European Lottery Winners ▶️ Impressive Wins in Europe

History of European Lotteries


You have probably heard of the EuroMillions lottery, but the history of international lotteries in Europe doesn’t end there. There is also the Eurojackpot, the Italian SuperEnalotto, the Spanish El Gordo and so on. Therefore, there are many captivating stories of Euro lottery winners that are worth telling. Of course, if you want to get the chance to live them, the best lottery sites await you, but for now, let’s explore the biggest EU jackpots and more.

Lotteries in Europe: History & Interesting Facts

Before we dive into the biggest wins among winners of the Euro lottery, let’s first examine how these games of chance began in Europe. Naturally, the history of country-based lotteries dates to the ancient civilisations of Rome and Greece. Later, they were reintroduced in Europe as means of raising funds for charity. However, it wasn’t until the 20th century that multinational lotteries became a thing because of increased cooperation and integration between EU countries.

If you’re curious about the lottery history over the ages, we have a detailed blog. However, in this article, we’ll focus on the major lottery events that occurred in the 20th century in Europe. Therefore, in the table below, we’ve outlined some milestones that have brought European international lotteries where they are today:

  • 📜 1956 – The first multinational lottery in Europe – Loterie Romande, was launched by a group of European countries, including Belgium, France, West Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
  • 💶 1985 – The first EuroMillions lottery is held, with the participation of three European countries: France, Spain and the UK.
  • 🌐 1994 – The first internet-based lottery in the world is launched, allowing players to buy tickets online.
  • 📈 2004 – The EuroMillions lottery is expanded to include more European countries, such as Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Luxembourg, Portugal and Switzerland.
  • 📅 2012 – The first Eurojackpot lottery is held, with the participation of several European countries, including Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
  • 🏆 2016 – The EuroMillions lottery undergoes a major change, with the introduction of more frequent ‘Superdraws’ and an increase in the maximum jackpot to €190 million.
  • 📉 2020 – The COVID-19 pandemic leads to a decrease in lottery sales across Europe, with many lotteries suspending draws and reducing jackpots in response to the economic downturn.

As you can tell, international lotteries across Europe are still developing, and there are even recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic that are affecting its course. We are witnessing history unfold before our eyes, and if you’re a lottery player, it’s key that you stay up to date with the latest news. We can help you do that, but let’s first make sure you know which EU lotteries you need to look out for in the next section.

The Best European Lotteries

Several popular lotteries in Europe offer international access to players. The biggest one that most people have heard of is the EuroMillions. However, as we mentioned, it’s not the only one. European players have more options than they realise. So, below, we’ve highlighted the best international lotteries in Europe and which countries they can be played from.

  1. EuroMillions: This is a popular lottery game played across several European countries, including the UK, France, Spain and Austria.
  2. Eurojackpot: Another popular lottery game played in several European countries, including Germany, Finland, Italy and Slovenia.
  3. Vikinglotto: This lottery game is played in several Nordic and Baltic countries, including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.
  4. SuperEnalotto: This is an Italian lottery game that is known for offering some of the biggest jackpots in Europe. It’s played across Italy, and players from other countries can also participate through online lottery services.
  5. La Primitiva: This is a Spanish lottery game that has been around since 1763. It’s played across Spain, but once again, thanks to the power of the Internet, players from other countries can join as well.

It’s important to note that even if they are classified as international lotteries, it doesn’t mean they are available in all European countries. The rules and regulations may vary depending on the country, so it’s always a good idea to check with the lottery operator in your country for more information on how to play and claim prizes.


Now that you know what are the biggest international lotteries that originated in European countries, it’s time to dive into the incredible stories of the most popular European lottery winners. Just keep in mind that these are not necessarily the biggest lotto wins ever because it’s limited to Europe, and anonymous winners have been excluded.

🏅 European Lottery Winner 💰 Prize Details
Amadou Gillen €1.5 million – Spanish Christmas Lottery, 2018
Michael Carroll €10.9 million – UK National Lottery, 2002
Neil Trotter €121 million – EuroMillions, 2014

These may not be among the biggest lottery winners in the UK, yet they made this list because of the inspirational stories they carry. If you’re a frequent player, you may even remember their journeys, which were covered by news outlets worldwide. Nevertheless, their wins were also not small, so keep reading to find out how they used the money to make a difference.

