THE lure of a £40 million lottery win today has given Britain a tourism boost. As well as sending national lottery takings soaring, the promise of the biggest pay out so far brought in unexpected revenue from the Continent.
Lottery players from Belgium, Holland, Germany and France were heading for the Channel ports and a stake in the jackpot, as well as taking advantage of the favourable exchange rate against sterling in the January sales.
The lottery dash is not new in the rest of Europe, where crossborder queues of players are not uncommon on roads into Germany from Belgium and Holland on big pay out days.
Now, with bargain ferry rates and easy access via the Channel Tunnel, a day return to Britain and a ticket for the big prize are a real prospect.
People from abroad can qualify for the lottery but tickets are not sold in other countries.
And while the slim chances of a mere one million pound win is unlikely to start a dash for the coast, the number of cross Channel passengers at the end of the Christmas holiday indicates many have decided a prize of £40 million is well worth the trip.
Brussels based British businessman Mr Barry Salter is one regular player of the German lottery.
"It's common practice all over Europe," he commented.