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Lottery Fever |
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| ¡@ | Taiwan¡¦s first computerized lottery was launched on January 16, 2002. A player who is able to correctly match all six numbers in the computer draw is entitled to the first prize. Players who match five numbers of the winning six plus the bonus number take the second prize. Buyers line up for a long time just to buy lottery tickets. IF nobody win in the first jackpot, the prize is rolled over to the second draw. | ¡@ |
| ¡@ | Fanatical Taiwan gamblers formed long lines in a fevered quest to defy seemingly impossible odds of a 5.25 million prize. The one who won the sum became the nation¡¦s first winner of the new government lottery jackpot. Following the absence of any winner in the first draw, the huge second jackpot prize fueled ticket sales as lottery retailers nationwide became overwhelmed by crowds of punters. Some were willing to line for up to five hours just to be able to purchase a ticket. | ¡@ |
| ¡@ | However, while the lottery certainly whips up a gambling frenzy, it will make but a limited contribution to the country¡¦s floundering economy. The government¡¦s statistics officials estimated that combined lottery ticket sales with scratch-and-win tickets will generate NT$100 billion this year, just 0.24% of total consumption by the private sector. | ¡@ |
| ¡@ | Others warn of negative effects such as gangsters trying to set up illegal private lotteries or the massive release of pet turtles by superstitious gamblers who believe that keeping these creatures at home only brings bad luck to their lottery aspiration after their first numbers failed to win any money (ºbÀt). There are also fears among sociologists and politicians that lotto mania will make poor people poorer causing more social deprivation. | ¡@ |
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