PLUS Lotto Boosts Game with 20 Million Swiss Franc Prize
14 February 2001LIECHTENSTEIN -- (Press Release) -- Feb. 14, 2001 -- PLUS Lotto the world's leading Internet lottery site has enhanced its weekly Megabucks game with an additional top prize of 20 million Swiss Francs (over US$12 million).
The existing Megabucks game, which has been drawn each Friday since 1995, will have its first draw in this enhanced format on 16 February.
Authorised and controlled by the Liechtenstein government, and independently audited by accountants Ernst & Young, PLUS Lotto pays 20% of the ticket gross to charities including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. Over 60% is distributed as prizes.
In addition to the top prize, there is now an extra 2 ball prize. Players getting just two numbers right will win a free ticket in the following week's game. Tickets cost 1 Swiss Franc, roughly US$0.60.
PLUS Lotto offers a range of other games as well as lotteries including scratchcards and interactive games. At least one completely new site, under the 'Zabadoo.com' brand, is scheduled to launch before the beginning of March.
``With Megabucks,'' said PLUS Lotto managing director, Adriaan Brink, ``we already have a loyal audience, coming to the site several times a week from all over the world, to buy tickets and even to watch the draw.''
Players can watch the draw live over the Internet every Friday afternoon (15:55, CET) at There are plans to make European broadcasts of the draw via cable and satellite TV later in the year.
``We didn't want to make too radical a change to such a popular and established game. Increasing the ticket price or reducing the other prizes wasn't something we wanted to do. What we've done here is simply add an extra 20 million to the top, and increased the chances of winning.''