Award-winning lottery participant reduces jackpot amount for primary lottery recipient, prompting legal counsel for the second lottery victor to demand the complete payout as per winning terms.
Title: Who's Pulling the Strings in the Lottohelden Jackpot Saga?
By Timm Schaffner | Published: 03.03.2025. Last Updated: 29.04.2025.
The Story Begins: Lawyer, Jobst Ehrentraut, unveiled an eye-popping case over the weekend. One of his clients won a staggering jackpot in the Austrian lottery 6 aus 45 on December 15, 2024, through secondary lottery provider, Lottohelden. But it wasn't all lucky breaks for the jackpot winner, as she only received half her prize money from Lottohelden.
A Twist in the Terms and Conditions
Perhaps you might think, they strike it rich, and everybody's a winner, right? Wrong! According to Ehrentraut, Lottohelden applied an obscure rule in their terms and conditions, known as the "1-rule." This seemingly hidden clause, Ehrentraut alleges, allows the provider to add another winner to specific prize categories, reducing the payout to a dismal 50%. That's a hefty jackpot shrinkage, unimaginable for any lotto enthusiast.
Ehrentraut claims this means the winnings were not distributed according to the official ratios but were artificially reduced. He finds it "astonishing" that this isn't legally binding under German law (§ 307 BGB).
The CEO Responds – But Does He Have a Point?
But let's not trot out the CEO of Lottohelden, Magnus von Zitzewitz, just yet. He swiped back at Ehrentraut's post on LinkedIn, insinuating that the lawyer's lack of understanding of the facts. Von Zitzewitz argued that winnings in secondary lotteries were based on the results of the primary lottery. So, as it happens, in the December 15, 2024, draw, there was a jackpot winner in the primary lottery, so, therefore, Lottohelden's client would have claimed only half the jackpot had she joined the primary lottery.
That's a puzzling defense, one might argue. Playing a secondary lottery, after all, is a bet on the quotas of the primary lottery. But let's grant the defense the benefit of the doubt – was von Zitzewitz really trying to save Lottohelden's hide?
The Risks of Secondary Lotteries: A Gambler's Dilemma
Participating in secondary lotteries remains, as it stands, illegal gambling in Germany. The consumer center continually flags its warning against partaking in such games of chance.
Numerous providers claim they can legally operate in the German market without a German license owing to the EU's freedom of services. Yet several cases are pending before the Bundesgerichtshof (BGH) and Europäischen Gerichtshof (EuGH) to leave the dust settle on this heated issue.
As the players find themselves stuck amidst the legal uncertainty, they usually don't bear the brunt of the repercussions. For example, a 39-year-old woman won 106,000 euros in a secondary lottery last year and believed she played the lotto legitimately. Consequently, proceedings against her were dropped, and she got to keep her winnings without any fines or penalties. Like her, several other players have dodged bullets and kept their winnings with no repercussions.
Lottohelden on the Move: From Secondary to Lead
Earlier this year, von Zitzewitz revealed that Lottohelden is gearing up for its market debut as a lotto broker. The man himself sits at the helm of this venture, which operates separately from the rest of the group that offers secondary lotteries. Under the umbrella of Lottoland Deutschland GmbH, Lottohelden holds a license for commercial gaming mediation with the Joint Gaming Authority of the States (GGL).
Yet, it seems that the venture adopts a distinctive business model, mediating players directly to the primary lotteries rather than operating secondary lotteries itself. This raises the questions – how will the company's potential legal dispute with Ehrentraut's client unfold, and is the "1-rule" a questionable legality? For now, the answers remain shrouded in mystery. Both Lottohelden and Ehrentraut have yet to comment further on the matter.
Unraveling the enigma of the "1-rule" and its impact on payout ratios under German law will undoubtedly tug at Germany's gambling laws. In the meantime, lotto players are in a wait-and-see mode – hoping for justice and their rightful winnings.
Trivia: Were you aware that in 2023, a German lottery winner was awarded €24 million after a drawn-out legal battle with the lottery company over a Porsche car prize? (Source: SPON)
Note: This article is not intended as legal advice. If you think you have been a victim of gambling fraud, seek advice from a legal expert or a consumer protection organization specializing in gambling law.
- Despite von Zitzewitz's response on LinkedIn, Ehrentraut finds it astounding that the 1-rule, which Lottohelden allegedly applied, isn't legally binding under German law.
- In the general news, crime-and-justice sector, a German lottery winner was awarded €24 million in 2023 after a lengthy legal battle over a Porsche car prize.
- While lawsuits against players who win through secondary lotteries are rare, as seen in the case of the 39-year-old woman who won 106,000 euros last year, these incidental players often get away unpunished.
- As part of Lottoland Deutschland GmbH, Lottohelden has a license for commercial gaming mediation with the Joint Gaming Authority of the States (GGL), and it will act as a lotto broker, mediating players directly to primary lotteries instead of offering secondary lotteries.
- The dispute between Lottohelden and Ehrentraut's client raises questions about the legality of the "1-rule" and its impact on payout ratios under German law, potentially leading to significant policy-and-legislation changes in casino-culture and gambling-trends.
- Participation in secondary lotteries remains illegal gambling in Germany, but many providers believe they can operate legally in the German market by relying on the EU's freedom of services.
- Despite the risks, many eager players continue to engage in secondary lotteries, hoping for their chance at the big jackpot, fueling an interest in the casino-and-gambling industry and its associated news coverage on websites like ours.
