Read More
Long queues were seen outside Jockey Club betting centers on Sunday, packed with lottery ticket buyers eager to test their luck at winning the record-breaking HK$188 million Mark Six jackpot.
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT
The club announced that the Mark Six Lunar New Year snowball draw will carry a record-high snowball of HK$150 million, with the first prize estimated to reach HK$188 million for a single HK$10 winning unit hitting all six numbers.
This marks the largest-ever Chinese New Year Snowball in the history of the Mark Six, promising a record-high dividend payout for a single HK$10 winning unit.
As of Sunday afternoon, turnover for the snowball draw had already exceeded HK$270 million.
Lottery tickets for the snowball draw are available until 9:15 pm -- just 15 minutes before the draw.
Dozens of hopefuls queued outside the club’s betting branch on Stanley Street in Central, renowned as “the luckiest betting branch” for having sold the most first-prize lottery tickets, even before it opened at 10 am.
The high-stakes draw has attracted cross-district punters.
A man surnamed Ma, one of the first in line, expressed optimism after winning a prize in a recent Jockey Club lucky draw.
“Maybe I'll match all six numbers this time,” he said. “If I win, I won’t have to work anymore and may buy two flats.”
In contrast, another man surnamed Lam had different aspirations -- planning to emigrate to East Timor, where he believes living costs and domestic helper expenses are significantly lower than in Hong Kong.
“With that HK$188 million jackpot, I can live like a king there,” he joked.
Among the crowd were also tourists sampling the lottery experience in Hong Kong.
A Malaysian father named Yee and his daughter placed bets totaling HK$1,300 after queuing for 40 minutes.
The Club noted that the number 15 has been the most frequently drawn in Chinese New Year Snowball draws since 2002, appearing seven times. Following closely are the numbers 10, 43, and 48, each drawn six times.
(Charlotte Lam)
