CHILE: Millions of Chileans hope to hit the jackpot as $17 million dollars enters the country's biggest ever lottery contest

Record ID: 366038

  • Title: CHILE: Millions of Chileans hope to hit the jackpot as $17 million dollars enters the country's biggest ever lottery contest
  • Date: 12th August 2011
  • Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (AUGUST 11, 2011) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF AGENCY SELLING LOTTERY TICKETS PEOPLE BUYING LOTTERY TICKETS SIGN SAYING: "EIGHT BILLION PESOS" PEOPLE BUYING TICKETS LINE OF PEOPLE WAITING TO BUY TICKETS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOTTERY PLAYER, CLAUDIA PEREZ, SAYING: "I have two children in university, one son in high school and I need to pay for their education. I have a debt with the University of Chile for over 20 million pesos [$40,000]." VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BUYING LOTTERY TICKETS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) LOTTERY PLAYER, JUAN SANCHEZ, SAYING: "Pay for my debts and help my family." VARIOUS OF EXTERIOR OF POLLA CHILENA, LOTTERY COMPANY ORGANIZING THE EVENT VARIOUS OF LOTTERY BALL MACHINE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POLLA CHILENA EMPLOYEE, PATRICIO GONZALEZ, SAYING: "We are hoping to get over seven million bets that will be used to divide up the eight billion pesos that we are preparing for tonight." LINE OF PEOPLE WAITING TO PLAY LOTTO VARIOUS OF PEOPLE BUYING TICKETS VARIOUS OF LINE
  • Embargoed: 27th August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Chile, Chile
  • Country: Chile
  • Topics: Arts
  • Reuters ID: LVABXGPJNG4K6O1H5WKQGQU3KPZ7
  • Story Text: Chileans are lining up to place their bets as the country's largest pot of money goes up for grabs on Thursday (August 11).
    Seventeen million dollars ($8 billion Chilean pesos) is the jackpot on offer from the local Polla Chilena gambling company.
    Long lines have formed outside kiosks and gambling centers by people trying to place their bets before 21:00 local time (01:00 GMT Friday) when the winner will be announced.
    Housewives hoping to pay for their children's education jostled next to businessmen, the elderly and students, who all wanted to select their lucky numbers.
    "I have two children in university, one son in high school and I need to pay for their education. I have a debt with the University of Chile for over 20 million pesos [$40,000]," lottery player, Claudia Perez, said.
    "Pay for my debts and help my family," another player, Juan Sanchez, said.
    Organizers say they are hoping for seven million bets on the big prize.
    The first prize winner will receive $13 million ($6.2 billion pesos), followed by two runner-up prices of $3.2 million ($1.5 billion pesos) and $630,000 ($300 million pesos).
    "We are hoping to get over seven million bets that will be used to divide up the eight billion pesos that we are preparing for tonight," Polla Chilena spokesperson, Patricio Gonzalez, said.
    The last biggest lottery in the country so far for $16.5 million ($7.8 billion Chilean pesos) in October last year received 6.5 million bets.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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