Amadou Gillen – A Christmas Wish Come True


We’ve all heard of the magic of Christmas when it comes to granting wishes. However, among Euro lottery winners, the person that was granted the biggest Christmas wonder is Amadou Gillen. In 2018, this 21-year-old refugee from Gambia won a €1.5 million jackpot in the Spanish Christmas Lottery. He had fled his home country in search of a better life and was living in a refugee camp in Spain when he bought the winning ticket.

Winner Name Age Lottery Jackpot Won
Amadou Gillen 26 Spanish Christmas Lottery in 2018 €1.5 million

Amadou bought the winning ticket at a gas station in the Spanish city of San Roque. He was working as a street vendor selling phone chargers and other accessories, but this money improved his life and allowed him to pursue his dreams. Nowadays, he has become a role model for other refugees and immigrants who dream of finding success in their new homes.

Michael Carroll – From the King of Chavs to a Coal Miner


When discussing Euro lottery UK winners, we often come across glorified stories of riches. However, the journey can often be a lot darker, as with the case of Michael Carroll, who lost it all after winning around €10 million in the UK National Lottery in 2002. After hitting the jackpot, Michael started living a life of drugs and crime, which soon left him broke. However, the lesson the self-proclaimed ‘King of Chavs’ learned can be useful to us all.

Winner Name Age Lottery Jackpot Won
Michael Carroll 40 UK National Lottery in 2002 €10.9 million

Winning a European lottery jackpot of this size can have a lot of negative effects on the psyche of a person, so cautionary stories like the one of Michael Carroll are common. However, there is also some light at the end of the tunnel because now Michael is living the humble life of a coal miner and has stated that if he won again, he would continue to work. His story carries many tough lessons, yet it’s certainly worth sharing.

Neil Trotter – A Millionaire Mechanic


Finally, we have the inspiring story of Neil Trotter, who used to work as a mechanic and was struggling to make ends meet. But one day in 2014, everything changed, as he was now the winner of a European lottery jackpot of €121 million. Of course, Neil spent some of his winnings on expensive cars, exotic vacations and other extravagant purchases. However, he also donated £1 million to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, which had helped his father during his battle with cancer.

Winner Name Age Lottery Jackpot Won
Neil Trotter 48 EuroMillions in 2014 €121 million

Furthermore, Neil also set up a charity foundation to support local causes in his community and has always emphasised the importance of responsible spending and financial planning. According to him, the best advice European lottery winners can get is the importance of guidance from financial professionals and above all, to use their wealth to help others.

Biggest European Lottery Jackpots

You’re almost at the end of this article, and we hope that you found these popular ‘Rags to Riches’ stories interesting. However, before you continue exploring the rest of our useful gambling blog, let’s go over the biggest European lottery jackpots and the lucky winners. They might not have the most buzz-worthy stories, but the amounts they won are worth nothing.

Jackpot Lottery Country Tickets Date
€371.1m SuperEnalotto Italy A win split between 90 players 16 February 2023
€230.0m EuroMillions United Kingdom 1 19 July 2022
€209.1m SuperEnalotto Italy 1 13 August 2019
€183.6m EuroMillions France ×2,
Portugal ×1
3 3 February 2006
€177.7m SuperEnalotto Italy 1 30 October 2010
€163.5m SuperEnalotto Italy 1 27 October 2016
€147.8m SuperEnalotto Italy 1 22 August 2009
€129.8m EuroMillions United Kingdom 1 8 October 2010
€129.6m EuroMillions United Kingdom,
Spain
2 12 February 2010
€126.2m EuroMillions Spain 1 8 May 2009

As you can see, the SuperEnalotto has given out the biggest prize in Europe so far. However, the jackpot was split between 90 players. The stories of European lottery winners we shared with you are about people who won impressive sums on their own. Nevertheless, some of them still shared their money with people who needed help, and that’s something worth admiring.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve reached the end of this informative blog on the most popular European lottery winners, and we hope you got all the information you were looking for. However, if something is unclear, we have prepared some frequently asked questions. Check them out below if you want to find more useful information.

