Half of Lotto First Prize Winners "Don't Even Tell Their Spouse"

Prize Money Used Mostly for "Loan Repayment" Tops
Surpasses Previous "Buying Real Estate"

As domestic lottery sales continue to increase steadily, it has been revealed that the largest number of people plan to use their first-place winnings to 'repay loans.'

According to a survey conducted on last year's Lotto first-place winners, SBS reported on the 18th that there has been a recent change in how lottery winners use their prize money.

Previously, the answer "I will buy real estate" consistently ranked first, but in this survey, the most common response was "I will repay loans."

The rapid rise in real estate prices has made it difficult to purchase property with the average first-place prize of 2 billion won, and the burden of loan repayment due to high interest rates has become heavier than ever, which is cited as the cause.

Additionally, 95% of respondents said they would continue doing their current work even after winning the Lotto.

When asked why they purchased lottery tickets, the top answer was "because I expected a large prize."

Next, many responded that they bought tickets "for fun while imagining pleasant scenarios," followed by "because I had a good dream."

Among those who bought lottery tickets because of a dream, the most common answer to the question "What kind of dream did you have?" was "animal dreams."

This result differs from the past when many people bought tickets after having 'ancestor dreams.'

About half of the respondents said they would inform their spouse about winning the Lotto.

"Claim your 3.5 billion and 2.3 billion won Lotto first-place prizes from the May 2022 draw"

[Image source provided by Donghaeng Lottery]

Meanwhile, over 5.8 billion won from last year's May Lotto draw has yet to find its owner.

If no winner comes forward within about a month, the prize money will be transferred to the lottery fund and used for welfare projects for marginalized groups.

According to the lottery operator Donghaeng Lottery, the first and second-place prizes from the 1017th Lotto draw held on May 28 last year remain unclaimed.

The prizes are 3.51768 billion won for first place and 58.63 million won for second place, sold at lottery retailers in Dongjak-gu and Songpa-gu, Seoul, respectively.

The first-place prize of 2.26066 billion won from the 1016th draw held on May 21 of the same month is also waiting for its owner. This ticket was sold at a retailer in Jung-gu, Seoul.

The deadline to claim Lotto winnings is one year from the date payment begins.