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`We have not seen so much money before'
Lingappa (right) being greeted by the Vice-President (Marketing) of Playwin, Kulbir Ahuja. The winner's wife, Narayanamma, is seen.
THESE LITTLE slips of paper, you will agree, have immense power -- they make a lucky few into instant crorepatis. But they can also turn dreams to dust.
(Un)fortunately, now, they also use the TV and technology for greater reach and appeal. ``Kaun Banega Crorepati'' made winning the biggest business of all for Star TV. And spawned a whole generation of eminently forgettable clones.
But let us not talk about such depressing things. Let us discuss online lotteries, instead. These have not only swept State lotteries off their feet, but also have created a whole generation of money-mad people hooked onto overnight success.
Lingappa is one such person. A ``chaat'' vendor from Sampangiramnagar, he used to spend Rs.50-Rs.100 a week on lotteries. Till quite recently, that is.
Today, the vendor is suddenly and surprisingly rich -- after he won Playwin's Super Lotto Jackpot of Rs.2.78 crores.
The moment he knew he was a crorepati, he and his companions rushed to the City Police Commissioner, H.T. Sangliana. When we asked him why, he replied: "We have not seen so much money in our lives, so we thought the right thing to do at that moment was to inform the Commissioner.''
According to him, his deity ``Sani devaru,'' changed his fate. A grateful Lingappa now plans to build a temple for "Sani." Though he does not wish to stop selling ``chaat,'' serving the deity will be first preference.
The man, by the way, is still in shock over his success. He isn't even sure if he will stop buying lottery tickets in future.
That in turn, should reveal why lotteries are so popular. In fact, Playwin has now introduced a new game show called ``Thunder Ball'' to encourage lottery lovers such as Lingappa.
The fact that Bangalore has 350 Playwin terminals proves that its people are wooing luck hard. Which only shows that if all work and no play make Jack a dull boy, all Playwin and no work make him a rich boy!
By Divya Sreedharan
Photo: V.Sreenivasa Murthy.
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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