Remarkable Coincidence in Bulgaria – September 18th, 2009

Bulgaria’s Sports Minister Svilen Neykov has ordered a special review of the national lottery after the same numbers were picked in straight draws only four days apart, reports Agence France Presse.

The numbers 4, 15, 23, 24, 35, and 42 were drawn on September 6 and again on September 10 in consecutive lottery rounds. Mathematician Mihail Konstantinov commented that the probability of this happening is 4.2 million to one, although he added that such coincidences can happen.

Three of the numbers also appeared in the September 13 draw. Lottery deputy chairwoman Maria Yaneva excluded any possibility of manipulation of the winning numbers, telling the 24 Hours newspaper that the numbers were drawn in a different order each time, and take place in the presence of a special lottery committee that guarantees no manipulation.

The draws are also broadcast live in television she said. An unprecedented 18 people guessed all six numbers when they were drawn the second time on September 10.

The winners will each get 10 164 leva (about Euros 5 197). In the first draw on September 6, there were no winners. The last major jackpot won in the Bulgarian lottery was 3.8 million leva (Euro 1.94 million) in January 2008.

And in Canada the Ontario ombudsman, Andre Marin has urged wronged lottery ticket holders allegedly defrauded by ticket retailers to launch private litigation if the police do not move on cases submitted to them.