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Superenalotto – A Review Of This Famous Italian Lottery

The Europeans certainly like to play lottery games, whether within their domestic borders or within the union as a whole. Weekly participation is eye-opening in several principal European countries and the Euro millions game tops it all off. The Italian lottery has been making headlines all of its own in 2009, as its jackpot increased steadily throughout the year. The jackpot rolled over every week, beginning in January, and continued to do so until a single ticket holder from Tuscany won the incredible sum of €144 million in late August.

Superenalotto, as the famous Italian drawing is called, has been around since 1997 and is drawn three times a week. The game is played with a fervor that Italians are famous for and this national lottery is by far one of the most significant, worldwide. Despite the odds, there is a very active participation every week and the games are very highly respected at all levels. The government is a big winner itself, as the state receives almost 50% of all bets made, far more than any other government receives.

Superenalotto is easy to play and you can buy a ticket which will give you two tries for one euro. The objective is, as common with many other similar games, to match the six numbers, but in this case between one and 90. Until very recently these winning numbers represented the first number drawn in each of six regional Lotto games. Game organizers chose these numbers from the city draws in Bari, Florence, Milan, Naples, Palermo and Rome. In mid-summer 2009 this was changed completely and now numbers are drawn independently of the regional system, known as Lottomattica.

To add a little bit of spice an additional number is drawn, referred to as a “jolly” number. For those who have drawn five winning numbers, if they also draw the “jolly” number then they will win an additional prize known as a “5+1.” Still yet, another draw is made for the “superstar” number and if you match this number as well you can really hit the big time.

One of the things that sets Superenalotto apart from other “super” lotteries around the world is the fact that the winning jackpot is paid out in one lump sum, rather than as an annuity over a certain number of years, or as a significantly reduced lump sum when taken as “choice B.” This means that the recent jackpot winner, whoever he or she may be, could have a very large bank balance very soon. Of note again, though, is the significant amount of money earned by the state, and it is estimated that the Italian government raked in some €850 million during the first half of 2009 as Italian lottery fever really took over. When the jackpot was reaching its heady heights, people from all over Europe were travelling to Italy to see if they could get a slice of the action.