believe that a ticket with a win of £177 million can be topped. But there were actually two tickets in England that fetched more:

  1. On July 19, 2022, an anonymous ticket holder hit the EuroMillions record jackpot of £195 million.
  2. Joe and Jess Thwaite from Gloucester, who won a whopping 184,262,899 pounds with a Lucky Dip ticket for the draw on May 10, 2022, are in second place.
  3. The third-placed 177 million winner in this ranking from 2024 has also remained anonymous to date.

Carter and his team, who have a wealth of experience in supporting mega-winners, are preparing to guide the lucky winner through the first steps of his new life. Such support is of central importance, as a sum of this magnitude requires both financial skill and mental preparation in order to cope with the sudden changes in everyday life. In Germany, by the way, new lottery millionaires can use the services of a professional lottery consultant.

Can you play EuroMillions legally in Germany?

The short answer is: no.

The EuroMillions lottery is one of the largest and best-known games of chance in Europe. It is offered in nine countries, including France, Spain, Austria and Great Britain. However, Germany is not part of this association, which means that there is no official way to participate directly in EuroMillions in this country. Nevertheless, there are numerous platforms online that claim that German players can participate legally through them - a dangerous game with legal gray areas.

These providers are so-called secondary lotteries. The special thing about them is that you don't play EuroMillions directly, but bet on the result of the official draw via an intermediary. Sounds similar, but is legally problematic. In Germany, this practice is strictly prohibited under the Interstate Treaty on Gambling (GlüStV). Without a German license, such offers are illegal and players take considerable risks. You can read about the penalties in our article on the press warnings ahead of the El Gordo 2024 Christmas lottery.

Caution - there is no guarantee that millions in winnings will be paid out in unlicensed secondary lotteries

Anyone who opts for secondary lotteries risks far more than just losing their stake (not to mention the possible criminal consequences). As there is no valid contract with a provider licensed in Germany, there is no guarantee that even a million-dollar prize will be paid out. At worst, the operator of such an offer could simply withhold the proceeds - and players would have hardly any legal means to take action against this. The GGL and the Federal Consumer Protection Agency also regularly warn against such platforms. An unlicensed offer means that neither German state institutions nor consumer protection mechanisms apply. Players are on their own in the event of a dispute - with all the consequences that this can entail.

A faux pas such as the one that occurred in England with the EuroMillions jackpot makes it clear how important strict controls and split-second checks of lottery numbers are: A small mistake can have far-reaching consequences. The story ultimately has a happy ending for the win. The industry has learned a thing or two. This incident is sure to be a talking point for a long time to come.

Source of the image: https://pixabay.com/photos/raffle-lottery-balls-bingo-lotto-5870552/

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