BY GABRIEL PRINCEWILL
Lottery operators, Camelot, have today told eye of media that the new initiative to shake up the lottery will create more millionaires than ever before, contrary to perceptions in some quarters. In the first shake up in its 21 year history, Sarah Icke-Camelot’s press officer- said the new system which will add 10 extra numbers to the usual 49, was the result of painstaking research over a sustained period that would revolutionize the game and it’s appeal. Interestingly, she insists several millionaires will result from punters who get two numbers correct, courtesy of the lucky dip reward which she says will produce at least 1.8 million lucky dip winners over a period of time.
She said ” we already know from statistics that there have been many lucky dip lottery millionaires, so there is no doubt many winners will result from those who win our prizes.” However, one intuitive set back would surely be the fact that there will now be more numbers from which to match the same 6 numbers as before. ” That won’t prevent people winning, she insists. The changes will result in more roll overs, but will also increase the prizes that can be won”. Her colleague, Rob Dwight added ” with the new lottery, every draw will have a million pound prize. The raffle draw has 21 prizes, with £1m added from October”. Roll overs will continue until they get to £50m, and the odds of winning any prize will be 1 in 9.3.
The changes have come about under the auspices of new head of Camelot, Andy Duncan, after former head, Diana Thompson retired last year. Icke said Camelot have undertaken research over the years which intensified over the last few months. They have drawn from experiences by looking at lotteries abroad, the main goal being to appeal to ” a broader range of people”. Camelot say they are always looking for better ways to develop their game, with ”the overarching objectives to raise money for good causes”. Icke’s colleague, Rob Dwight, clarified that those good causes are not determined by Camelot but government agencies who allocate a lot of money to those uses However, Brits who play the lottery are more interested in the prospect of having their life transformed with a stroke of luck than they are in good causes from which they may not benefit from directly. With 10 more numbers added to the already broad spectrum of 49 numbers, Camelot are in no denial that it will be more difficult to win the jackpot, but claim it will equally be more rewarding. The full 6 numbers will be substituted with 5 numbers and the bonus on occasion that produce no winners, therefore affording second prize winners with the top prize.
One other crucial issue is whether the potential huge fortunes that will incredibly enrich the recipients of the new mass roll over prizes will do more harm than good. What happens to a 16 year old like Callie Rogers who was exploited after she won, or Michael Carroll who at 19 years of age won £9.7m in 2002 and frittered it a lot of it away, albeit after some acts of benevolence to his friends and family? ”We have a range of expert people who speak to winners and give them good advise.
The national lottery has generated over £55bn in prizes and created over 3 million millionaires since its inauguration in 1994. Many if its winners have lived happily ever after, but some have have been losers of the experience, whilst many have had a mix of fortunes since landing the jackpot.
In 1995, Lee Ryan squandered £6.5m after spending £235,000 on a jet Range helicopter. He also spent a huge amount on a Ferrari and a county mansion. Two years later in 1997, Greig Steivens from Southend Essex was the youngest winner at 19 to scoop £5.4m on the lottery. It was an emotional moment for him and his family who shed tears of joy for the first few days. He later married his girlfriend, Donna Perry, made his family happy then bought a £300,000 house in Great Wakering, Essex. He stayed level headed and amiable, but was unlucky to write off a brand new Porche some 8 years later and escape with his life in tact thankfully.
In 1998, a syndicate from a pub in Plaistow East london, won £5.5m. The pub owner drunk himself to death within 2 years. In 2000, Dean Allen from Tilbury scooped £14m from the national lottery. He gave over £50,000 to charity, £1m to his dad, but briefly fell out with his sister and had some complication arise with members of his step mother’s family due to disagreements over his winnings. The printer later bought a £500,000 in Ongar, traveled the world including Australia, and has never needed to work since.
In 2002, 19 year old Michael Carroll won £9.7m on the lottery. In an extremely generous move, he gave £5m away to friends and family, but blew the rest on drugs, cars, prostitutes and a few houses he bought. He claims to have been spending £2,000 daily on Coke for a long time, and he gave £1.2m to his ex wife after she tried to divorce him 4 months after marrying him. He has held menial jobs since losing the money including decorating, and claims the experience matured him. One odd story was that of David and Kathleen long who won £1m for the second time in 20 months, beating odds of 283 billion to 1.
The new shake up will bring more incredible stories.
