Eurojackpot lottery enthusiasts faced unexpected delays this New Year's Eve, as the scheduled drawing was postponed due to technical problems affecting one of the member countries involved. Initially set for December 31, the drawing could not proceed at its regular time, much to the disappointment of lottery players across Europe.
According to reports from the Eurojackpot alliance, the issues arose from technical difficulties at an unspecified member nation. "To maintain security and fairness across all member states, we must have green light approval from everyone involved before we can proceed with the drawing," stated the Eurojackpot officials.
Despite these setbacks, players were assured the results will be published online and through mobile platforms as soon as the situation is rectified. This was particularly pertinent as the Eurojackpot had amassed substantial interest, with the first prize reaching impressive figures. With no winner of the 5+2 numbers on New Year's Eve, the first prize pot is expected to grow dramatically, now estimated to reach around 660 million kroner for the first draw in 2025, scheduled for January 3.
While no one claimed the grand prize, the last Eurojackpot drawing before the New Year still resulted in winners among various lower-tier prizes. Norwegian players, especially, were invited to celebrate as more than 30,000 individuals managed to win prizes ranging from small to significant amounts. Notably, one player from Tyskland secured the second prize of 24.5 million kroner by matching 5+1 correct numbers.
Seven lucky players, including one from Norway, matched 5+0 and will receive 1.5 million kroner each from the third prize pool. With the turn of the new year, all eyes will be on the next drawing where participants hope for luck as the stakes continue to rise.
The Norwegian lottery scene also rejoiced at the conclusion of 2023, with figures indicating over 3.9 million payouts throughout the year, though none claimed the top-tier Eurojackpot prize. The highest payout recorded during the year was 35,074,530 kroner, signifying the excitement around the game.
Participants are reminded of the winning criteria for the Eurojackpot, which requires players to match 5 correct numbers from 50 along with 2 star numbers drawn from 12 for the grand prize. This provides approximately 140 million possible combinations per ticket, equipping players with odds of about 1:140 million.
While ticket sales may have paused momentarily due to the drawing delay, it did not deter eager players from purchasing tickets for the weekend's draw. The rising first prize pot was enough to maintain interest among lottery players. Leading up to the New Year, anticipation and excitement were palpable among hopeful ticket holders.
The Eurojackpot drawing, which typically draws considerable attention, will be conducted with the highest levels of security and transparency once the technical issues are resolved. So for lottery players worldwide, the current focus remains on the next scheduled draw on January 3 as they hope for luck.