A Belgian player struck it rich Friday evening, winning a remarkable 52,448,674 euros through the EuroMillions lottery. The winning combination consisted of the numbers 43, 31, 46, 16, and 7, along with the lucky stars 9 and 5. While this substantial win captured attention, it falls short of the record 149 million euros won by another Belgian last September, which holds the record as the third highest amount ever garnered from the game.
The EuroMillions lottery continues to be popular across Europe, with its thrilling potential for massive payouts exciting players and generating significant interest. The latest win not only showcases the luck of the winner but also highlights the continuing trend of notable jackpots originating from Belgium.
The procedure for claiming such life-altering financial prizes involves several steps, starting with validating the ticket. Players must first present their winning ticket at their local newsagent where it is checked against the official numbers; only stars will appear on the screen until confirmation of larger jackpots above 25,000 euros is established. After this, winners will find themselves instructed to call the designated winner support number provided.
This telephone number connects them to the Winners Support Center, where the ticket undergoes another verification process. The verification happens discreetly at the center, where essentials like personal documents are filled out and the winner’s preferences for sharing personal details with the media are confirmed.
The atmosphere during this process is markedly muted and professional, contrasting with the celebratory settings one might expect from such massive financial gains. Once validation is complete, the winner is handed their prize, exempt from tax obligations within Belgium, meaning the entire jackpot is deposited directly to their bank account accompanied by champagne and well wishes.
Interestingly, the odds of scoring the top prize with five correct numbers plus two stars are roughly 1 in 139,838,160, emphasizing the rarity of such wins. Nevertheless, the game's structure allows players overall odds of winning something, no matter how modest, at just over 1 in 13, making it accessible for many hopeful players.
Upon such winnings, many winners tend to make their claims more or less immediately. The National Lottery highlighted instances where winners have called on the same evening. While it isn't unusual for some winners to take their time, some have been known to wait for days or even weeks, either forgetting to check their tickets or being too preoccupied with other matters.
Specific regulations govern the winners, offering them up to twenty weeks from the draw date to come forward. Following this period, those who fail to claim their prizes forfeited funds are redistributed among other winners or directed to support various charitable causes backed by the lottery.
With this recent jackpot win, Belgium continues to maintain its status as a hub of remarkable lottery victories, inspiring dreams of wealth and encouraging hopeful players across the country and beyond. For this latest player, life as they knew it is surely about to change, ushering them toward new opportunities and challenges—all stemming from the sheer chance of EuroMillions.