Logic will tell you that buying lottery tickets is a waste of time and money.

Then again, tell that to the South African man who won R232 million last month in the PowerBall. He’s trying to keep his identity a secret, but he probably shouldn’t have given this interview.

That’s small fry when compared to the $1,5 billion (around R21,7 billion) winner from South Carolina, who struck gold with a simple act of good faith.

Australia’s latest big winner, who took home AU$46 million (around R473 million), has earned his good luck, although winning twice in the same draw is quite something.

Over to the Guardian:

The man, from St Albans in Melbourne, had forgotten he had two entries in Tuesday’s $70m (US$50m) draw, each marked with the same numbers.

“I’m speechless. I can’t believe it,” he told officials, who alerted him to his double bounty.

Both tickets had the same marked numbers which he’d been playing for 30 years. He bought the tickets separately at two different outlets in Melbourne.

“I play every week. I have always marked my entries, but I have never chosen the numbers on anything in particular. They weren’t special before, but they are now,” he said.

The man says he is going to share the winnings with his family, adding that he will consider retiring.

What is wrong with these lottery winners who insist that they’ll keep their jobs? The overwhelming reason I ever purchase a ticket is the dream of never, ever working again.

According to Oz Lotto spokeswoman Bronwyn Spence, it was actually a blunder on the man’s part:

“Quite remarkably, the Melbourne man didn’t realise he’d bought two entries, he thought he’d bought an entry for a different lottery draw. But because he marks his entries, he marked them with the same numbers that came out of the barrel tonight which meant he won division one twice.”

She estimated the winner’s three-decade lottery ticket habit would have cost him around $30,000 (US$21,000).

I suppose, in light of his win, you would consider it a shrewd investment.

Might just snap up a few entries for tonight’s $750 million PowerBall draw. You’ll know if I won because you’ll never hear from me again.

[source:guardian]