International: Two win biggest lottery jackpot ever in Germany
Two people from the western German state of North Rhine-Westfalia got the winning numbers to share the biggest lottery jackpot ever in Germany - ¬26.7 million (US$35.5 million), lottery officials announced.
The drawing on Wednesday finally broke the jackpot which had been accumulating in the twice-a-week lotto ever since the last big win on November 20, the Brandenburg state lottery company said in Potsdam.
With the jackpot growing steadily over the past few weeks and publicity about it mounting, lottery ticket offices were overwhelmed by business as even people who normally don't play the numbers game were caught up in the gold-rush fever.
Over the past few days, lottery ticket sales amounted to about ¬96 million (US$127.5 million), the lottery company said.
The winners had the six correct numbers plus a "super number", the last digit of their ticket registration number.
Eight other people had the six correct numbers but not the super number, so they each had to settle for ¬483,000 (US$641,470).