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:

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.

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.

Popular European Lottery Winners – From Rags to Riches

 
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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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As one old adage goes, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.” Another cautions that adding fuel to the fire only increases the heat. None we are aware of speak to what happens when you add your own fuel by stating your case and promoting your own interests or having others do that for you.

Hell’s Kitchen is a part of New York City with a storied past quite unlike that of Times Square, a little more than a mile away. Centre Street, the Bowery, Canal Street, and Park Row – the general location of Martin Scorcese’s and Leonardo Di Caprio’s epic historical fiction story, the Gangs of New York is only about three miles away.

Setting the Stage for an Epic Battle

That backdrop should set the stage for what could be about to commence in the competition for three new downstate casino licenses in New York state – the first actual bonafide real Las Vegas casino licenses ever issued in or around a bustling metropolis holding some 19 million potential casino customers. A market that some have deemed to be potentially be the most lucrative latent casino market in the world.

Although there are three casino licenses available in downstate New York, potentially in and around New York City, most reporting indicates that two of those licenses are “widely believed” to be destined for the existing lottery-based casinos in Yonkers and Jamaica, Queens. The existing casinos are relatively large gaming venues that already provide tens of millions of dollars if not hundreds of millions in annual tax revenues, jobs benefits, and other financial knock-ons to local communities and the state in general. They are also operated by Resorts World and MGM, two of the largest casino operators in the world.

If two of the licenses are as good as thrown to the wind by simply changing the way two large casinos account for their handle, churn, and hold more to “real casino” standards rather than the simpler video lottery terminal and more or less fixed odds electronic gaming table accounting practices with wilder swings in gross gaming revenue for the more volatile games or natural swings in deviations from the mean for “coin flip” games like real baccarat, roulette or even baccarat, what is to be gained by the state?

That seems to be the elephant-in-the-room question most reporting fails to ask. We proffer that all three licenses might actually be up for grabs because “damn the torpedoes”. New York state will choose whichever options actually generate the most revenue and benefits for the people of New York, the local communities, and the state, because “that’s actually the remit” isn’t it?

The state is not in the business of doing favors for competitive businesses or at least it shouldn’t be, and if existing “casino communities” and their attendant gaming operators lose a little for the greater good of the state by creating three brand new revenue streams “cannibalism be damned” then that’s exactly what the location selection committee will recommend – or should.

If, in the end, a greater benefit for the whole of the state and the populace can be shown to be better attained by simply expanding the current gaming venues – more or less grandfathering in existing operators without fear or favor, then that is what the selection will, or should determine its job is to do.

Back to the Heat in the Kitchen

If that is the case, and the world’s most powerful casino interests are about to embark on a competition for perhaps the most lucrative market on earth – observers and participants should be ready for an epic battle of the titans as has never been seen before and it’s going to get so hot in downstate New York that an outside observer wouldn’t know the difference between Hell’s Kitchen, Times Square, Staten Island, Coney Island, any of the potential sites for a single new casino license. Or hell itself.

We saw amazing machinations for placement, power and control of the upstate casino markets a few short years ago when the first Las Vegas-style casino towns and operators were chosen – so-called “grassroots organizations”, false-flag petition drives, disinformation, seriously flawed “gaming studies”, political upheavals and almost every other imaginable disruption of industry-standard business decorum and charm offensive imaginable.

You ain’t seen nothing yet

For now, we see self-promotion, goodwill advocacy, and some local resistance to each announced contender’s proposal. We see good corporate “citizens” pitching themselves as the most viable alternative and none of the half dozen or so serious contenders has attacked any other in public – nor are they likely to overtly. Nothing “dirty” has bubbled up yet and none of those vying for a new license outside of Yonkers or Queens has alluded to there only being one license available – nor have the two “widely believed” “shoe-ins”.

MGM Resorts International, the owners of Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers has remained mostly mum on the subject as has Genting Malaysia Berhad – the ultimate owner of Resorts World New York at Aqueduct Raceway. And that is the wise move. Isn’t it? That could change.

What’s Coming?

When the state opened bidding for the licenses they set the minimum bid at half a billion dollars and let it be known that it would be a competitive bidding process. At least one player stated it would not go down that route – it would offer a proposal, and negotiate in good faith, but not go head over heels into a bidding process. There are, of course, many possible reasons for such a position not the least of which could be that it would show weakness if it were to find itself unable to compete in a high-priced auction of sorts or that it might not have quite the resiliency to be an effective world power if it tied up resources in an unproven market due to the “known unknowns” of just how many licenses might be up for grabs in reality.

