Debt-ridden Greeks rush to buy lottery tickets

Описание

<p> Thousands of Greeks have flocked to lottery stations to buy tickets for a record jackpot. </p><p> The Joker lottery has accumulated the 19 million euro prize after being rolled over since February. </p><p> Lottery terminals were brimming with people rushing to fill out tickets and try their luck. We are in the middle of a crisis, and this is 19 million euros! Although, I would be happy with one million, I don't need 19, I don't need all of it! said motorcycle courier George Lambrakis. </p><p> Its a lot of money, I don't need all of it, even 50 thousand would be good enough, said night watchman Thomas Apergiou. </p><p> The lottery mania comes as Greece asked for official talks with European authorities and the International Monetary Fund, a step toward Athens obtaining billions of euros in emergency loans. </p><p> In a letter to the European Union, the European Central Bank and the IMF, Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou proposed discussions on a multi-year programme of economic policies. </p><p> Greece is struggling to finance a national debt greater than its annual economic output. </p>