1️⃣ Is EuroMillions the only international European lottery?

No, it’s not. As we explained in the introduction of this blog, there are several popular EU lotteries in which players from multiple countries can participate. For example, there is the Eurojackpot, the Italian SuperEnalotto, the Spanish El Gordo, etc. So, European players have plenty of options.

2️⃣ When was the first multinational European lottery established?

The first multinational lottery in the history of Europe was established in 1956. This was the Loterie Romande, which was launched by a group of European countries, including Belgium, France, West Germany, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Switzerland. It came to be because of the increased cooperation and integration between EU countries in the 20th century.

3️⃣ What are the best international European lotteries?

There are several popular international European lotteries that are worth mentioning. One of them is EuroMillions, which is one of the most popular lottery games played across several European countries, including the UK, France, Spain and Austria. In addition, there is also Eurojackpot, which is more famous in Germany, Finland, Italy and Slovenia. However, there are many more.

4️⃣ Can you play European lottery online?

Yes, you can. This is how many of the popular European lottery winners managed to get their big jackpots. With international lotteries, it’s important that people from all over Europe can get a ticket, even if they don’t reside in the specific country where the lottery originated. Fortunately, the Internet makes that possible.

5️⃣ Who are the biggest European lottery winners?

We’ve shared the inspiring stories of a few memorable Euro lottery winners. However, the biggest European lottery jackpots don’t belong to them. As interesting as their journeys are, there are many more winners that had a stroke of even bigger luck, but most prefer to remain anonymous.



Source link

Sevilla Is One of the Most Dominant Soccer Teams in Europe

Sevilla soccer match


Sevilla among the cream of the crop 

Sevilla defeated Roma via penalty shootout in the Europa League Final Wednesday to win their seventh UEL trophy and grow their reputation as one of the most dominant soccer teams in Europe.

The club’s dominance in the competition has made it feel like their second home, no matter their form domestically or in other tournaments. Strangely, they are not the only team that has a history of shrugging off performance-based woes to find their footing in a particular event.

These are the most dominant soccer teams in various competitions in Europe.

The best and most dominant soccer teams

Sevilla – Europa League

As we mentioned in the intro, Sevilla has been nothing short of dominant in the Europa League during the 21st century. All seven of their trophies have come since the 2005-06 season despite the team being absent from the competition six times during that stretch. They are also the only team to win the Europa League title three times in a row (2013-16) and have not lost in a UEL final.

only reached extra time and the decisive penalty shootout because of a Gianluca Mancini own goal

Their most recent triumph came with a stroke of luck as they only reached extra time and the decisive penalty shootout because of a Gianluca Mancini own goal and despite not finding the back of the net themselves. 

Perhaps the most impressive part of Sevilla’s success in the competition is that they have done it by cycling through managers. There’s just something about stepping onto the pitch on a night of European competition that makes the team feel right at home, a trait that is shared by another Spanish soccer giant coming up on this list.

Manchester City – English Premier League

The EPL is widely considered to be the most competitive and talented soccer league in the world, but Manchester City has made it seem like a walk in the park. They have claimed five of the last six titles and, in the one year they did not win, came in second during a historic Liverpool season.

City’s era of dominance has coincided with the managerial reign of Pep Guardiola, the sharpest tactician in the world, and the cultivation of a deep, fully functional squad. They are never caught on the precipice of losing players integral to their success or falling victim to age because they are so prepared for the next generation, which is currently led by record-setting striker Erling Haaland.

The Citizens haven’t been able to translate their domestic reign into European dominance, but they have a chance with the upcoming Champions League Final against Inter Milan and are inarguably the strongest side in the world over the past few years.

Real Madrid – Champions League

The Champions League – with its beautiful opening symphony and thick game-day atmosphere – is considered the cream of the crop in the world of soccer. And more times than any other team in the world, Real Madrid has been the final team left standing.

won the European Cup/Champions League 14 times

The Spanish side has won the European Cup/Champions League 14 times, starting in 1955-56 and most recently in 2021-22. That includes three straight titles from 2015-18 and four in five years thanks to the help of Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and others.