Perhaps New York state or the existing video lottery terminal and electronic table game providers should clear the air and let the public, as well as the potential contenders, know specifically if the existing lottery casinos are on equal footing with other competitors or if they are to enjoy a potentially unfair advantage. Each new proposal we have examined has addressed community benefits and other aspects expected of them in the request for proposals. There is still an elephant in the room and that elephant, if not stared down and asked to dance could quite possibly, become exhibit #1 in any “sour grapes” lawsuits, which inevitably arise before all is said and done when the stakes are this high.

For now, the question remains, just how hot is this contest going to get? The answer is most likely just hot enough to create inflection point after inflection point and just hot enough to bend reality in the mirror of time enough that when it is all said and done, most people will be glad just to be shut of it and to get on with life in the fast lane of gambling. However, it also could present myriad risks to consumer confidence in any and all processes involved in American casino license tenders.

Were two additional licenses approved by voters with a simple majority of Yay vs Nay votes after all seven currently authorized licenses have been issued under the 2013 referendum – all stakeholders, including the public, deserve the quietude of a clear and transparent process with no wild animals lurking in, stumbling. Around, or crashing through the room

If that is true, then why not now? If not now, when? The tender candidates who may risk many times the “minimum bid” to build the casino(s), as well as the public surely deserve to know.

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Macau gaming industry seems to experience a complete recovery in 2023, according to the latest figures. As Inside Asian Gaming reports, Macau operators generated a total of MOP$15.57 billion (US$1.93 billion) in gross gaming revenues in May to record the fifth consecutive month of growing revenues this year following the re-opening of the region of January 8, 2023.

The source reports that the Gaming Inspection and Coordination Bureau (DICJ) informed that the revenue figure achieved by the Macau gambling industry in May 2023 was 366% higher than the one recorded in May 2022 when the region saw the GGR of only MOP$3.34 billion (US$414 million).

Rising Revenue Trend:

However, the revenue level reached in May was also 5.7% higher than the industry’s performance from April 2023 when Macau operators generated MOP$14.72 (US$1.82 billion) in gross revenues to set the record GGR level since January 2020. The May figure therefore represents a continuation of the month-over-month rising revenue trend and sets the highest revenue figure in 2023 to date.

At the same time, the figure significantly contributes to the Macau’s GGR aggregated over the first five months of 2023 to MOP$64.93 billion (US$8.05 billion) year-to-date, which represents a 173% higher value on a year-on-year basis, according to Inside Asian Gaming.

The industry’s strong performance in May also marks the extension of the best first quarter for the Macau casino industry in the last three years, with April and May revenue levels testifying about the even stronger second quarter 2023.  After being heavily affected by COVID-19 pandemic and the related restrictions, the region re-opened its gaming facilities on January 8, 2023 and the revenue figures almost doubled already in January 2023 to keep on growing to the 366% year-on-year levels seen in May 2023.

Booming Arrivals:

Since January 8, 2023, the growth has been tremendously supported by arrivals from mainland China, Hong Kong, and overseas. It was additionally boosted in May with the May Day festive week when the region reportedly hosted almost 500,000 visitors and recorded the hotel occupancy growth of as much as 85%.

Stock Volatility:

But despite the strong performance, Macau casino stocks have recently experienced certain volatility in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, according to GGRAsia. During a conference session at the Global Gaming Expo (G2E) Asia 2023 Special Edition: Singapore, Angela Hanlee, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, told the source that Macau gaming revenue numbers have been beating forecasts every month.

She reportedly addressed Macau operator share prices and said that investors were “not rewarding the beat at all.” According to Hanlee, the fundamental factors for the share price growth are not being significantly driven at the moment.

Norway has come a long way in protecting its gamblers, so much so that the country announced this week that it has slashed its number of problem gamblers in half.

According to a recent survey compiled by Spillforsk, there are currently 23,000 problem gamblers in Norway. That’s down from 55,000 just four years ago. Similarly, the number of at-risk consumers has also dropped to 93,000, a decline of 24% from 2019.

Although this is evidently good news for all involved, you might be wondering how Norway’s problem gambling progress compares to other major markets in Europe. VegasSlotsOnline News has taken a look through the data so you don’t have to.

Finland – Rate: 0.8%

*Source: Veikkaus*

Much like Norway, Finland has a monopoly gambling system under the government-owned Veikkaus. This allows the nation to keep a close eye on its gamblers and ensure they aren’t losing control. However, it also could be argued that this increases the black-market risk as gamblers look for alternative options – a view supported by the fact the nation’s problem gambling rate is higher than others in Europe.

