People across the nation swarmed lottery stations yesterday to try their luck, hoping to win big money after no one hit the jackpot for the Big Lotto (大樂透) in the last eight draws.
The total jackpot last night was NT$2.07 billion (US$63.4 million).
Those hoping for a huge win were disappointed once again as the first prize of NT$1.05 billion remained elusive.
Fourteen lucky second prize winners, however, will each be collecting NT$10.93 million.
It was the fourth time in history the lottery operator -- in this case the Taipei Fubon Bank -- had failed to give away the grand prize in nine consecutive draws.
The bank had earlier announced it would add NT$100 million to last night's grand prize.
The grand prize money will now be rolled over into the next drawing on Thursday night.
Thursday's Big Lotto drawing will be the last issue organized by Taipei Fubon Bank.
To celebrate its success in running the lotto for the past five years, bank officials said last night that the bank would add another NT$150 million to Thursday's grand prize, which will bring the total amount to NT$1.2 billion, a record.
Yesterday's huge jackpot attracted so many hopefuls that many lottery stations ran out of lotto paper and were unable to print out tickets.
Countless people also pooled money with friends and coworkers to purchase tickets to improve their chances of winning.
Taiwan Lottery Co, a subsidiary of Chinatrust Financial Holding Co, will take over the lotto operations on Jan. 1 as it becomes Taiwan's exclusive Public Welfare Lottery operator for the next seven years.
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