Lotto: Super Jackpot has gamblers on their toes - Germany

Germany is in the grip of what is so quaintly called “Lottofieber�. The Lotto jackpot hasn’t been won for weeks, the record amount of € 38,000,000 (in words: thirty-eight million Euros) has gamblers storming the Lotto stands. Even the least adventurous and fearsome are having a fling, the State Lottery expects bets of up to € 150,000,000 for this Saturday’s draw.

This being an imperfect world (in spite of Leibniz’ insistence that we live in the best of all possible worlds), the jackpot will not mount to any absurd heights. If it hasn’t been won by Wednesday, 12 December with someone getting all six correct numbers and the seventh extra number (out of 49) then getting six correct numbers will suffice. Or it gets divided among the lucky few who have “only� five of the seven numbers.

So do your duty as polite guests, join the stampede and either win a bit, a lot, or lose. With € 38,000,000 you can:

- Buy a Boeing - due to the weak dollar it only costs € 31.6 mio, leaving you some spending money for your year-long vacation on Barbados;

- Stay in the Royal Suite in the Hotel Burj al Arab in Dubai (7*) for almost ten years (€10,600 per night);

- buy Michael Jackson’s Neverland-Ranch (19 mio €);

- and have enough to celebrate New Year’s Eve with Paris Hilton for 33 years (1 mio $ per fling).

Or do something sensible, but where’s the fun in that?

By the way, your chance of winning this jackpot is 1:140,000,000 (app.), your chance of being hit by lightning is almost six time higher. Storms are in the forecast.

What about the tax? I am sure German gov. will want to get half of 38m, before you put your hands.on it

lottery wins are tax free, l believe

is that Edelherb or Vollmilch Leibniz? Never trusted the Vollmilch

Lottery winnings are non taxable.

If I recall correctly the winnings themselves are tax-free, only any income derived from the winnings must be declared. Assume you win € 1,000,000 and invest it at 8% p.a. you will pay taxes on the interest but not on the capital. I can't find a link right now but will work on it. If you buy buildings etc. they will be taxed at property value level.
EDIT: @ Lassie - Chocolate coated cookies are perverse anyway, the gunk sticks to your teeth for hours.

Buy a Boeing "what". Its like saying buy a house... There is quiet a difference between a B737 & B747-400 in price...

Any yes: Lotto wins are tax-free (enough tax has been carved off the pay-ins). Of course any interest earned on the winnings is taxable...

@ HEM - A bog-standard 737-600 will do.

If ten or fifteen were to win and I was one of them I think I'd be happy with that.

i would still debating whether to move my residency to switzerland. rather donate the money than pay money to the state.

I want the money...I suppose it would help if I increased my chances of winning by buying a ticket

Not by much though...

They do say these state lotteries are an extra tax on the poor (or the stuipid some might say). I had to buy a battery from the local shop last Saturday and there was a huge snaking queue for lottery tickets. Personally I think it is really quite sad watching these people, many of whom do not have spare disposable income, spunking their cash on such a pointless pursuit. I don't think governments should be actively promoting this kind of abuse of their citizens. Gambling will always go on, but it is an evil and should not be state sponsored - the state should be trying to look after the people.

Yeah, take care of your subjects, like not imposing taxes on cigarettes and exploiting their weakness.

Nope. Tax on cigarettes should limit/cut down consumption.

The equivalent would be if the State was making cigarettes more openly and freely available in more locations, and in fact offering their own cut-price brand of cigarettes into the market.

I wouldn't exactly call it a tax on the poor and I know loads of people who are quite well-off but who play the game for fun. Of course winning the jackpot would change their lives considerably, but it's not the end of the world if they don't.

If you take me, one less pint down the pub tonight for the sake of a lottery ticket is not going to cause me too much finanical hardship. It's a bit like the Grand National. Everyone becomes a horseracing fan for that one day and places a bet on some old nag with a funny name. Similarly, I don't play the lottery very often but when there's a big bumper jackpot you just think, "why the hell not"! Cos I'm all romantic like, innit!!