Punters flocked to the luckiest Mark Six outlet in town yesterday to chase an estimated $45 million first prize jackpot, including a $30 million snowball, as the lottery celebrated its 30th birthday. But they were disappointed when first prize failed to go off in last night's draw.
It will now jackpot to $60 million on Thursday, the biggest prize since the record of $70 million set in September 2003.
By lunchtime yesterday, seven queues, each about 10 metres long, stretched into the street at the Jockey Club's off-course betting centre on Haiphong Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, which has produced five first-prize winners in the past two years.
Mary Ho, 57, who came from Chai Wan with her grandson, bought a $50 ticket. 'I heard this outlet was really lucky. I don't buy Mark Six very often,' she said.
Mrs Ho said the first thing she would do if she won the $45 million jackpot would be to donate some of her winnings to charity.
Niki Dee, 30, who seldom tried her hand on Mark Six, went to the outlet after reading a South China Morning Post story yesterday about its lucky history.
