Oct 25 2008
Jackpot of £78m is nothing to shout about on Mafia’s patch
ONE lucky ticket-holder in Sicily, the home of Cosa Nostra, has scooped 100 million (£78.8 million) in the Italian National Lottery – but is keeping a low profile to avoid being targeted by the Mafia.
The massive payout is the culmination of a six-month rollover and officials have said they believe this represents Italy’s highest ever lottery win.
It is not yet clear if the winner is a lone player or a syndicate. However, officials at the SuperEnalotto headquarters in Milan said the ticket had been bought in a shop in Catania, sparking fears the Mob would try to get their hands on the cash.
One SuperEnalotto insider said: “Winners very rarely go public in Italy and bearing in mind where this money was won, I don’t think there is much chance of the ticket-holder making himself known.
“With that amount of money they will make themselves open to kidnap or extortion from the Mafia so they will be keeping a very low profile and telling as few people as possible.”
On Thursday there were long queues at shops selling the tickets and more than 100 million combinations were played – including one syndicate bet of 30,000 (£23,595) which had promised 100,000 (£78,650) to charity if it won.
However, the size of the jackpot had led to consumer group Codacons to call for it to be confiscated.
The group filed a law-suit in a Rome court demanding the money be seized, and, in a statement, said the jackpot had “created a very dangerous betting fever throughout Italy with many recorded cases of people spending their life savings or worse.”
In order to win SuperEnalotto, betters must choose the correct six numbers drawn from one to 90. Draws are held three times a week: on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
The chance of becoming a multi-millionaire had driven millions of Italians and foreigners to place bets, with British tourists among those lining up after being told about the jackpot by hotel staff. SuperEnalotto’s jackpot had been building since its last top prize was won on 26 April, when 40.6 million (£31.9 million) was won.
The previous SuperEnalotto record jackpot was 71.8 million.
Thursday’s winner will have to wait two months before receiving the full prize while security checks are carried out, although the prize will earn interest, and, when eventually paid out, will have grown by a further £600,000.
Domenico Giunta, owner of the shop where the ticket was sold, said: “I have no idea who won, but whoever they are, I hope they remember me.
“We don’t get big syndicates playing here, they are only small tickets with a few euros, I think it is just one player.”
Raffaele Stancanelli, Catania’s mayor, whose council is so strapped for cash it cannot pay municipal electricity bills, said: “I hope the win went to a group of betters from a poor part of the city. I hope it’s a sign that the whole city can get back on its feet.”
Italians have spent 486 million so far this month on tickets for the draw, according to Agipro News, an Italian agency dedicated to lotteries.
About 20 million Italians, more than a third of the population, played the game in recent rounds of the draw, according to lottery manager Sisal SpA.
That compared with an average number of nine million players, the company said.
Jackpot of £78m is nothing to shout about on Mafia’s patch - Published Date: 25 October 2008 - By Nick Pisa - This story was found at: http://news.scotsman.com/world/Jackpot-of-78m–is.4629280.jp
