Rare Four-Way Split of $2M Prize Sparks Fervor Across Taiwan

The draw for the 539 lottery, issue number 115241, was held in Taipei on the 5th, with the winning numbers announced as 31, 16, 05, 02, and 08. According to official records, four tickets won the first prize in this draw, each receiving a prize of NT$6 million. The occurrence of four first-prize winners immediately sparked heated discussion on social media and news platforms, with many lottery players viewing it as a symbol of consecutive good luck.

Since its introduction by the government of the Republic of China in 1991, the 539 lottery has become one of the most popular number lotteries in Taiwan. Participants must select five numbers from 1 to 39 and one additional number from 1 to 5, with a total bet of NT$100 per ticket. The probability of winning the first prize is 1 in 1,000,000, and the prize amount is fixed at NT$6 million. Furthermore, any unclaimed first-prize funds are carried over to subsequent draws to enhance the appeal of future first prizes. This combination of a fixed prize and a carryover mechanism ensures that even players who do not win the top prize have a chance to receive substantial returns in other prize tiers.

In this draw, four players simultaneously matched all five numbers, marking a rare instance of multiple first-prize winners in recent years. Such multiple first-