![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/lotterys-9-biggest-scandals/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1_Peter-Kyle.jpg&description=National Lottery has been hit by a slew of scandals in recent years, from break-ups and regrettable investments to being accosted by strangers in the street, fuelling rumours of a jackpot "curse" The National Lottery has changed thousands of Brits' lives over the years, but it's not always been for the better. More than 6,300 new millionaires have been created since its launch under Camelot in 1994, with Czech owner Allwyn taking over in 2024. However, for some of those winners, scooping the prize has led to their ultimate downfall. The organisation has been hit by a slew of scandals in recent years, from break-ups and regrettable investments to being accosted by strangers in the street, fuelling rumours of a jackpot "curse". Some fraudulent winners have even ended up behind bars. Here we take a look at some of the biggest National Lottery scandals. Retired Royal Artillery gunner Pete Kyle scooped £5.1m when his numbers came up, and he declared at the time that the money was "going to change" his life. For a while, the money had a positive impact and at the top of Pete's shopping list that week was a fishing boat and some new tackle, so he could continue to enjoy his favourite pastime. Pete promised to keep much of his life private and he did just that - secretly buying a mansion in an exclusive area of Plymouth. There, he knocked down an attractive coach house beside the property and replaced it with a large double garage for his plush cars. He installed a bar, a snooker room and all the mod-cons. But then, somehow, the money reportedly ran out and the house was repossessed. His private struggles became very public in April 2008, when it was claimed in the media that he had frittered his fortune away. Aged 55, he was reported to be living at a budget hotel, and The Sun claimed he owed money to creditors. A few days after reports first emerged of Pete's downfall, the businessman who bought the luxury home the lottery winner had lived in told The Herald he was sick o){kind=link}
National Lottery has been hit by a slew of scandals in recent years, from break-ups and regrettable investments to being accosted by strangers in the street, fuelling rumours of a jackpot “curse”
The National Lottery has changed thousands of Brits’ lives over the years, but it’s not always been for the better.
More than 6,300 new millionaires have been created since its launch under Camelot in 1994, with Czech owner Allwyn taking over in 2024. However, for some of those winners, scooping the prize has led to their ultimate downfall. The organisation has been hit by a slew of scandals in recent years, from break-ups and regrettable investments to being accosted by strangers in the street, fuelling rumours of a jackpot “curse”. Some fraudulent winners have even ended up behind bars.
Here we take a look at some of the biggest National Lottery scandals.
Retired Royal Artillery gunner Pete Kyle scooped £5.1m when his numbers came up, and he declared at the time that the money was “going to change” his life. For a while, the money had a positive impact and at the top of Pete’s shopping list that week was a fishing boat and some new tackle, so he could continue to enjoy his favourite pastime.