Joker jackpot at CYP 6.66 mln

(or 11.5 mln euros, if you don’t mind)

 

Punters in Cyprus have a one-in-ten chance to win the CYP 6.66 mln (EUR 11.5 mln) in prize money accumulated in the OPAP lucky game, Joker, which has not had a winner in four draws.

There was no winner on Sunday and the winnings of CYP 3.3 mln were carried over to the next draw of the game that requires five of 45 numbers, as well as the lucky ‘jackpot’ number, one of 20 possibilities.

Officials at OPAP (Cyprus) Ltd., the Greek gaming and football pools operator, said that Thursday’s winnings would make this the second largest prize following the CYP 8 mln Joker prize three years ago.

Soteris Mesaritis, director of OPAP’s agency network, told the Financial Mirror that Cypriot bets account for 10-12% of all bets in Greece, with the most popular game on the island being the KINO that revolves around a draw every five minutes.

“OPAP usually subsidises these games during the Christmas and New Year’s holidays which is why about 1 mln coupons are played for Joker alone,” he said.

“These include ordinary folk playing simple coupons of 40c to a group of friends that may play a combination of even a thousand coupons to raise their chances.”

Mesaritis said that all OPAP games are popular this time of the year, which is why OPAP (Cyprus) Ltd. introduced the bonus game “Amesi Niki” (Quick Win) that gives all players the chance to win anything from plasma and LCD TVs, PCs, to CYP 1,000 in cash or one of the many cars.

“We gave away a Jaguar two weeks ago and a Volvo this week,” he said, explaining that once a punter has bet any one of the many OPAP games, an on-the-spot draw determines if that coupon has won any of the household prizes.

“If you are told that your coupon will enter the ‘Second Chance’ game, then you must return that coupon any time between January 15 and 25 and enter for our grand prize of CYP 100,000,” Mesaritis said.