7 million tickets were purchased for the largest cash prize in Israel’s lottery history but only one person won, taking the first prize of NIS 74 million. The jackpot was the result of 22 consecutive weeks without a winner. After taxes are cleared, the winner will go home with a cool NIS 55.5 million, getting into 2010 with a wide grin on his/her face. As of Monday morning, the prize winner has not come forward to collect the check which waits. The previous high winner was in 2002, when the winner collected NIS 50 million [before taxes].

The runner up did well, earning NIS 4 million before taxes. S/he has yet to come forward as well.

The winning ticket was 6,8,14,21,23,24 with the ‘strong’ number being 7.

Lottery officials add that since the new lottery began in February 2009, 49 people have become millionaires, almost one a week. This marks a significant increase to the 30 millionaires in 2008, under the old system.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)