In It To Win It
The UK National Lottery has been running since 1994 in it's current incarnation, however there have been examples of similar national lotteries running in the country as far back as 1569.
Throughout it's history there have been shows that run alongside the lotto results. The concepts for these shows have ranged from meeting previous winners to see what they have spent their winnings on, to game shows giving contestants the chance to win large lump sums of cash or exclusive holidays after the lotto results have been drawn. The national lottery also run draws for EuroMillions, Thunderball, Lotto HotPicks and Lotto Plus 5.
The EuroMillions lotto results draw was only launched in 2004 due to legal issues, and spans across 7 European countries, making it the most popular lotto results draw of it's kind. Lotto results are drawn on a Tuesday and Friday with winners receiving up to £161million in EuroMillions rollovers.
The Thunderball Lotto Results draw was introduced in 1999 with players winning money by just matching the Thunderball. However, they could also win the jackpot if their numbers matched the lotto results as well. In 2010 the rules for the Thunderball were dramatically changed with players no longer being able to win money simply by matching the Thunderball. Lotto results are drawn on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
Lotto Plus 5 is the newest game launched to bridge the gap between the weekend lotto results draws. This is played like the regular lottery, however lotto results draws take place on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Lotto HotPicks uses the lotto results from the national lottery draw, however players choose not only which numbers they want to match, but how many. There is more risk involved with this game however as if players do not match all the numbers from the lotto results then they do not win anything.
The National Lottery also run scratch card draws and instant win plays online.
The National Lottery funds a number of charities with lotto players raising £28million a week for good causes. Many national campaigns have been funded by the money raised, such as improved sports facilities in schools and communities and improving youth centres.
Despite these attempts to keep people interested in the lotto results, however, the number of people playing are dwindling. With the average percentage of actual wins being 46%, people are discouraged that they're not seeing the benefit of playing. And of course there is the flip side to this, where players who have matched their numbers to the lotto results are having to remain anonymous, or even flee the country due to the huge demand for their money and the sheer number of begging letters that flood their doorsteps.
Interestingly, the National Lottery has led to the birth of the SuperEnalotto. Slightly different to the National Lottery, SuperEnalotto chooses its lotto results from the winning numbers selected from the first numbers in lotto results draws from the six main cities in Italy.