Lawsuits Filed in Austria Due to Incorrect Rubbish Stamp Pronunciations in Lottery Games
A Financial Crisis Looms for Austrian Lotteries: A typo in the scratch card series '1 Year Christmas!' may have 200 players cashing in on the €60,000 jackpot. Further legal actions are expected.
The typo may bring ruin to the Austrian Lotteries. © Adem Erkoç/Pexels
200 Players Claim the Top Prize
A typo in the conditions of the '1 Year Christmas!' scratch card series of the Austrian Lotteries has triggered a legal avalanche, as per 'Today' newspaper. Originally, only two winners were expected. Now, 200 players argue for the €60,000 top prize.
The confusion surrounds an ambiguous statement at the back of the cards: It stated that players had to find the €5,000 symbol three times to win the jackpot. However, the crucial addition 'per game' was missing, leading some cardholders to interpret the rules as meaning a distribution of the symbols over several cards could also count as a win. A Vienna court has already ruled in favor of a plaintiff, awarding them €60,000.
Austrian Lotteries in Deep Trouble
If the other plaintiffs prevail, this could end up costing the Austrian Lotteries, which profit from the controversial gambling monopoly, dearly. A total of 1.2 million cards from the error-ridden series were sold. The payout ratio was 57%, so an initial gross gaming revenue of €1.6 million was anticipated. However, according to Kleine Zeitung, €12 million could be due if all 200 plaintiffs receive the jackpot.
If the rules are interpreted in the plaintiffs' favor, up to 270,000 cards could potentially qualify as main winners, which would result in a theoretical claim amount of €16 billion. Lawyer Oliver Peschel, who already represents 180 cardholders, has already announced more lawsuits.
In gambling, you win some and lose some. In this case, many have won, even if it wasn't entirely intended."-Oliver Peschel, Austrian lawyer, Profil
Austrian Lotteries Change Their Defense Approach
The legal department of the Lotteries has since altered its defense strategy and now refers to an 'obvious explanatory error,' thereby negating the game contract. The affected players are offered the refund of the purchase price of €3. Moreover, the Lotteries have pointed out that many cards may have already been discarded, meaning the actual number of potential plaintiffs could be lower.
Scratch Cards in Austria and Europe – A Popular Form of Gambling in a Hurry
Scratch cards are one of the most popular forms of gambling in Austria. They can be purchased at Trafiken, supermarkets, and online from the Austrian Lotteries. These instant winners offer immediate satisfaction: Players simply rub off the covered fields, and they find out if they've won.
Scratch cards are also very popular in numerous other European countries:
Germany: Scratch-off lottery tickets are offered by the state lottery companies of the federal states and are available in lottery sales points, supermarkets, and online. Prices usually range between €1 and €20.
Switzerland: The Swisslos (German-speaking Switzerland) and the Loterie Romande (French-speaking Switzerland) sell scratch-off lottery tickets with top prizes of up to €1 million (around €1.7 million).
France: The Jeux de grattage of the Française des Jeux (FDJ) are incredibly popular. There are numerous variations with top prizes of up to several million euros.
Spain: The ONCE lottery offers multiple scratch-off lottery tickets, the proceeds of which support the blind community.
United Kingdom: The National Lottery sells Scratchcards that allow winnings ranging from a few British pounds to six-figure amounts.
Despite their popularity, scratch-off lottery tickets are deemed risky due to their ability to trigger quick and repetitive play, which could lead to problem gambling. Hence, they are subjected to stringent regulations, like all games of chance in Austria.
However, lawyers anticipate further legal actions. Lawyer Philipp Kalser, who represents another plaintiff, has noted that the lotteries should have clarified their supposed mistake much sooner. The company is already gearing up for possible negotiations before the highest court.
Financial Consequences:Errors in a gambling product can lead to refunds or compensations, reputation damage, investigation costs, and legal fees. To determine the exact financial implications for Austrian Lotteries, more specific details regarding the error and its effects on the product would be essential.
The typo in the '1 Year Christmas!' scratch card series has sparked a legal battle,with 200 players appealing for the €60,000 top prize, a decision that could potentially bring significant financial consequences for the Austrian Lotteries. In a Vienna court ruling, one plaintiff was awarded €60,000, indicating a potential payout of €12 million if all 200 plaintiffs receive the jackpot. This situation, if not resolved, could cost the Austrian Lotteries dearly, given that 1.2 million cards from the error-ridden series were sold. Further legal actions are expected, as lawyers anticipate a theoretical claim amount of €16 billion if up to 270,000 cards could potentially qualify as main winners.
