Boom for the Italian Lottery, 9.6 million tickets sold: possible increase in prizes
On 6 January, the drawing of the winning tickets. The first prize in the first category remains fixed at EUR 5 million
The countdown has begun for the Lotteria Italia, which will end on 6 January with the drawing of the winning tickets televised on Rai 1. Once again this year, the Lotteria Italia was the protagonist on the programme Affari Tuoi, hosted by Stefano De Martino. According to data processed by Agimeg and Agipro News, about 9.6 million coupons were sold this year. Such high numbers have not been recorded for 15 years. An important increase that will also have positive repercussions on the number of prizes.
Sales increased by 10%
In the 2024-2025 edition, sales rose to 8.6 million and the prize categories became four. Last year there were thus 280 prizes. In this year's edition, ticket sales increased by 10 per cent. A further increase in total prizes is therefore very likely. According to estimates, there could be at least 300 prizes this year or, a less likely scenario, the number of prizes could increase. In this edition, a Special Prize of EUR 300,000 has been introduced, which will be awarded in advance of the final draw, through a specific procedure laid down in the regulations.
First prize: 5 million euro
The first prize in the first category remains fixed at EUR 5 million and winners have 180 days from the publication of the Official Bulletin to claim their prizes. The deadline is usually in the first half of July. Lottery Italia winnings are not subject to taxation. It seems unbelievable, but sometimes it happens that someone forgets to collect or even does not realise they have won. Since 2002, some 32 million Euro in Lotteria Italia prizes have not been collected. The negative record is held by the 2008 edition in which the EUR 5 million first prize won in Rome was not collected. In that case, the Customs and Monopolies Agency decided to award two EUR 5 million prizes in the next edition. This was the only case in the history of the Lottery of two first prizes being awarded.
Lazio, Lombardy and Campania the luckiest regions
As far as the geography of winnings is concerned, Latium, Lombardy and Campania are the luckiest regions. No fewer than five regions have won first prizes in the third millennium. Since 2000, 26 first prizes have been awarded in the Italian Lottery, and there is one region that stands out among them all. It is Lazio where no less than 8 first prizes have been won. In second place is Lombardy with 5 first prizes. On the third step of the podium was Campania with 4 first prizes. Emilia Romagna and Veneto followed with 2 first prizes each. Marche, Piedmont, Liguria, Friuli Venezia Giulia and Sicily each won only one first prize.
Ten dry regions
There are 10 regions still without first prizes, namely Valle d'Aosta, Tuscany, Basilicata, Trentino Alto Adige, Abruzzo, Apulia, Umbria, Molise, Calabria and Sardinia. Rome also dominates the ranking of the first category prizes, the richest ones, of the Lotteria Italia, in the third millennium editions. As many as 26 prizes in the highest category were won in the capital. In second place, but far behind, is Milan, with 10 prizes. On the third step of the podium, we find Naples and Turin, both with 7 first category prizes won. In total, 138 first category prizes have been awarded in the last 26 editions of the Lotteria Italia, for a total of around 265 million euros. It should be noted that none of the richest prizes has ever been won in Valle d'Aosta, Trentino Alto Adige, Molise, Basilicata and Sardinia.
