Israel lottery draws same numbers as three weeks before

Three lucky punters, who also correctly guessed the 7th "strong number" each won £666,000, with more than 100 people sharing smaller prizes.

The numbers that rolled out during a live television broadcast were 36, 33, 32, 26, 14, 13, and the additional 'strong' number 2. It didn't take long for some viewers to notice that these numbers were exactly the same as those drawn in the September 21st draw.

Israeli radio station phone-ins were flooded with callers who suspected the draw was rigged.

The allegations were denied by officials from Mifal HaPayis, the national lottery company. "We are in the business of luck, and when it comes to chances and probabilities anything is possible, even the rare and infrequent, like in this case," said Dr Chaim Melamed, the statistics expert for Mifal HaPayis.

Following the remarkable coincidence the machines and coloured balls used in the draw were examined and no irregularities were found. The balls used for the draw are changed on a regular basis and, according to the lottery company, the last change of balls took place between the September 21st draw and the weekend sensation.