More than 15 million tickets for the new public-wefare computerized lottery were sold as of yesterday, after a last-minute buying frenzy.
Revenue on the final day before the lottery's first drawing hit NT$265 million, triple the average of NT$80 million in sales over the last six days. Vying for a jackpot of about NT$130 million, young and old lined up at lottery retail stores to get their hands on tickets before sales ended at 7pm yesterday.
With potential buyers still lining up outside one store on Taipei's Yitong Street at the 7pm deadline, one creative ticket seller rushed to download a stack of tickets before the computer terminal rejected more purchase orders.
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Francis Chen (陳錦聆), a cartoonist, said she had intentionally come just before closing as "statistical calculations indicate that the chances of winning were greatest if tickets were purchased near the deadline." Chen said the euphoria surrounding the sales stemmed from high unemployment and vowed that she would use the money to emigrate to the US if she won.
Watching the line disappear as sales slowed, a retired laborer surnamed Yang said he had refrained from taking a shot at the big prize since the "chances of winning are slim."
A similar scene occurred at almost 3,000 retail stores around the country yesterday. According to lotto contests abroad, sales on the day before the draw normally generate the most revenue.
In about 12 hours yesterday, a total of NT$265 million worth of computerized tickets were sold. Previous total sales were between NT$80 million and NT$100 million per day.
The final sales figure for computerized lottery tickets during the first week was NT$776 million. Some NT$434 million will be used as prizes, after taxes and expenses, according to the Taipei Bank.
According to the Taipei Bank, other than the first prize which is expected to top NT$130 million, prizes will be distributed to winners who hit three to five out of the six winning numbers.
As of press time last night, Taipei Bank hadn't disclosed where the first-prize ticket was sold. However, according to Richard Yang (楊瑞東), vice president and general manager of the bank's lottery department, the number of winners will be officially disclosed this morning.
"The names or identity of winners will be protected due to confidentiality rules. However, we will disclose which retailer sold the first-prize ticket," Yang said.
The winning numbers for Taiwan's Public Welfare Lottery drawn on Jan. 22, 2002 are:
10, 32, 13, 04, 09, 33
Special number: 37
Grand prize: Match all six numbers
Second prize: Match five numbers and the special number
Third prize: Match five numbers
Fourth prize: Match four numbers
Fifth prize: Match three numbers
*Actual prize amounts based on sales revenues
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