50% of Finnish gambling takes place on unlicensed sites

Earlier this year, Veikkaus announced that it had welcomed a study comparing Finland’s monopoly system with other European markets. The study found that 50% of Finnish gambling takes place on unlicensed sites, meaning an open market is looking more and more likely in Finland. This is something the report suggested would “significantly improve” the channelization to legal gambling.

Veikkaus has since said it is open to the idea of a licensed gambling market. The CEO only affirmed that the transition should happen “faster rather than slowly.”

Denmark – Rate: 0.7%

*Source: Spillemyndigheden*

Just a few years ago, Denmark was joint with Spain as the nation with the lowest problem gambling rate in Europe. Its numbers have spiked considerably since then, however, and the nation is acting in an attempt to bring this number back down to where it should be.

In April, the Danish government announced that it would provide annual funding of DK10m ($1.5m) to problem gambling research and treatment from 2023 to 2025. Citing the “worrying” increase in problem gambling rates as a reason, officials said they would mainly use the funds on “targeting information” towards children and young people.

nearly 500,000 people in Denmark have some degree of gambling problem

Viewing figures from the Danish Gambling Regulator this year found that nearly 500,000 people in Denmark have some degree of gambling problem. Jeppe Bruus, Denmark Minister for Taxation, said the government has a “special obligation” to protect the nation’s vulnerable groups from gambling harm.

Norway – Rate: 0.4%

*Source: Lotteri- og stiftelsesestilsynet*

In announcing news of its rate slash this week, Norway’s gambling regulator Lotteri- og stiftelsesestilsynet attributed the progress to its work on safer gambling initiatives and tools. A new debt register prevents Norwegians from losing too much to gambling, while from Wednesday this week, Norwegian players under 20 years of age will have a reduced maximum monthly spending limit.

In addition, the regulator has cracked down on the illegal black market, increasing the channelization levels through Norsk Tipping and Norsk Rikstoto – the only firms allowed to offer gaming legally in the country. This has included blocking bank deposits from offshore sites and cracking down on illegal TV ads.

Henrik Nordal, the Department Director for the Norwegian Gambling Authority, expressed his feelings on the results this week: “The decline is so great that there is no doubt that the work to stop illegal gambling companies has an effect.”

UK – Rate: 0.3%

*Source: Public Health England*

The UK public has a very strained relationship with its gambling market. While its one of the most mature markets in the world, regularly bringing in $14bn+ ($17.5bn+) each year, operators and suppliers are dealing with tighter and tighter restrictions as anti-gambling groups continue their fight.

around 230,000 people are addicted to gambling in the country

Perhaps surprising to some anti-gambling voices in the country, the UK actually has one of the lowest problem gambling rates in Europe. The UK Gambling Commission has estimated that this ratio of 0.3% may be even lower still, but Public Health England has estimated that around 230,000 people are addicted to gambling in the country.

MPs and anti-gambling groups are not satisfied there though, and high-profile incidents such as the recent Ivan Toney betting saga continue to bring the industry into ill repute. So much so that the government recently published its White Paper on gambling reform. Among other measures, MPs are introducing advanced affordability checks and staking limits for online slots.

Spain – Rate: 0.25%

*Source: Carlos III University*

According to the problem gambling severity index, an industry-standard gauge, Spain has one of the lowest gambling rates in Europe. That said, the research needs to be taken with a pinch of salt given that it was completed in 2020 by Spain’s Carlos III University. Data sets are very few and far between for Spain’s gambling industry, but no further study has been conducted to see if this has risen or fallen since.

Notably, the survey found that the COVID-19 pandemic did not result in any significant rise in online gaming, unlike many other markets such as the US. Meanwhile, the number of gamblers using retail venues such as casinos and bingo halls fell by as much as 50% from pre-pandemic levels during the crisis.

Garzon declared he would dedicate most of the Ministry’s budget to the issue

It is not clear if these figures have risen post-pandemic, but Spain’s Ministry of Consumer Affairs is not holding back in regard to customer protection. In October, Alberto Garzon declared he would dedicate most of the Ministry’s budget to the issue. Mainly, he said he would use funds to target problematic and fraudulent behaviors and detect problem gambling.

Spain has already cracked down on gambling advertising on TV. In 2021, the government introduced legislation preventing gambling advertising outside of the hours of 1am to 5am to protect vulnerable groups.

The post Norway Slashes Problem Gambling Rate in Half: Where Does It Rank in Europe? appeared first on VegasSlotsOnline News.

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