Perhaps the most impressive part of Madrid’s unrelenting dominance in the most competitive soccer competition in the world is that it has only lost in the final three times, giving it a winning percentage of 82.4%. Just like Sevilla in the Europa League Final, Madrid enjoys a sense of comfort and belonging on the biggest stage, even when it is undermanned and an underdog to its opponent.

Bayern Munich – Bundesliga

Bayern Munich is the most dominant domestic club in Europe’s major leagues, having won the Bundesliga a ridiculous 11 times in a row and picking up two Champions League and two Club World Cup trophies during the same stretch.

The German giants may now be in a position where they are often able to poach the best talents in the country and attract player interest from around the world, but there have been many seasons where they have come under fire from challengers, most notably Borussia Dortmund. Even this year, they finished level on points with Dortmund, but won the league by way of goal difference.

32 league titles since the 1968-69 season

With 32 league titles since the 1968-69 season, it’s safe to say that Bayern is the unavoidable behemoth in the German league. But until a worthy challenger can finally displace them, they are going to keep ripping off trophies and extend their run as the most winning soccer team in the league.

The post Sevilla Is One of the Most Dominant Soccer Teams in Europe appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

Source link



Source link

2023 WSOP Featured Females: Maria Konnikova & Kristen Foxen Making Runs

2023 WSOP Featured Females: Maria Konnikova & Kristen Foxen Making Runs



The 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) is in full swing at Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas with several bracelet events underway and plenty of players looking to pick up a bracelet. With these events underway, it’s time to look some of the featured female players in the field this week.

High-stakes pro Kristen Foxen is on the hunt for a fourth bracelet as she advanced to Day 2 of Event #6: $5,000 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha, while famed writer Maria Konnikova is looking for her first bracelet and the chance to be a millionaire after bagging a big stack in Day 1b of Event #3: $1,000 Mystery Millions.

2023 World Series of Poker Hub

Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2023 WSOP is here.

Konnikova, Liebert & Galfond Headline Mystery Millions

The much-anticipated Mystery Millions event has drawn thousands of players looking for a shot at pulling a million-dollar bounty, and there have been plenty of notable female players in the action.

WNBA star Kelsey Plum was in the Day 1 field but sadly her run was short-lived as she ran into a full house in one of her first hands.

Kelsey Plum
Kelsey Plum

Konnikova, meanwhile, bagged one of the biggest stacks of the 304 players left standing. The Biggest Bluff author will enter Day 2 with a stack of 1,055,000 as she looks to make a bracelet run.

Other big names in the Day 1a field included Sunday Millions winner Vanessa Kade, Global Poker Award award finalist Lexy Gavin-Mather and soap opera star Farah Galfond, while Women in Poker Hall of Famer Kathy Liebert and vlogger Ashley “Pokerface Ash” Frank played Day 1b.

Foxen Bags Top Stack in $5,000 Mixed NLH/PLO

Kristen Foxen
Kristen Foxen

As a two-time Female GPI Player of the Year award recipient and three-time bracelet winner, Foxen has already cemented her status as one of the greatest female poker players of all time.

Just a few days into the World Series, Foxen is already off to a great series that could further cement that status. She made Day 2 of Event #2: $25,000 High Roller (6-Handed) before ultimately falling short of the money and going on to play Event #6: $5,000 Mixed No-Limit Hold’em/Pot-Limit Omaha, where she ended Day 1 ninth in chips with a stack of 895,000.

If “krissyb” manages to make a bracelet run, she will pick up her fourth piece of WSOP hardware after winning bracelets in 2013, 2016 and 2020.

Katelin Koper Among Chip Leaders in Day 2 of Tournament of Champions

Someone else having a great start to the summer is New York’s Katelin Koper, who ended Day 1 of the exclusive Event #4: Tournament of Champions fifth in chips with 50 big blinds.

Koper, who won this year’s WSOPC Turning Stone Ladies Event for $9,951 and her first Circuit ring, picked off a big bluff on Day 1 that was captured by the PokerNews live reporting team.

Katelin Koper
Katelin Koper

Shouyi Gao raised 18,000 from the button into Katelin Koper’s big blind. Koper defended and both players went to a flop of the Q95.

Koper checked to Gao prompting him to lead out for 12,000. Koper called and both players went to the turn.

