Identical lottery draw was coincidence
Fri Sep 18, 2009 1:25pm EDT

SOFIA (Reuters) - The draw of the same six winning numbers twice in a row in Bulgaria's national lottery was a freak coincidence, officials said Thursday.

Sports Minister Svilen Neikov ordered an investigation after the numbers 4, 15, 23, 24, 35 and 42 were selected, in a different order, by a machine live on television on September 6 and 10. The results caused suspicions of manipulation.

An investigation found no wrongdoing in the draw or determining the winners, its chairman Konstantin Simeonov said.

"We cannot talk about any manipulation," he said.

The chance of the same six numbers coming up twice in two consecutive rounds was one in more than 4 million but was not impossible, respected mathematician Michail Konstantinov has said.

An unprecedented 18 people guessed all six numbers when they were drawn the second time and each got 10,164 levs ($7,700). Nobody won the top prize the first time.

The lottery organizers say it is impossible to tamper with the lottery machine. The draws take place in the presence of a special committee and is broadcast live on national television which guarantee no cheating, they say.

"This is happening for the first time in the 52-year history of the lottery. We are absolutely stunned to see such a freak coincidence but it did happen," a spokeswoman said.

(Reporting by Anna Mudeva)

Where was Derren Brown, that's right he was deluding stupid fat British people.

What is wrong with you

What is wrong with you

I think he's that guy from PCP. He must be. I've forgotten his name though.

It must be the same guy. I've been thinking it for a while now.

As for the lottery... It's very uncommon but not impossible. Given the numbar etc of countries that operate a lottery, the number of draws per year it's inevitible that sooner or later this would happen

So how do you explain 18 people guessing the same number correctly second time?

So how do you explain 18 people guessing the same number correctly second time?

My posts may be extreme and sometimes obtuse, but I am entitled to my opinion, if you don't like it, debate them, call me out on them, correct me, it's not my intention to upset people, my posts are not intended to be personal.

In answer to your question, I'm dissatisfied with society.

I would never begrudge anyone having an opinion, everyone has that right. But look at the comment here about the fat british public. Are you saying all british are fat or that he only fooled the fat ones? Its just uncalled for. Why does 'fat' have to come into it at all?