Is it number 38 or 33? Ball in TV lottery draw shows both!
LOTTERY players claimed a £4.5million draw on live television was a fix after footage of the winning numbers being chosen appeared to show the number 33 on the 38 ball.
The lottery programme showed the red ball roll into its slot after it was drawn as the second number in Ireland’s Lotto Plus 1 draw on Saturday evening.
When it came into shot, viewers were able to see the number 38 printed over it several times. But some also spotted a number 33 in the middle of the ball.
During the draw, presented on Irish channel RTE by regular host Nuala Carey, the 38 ball was drawn along with 1, 4, 29, 45, 46 and the bonus ball, 26.
David Connolly, from Dublin, posted a photograph on Twitter, writing: ‘Fixed Irish lotto, look at 33 & 38 on the same ball??’
But a spokesman for the Irish National Lottery said the effect was caused by a momentary reflection, adding: ‘The National Lottery would like to assure its players of the integrity of Saturday night’s Lotto Plus 1 draw. A brief reflection of light during filming caused an illusion and some players to think there were two numbers on ball 38. This was not the case. The weight and size of all Lotto balls, and the numbers, are strictly checked in advance of each draw. This process, as well as the draw, is independently observed by auditors KPMG.’