Koper checked over to Gao on the A turn. Gao continued for 39,000, but this time Koper decided to raise to 85,000. Gao called.

Slowing down on the 10, Koper checked to Gao who shoved all in for a massive bet nearing 200,000. This proved no problem for Koper as she picked off this bet and tabled AK for top pair. Gao showed 84 for a missed flush draw and was eliminated.

Follow live updates from the 2023 WSOP TOC here!





Source link

Phil Ivey, Doug Polk in Action at Epic WSOP $25k Heads-Up Tournament

Phil Ivey, Doug Polk in Action at Epic WSOP $25k Heads-Up Tournament



Two GOATS in their own right, Doug Polk and Phil Ivey, have both officially made their 2023 World Series of Poker (WSOP) debuts in what is one of the most stacked tournaments of the summer.

Event #8: $25,000 Heads-Up No-Limit Hold’em Championship began at noon PT on Friday with 64 of the best and most popular players in the game, all just hoping to keep pace with the great John Smith, of course.

Smith, who finished second in this event twice (2016, 2017), faced Ivey in the first round. Other notables in the field are Shaun Deeb, Daniel Negreanu, Kane Kalas, Stephen Chidwick, and reigning world champion Espen Jorstad.

2023 World Series of Poker Hub

Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2023 WSOP is here.

Polk Notices His Stack was too Big

Barely 30 minutes into play, Polk found himself in the middle of a controversy, but this time he wasn’t the one causing a stir. Following a bet on the river against first round opponent Shunta Someya, the Upswing Poker founder noticed his stack seemed a bit larger than it should have been.

The previous hand ended in a chop, and it appeared that the dealer hadn’t properly split the pot. Both players should have been close to even at that point, but Polk’s stack was noticeably larger. As soon as he figured that out, he immediately asked for the floor to come over and look over the tape so they could determine Someya’s proper stack size.

In the end, there was no need to check the surveillance video as the two agreed that Polk would give Someya half the river bet back and they returned to action.

Polk, arguably the best heads-up no-limit hold’em player of all-time, made a surprising appearance at the WSOP just days after losing nearly $1 million on Hustler Casino Live.

The three-time bracelet and co-owner of The Lodge Card Club near Austin, Texas would defeat Someya within an hour and advance to the second round later in the day.

Polk told PokerNews he has no intention of grinding out an extensive summer schedule and only made the decision to play the heads-up tournament hours before it began. He was still in Los Angeles following the Hustler game and took an early morning flight over to Las Vegas.

Phil Ivey has Arrived

Speaking of GOATS, arguably the best overall poker player in history, Phil Ivey, graced the WSOP world with his presence in the same event. He’s in search of his 11th bracelet, which would put him alone in second place behind Phil Hellmuth (16).

Ivey hasn’t won a bracelet since 2014 but he did have a strong performance at the World Series of Poker last year, cashing in nine events and reaching four final tables.

While Polk’s match ended in a relatively short manner, Ivey’s match was quite the marathon. It lasted more than four hours and was far and away the longest out of 32 first round games. An hour before it concluded, only one other game remained — Chidwick (winner) against Ben Yu (loser).

At long last, just before the second round session began, Ivey was all in preflop with A10 against Smith’s KxQx. Two queens appeared on the flop and that was the end of the match, nearly five hours after it began. Ivey quickly exited the room at Paris Las Vegas and can now get ready for his next tournament. Smith defeated Ivey in the heads-up event for the second consecutive year.

Negreanu Cools off Weng

Daniel Negreanu 2023 wsop
Daniel Negreanu

In another entertaining battle, Negreanu beat the seemingly unbeatable Bin Weng in the first round. Weng has been on a tear in tournament poker this year.

Not only did he reach consecutive World Poker Tour (WPT) final tables — winning one. He also had a $1 million score for winning The Return at Borgata and took down his first ever World Series of Poker Circuit (WSOPC) ring.

Weng cashed in his first WSOP event of the summer — Event #2: $25,000 High Roller (6-Handed). He took sixth place for $62,763 in that event. On Friday, however, he was unable to advance beyond the opening round and was cooled off by a Poker Hall of Famer in short fashion.





Source link

Tag

Random Posts