THE TELEGRAPH: Italy is in the grip of lottery fever, with a record £113 million (131.5 million euros) up for grabs in the country's national draw, now the world's richest.
Italy is deep in recession and unemployment is on the rise, but millions of Italians are buying up tickets for the lucky numbers game, despite the odds of winning estimated to be one in 622 million.
Although draws are held three times a week the prize has not been won since January, with people in neighbouring countries making special trips to Italy to try their luck in guessing the six winning numbers.
The size of the jackpot has surged past the previous record of 126 million euros, which was paid out by Euromillions in Spain in May.
But the Roman Catholic Church condemned lotto fever, saying it encouraged greed, false hope for society's poorest families and a worship of money that amounted to idolatry.
"Fever for SuperEnalotto has for many people become a form of idolatry and should be stopped as soon as possible," said the archbishop of Lecce, Cosmo Franceso Ruppi. >>> Nick Squires in Rome | Wednesday, August 12, 2009
