Gambling: On the couch with the winning coach

Anyone who has won a large lottery prize in Hesse will have to deal with Sabine Mausolf. That is, of course, if you want to get advice from Lotto Hessen in general. Who should I tell about the win? Should I hand in my notice to my boss tomorrow? Should I change banks? The expert's advice could be helpful for questions like these. For example, for the winner of almost 88 million euros just two weeks ago. Someone has contacted them, but Lotto Hessen is currently still waiting for the original receipt to be presented.

"Many customers first want confirmation from us that they have really won so much that their numbers have really hit the jackpot," says Mausolf. Even with the really large sums, most reacted rather calmly and cautiously. "But some also show their joy clearly." Almost all of the million-dollar winners take up the voluntary advice offer, and for six-figure winnings it is around half of the players, says Lotto spokesman Andreas Bickler. In principle, every winner is welcome to come to the head office with questions - even for smaller sums.

"One of the most important tips is that the customer should first keep calm," says Mausolf. "And you should definitely not tell everyone about your win." Otherwise, the large sum could arouse not only envy but also covetousness among friends. Sometimes a white lie about a small inheritance could help if the neighbors notice the new car or the extra vacation. Anyone with small children should also think carefully about whether the win should be a topic of conversation in the family, advises Mausolf. Otherwise, the kids might spill the beans.

The Lotto Hessen team does not offer specific financial or legal advice - but they do advise customers to look at the offers of various financial institutions if they win large sums.

Anyone who lives in a smaller town should consider opening a new account at another bank for the lottery money, says Mausolf. Sometimes bank employees are part of the neighborhood or circle of friends and then the news of the big money could quickly spread around the village despite banking secrecy.

What do the winners want to know most urgently? According to Mausolf's experience, one of the first questions is whether the winnings have to be taxed. And the expert has good news: lottery winnings are tax-free because lottery tax was already paid when the ticket was filled out.

In the Hessian Lotto headquarters, there is a special room with a red couch and a coffee machine where consultations are held in peace and quiet. This is where Mausolf and her colleagues get an insight into very personal matters. "I've had customers who were in difficult financial situations who said: 'This is just the right time.'" After winning a large sum, one welfare recipient said to her: "Now I'm going to buy myself a new umbrella."

The expert also hears crazy stories about misplaced or forgotten lottery tickets. Just a few weeks ago, a man presented his ticket, which was worth 260,000 euros. "When I looked at the paper more closely, I noticed the date of January 2023," says Mausolf. The customer tells her that he discovered the ticket while tidying up. It was still in time: winnings can be claimed for three years.

Mausolf is a trained office clerk and has been supporting lottery winners for 38 years. From all these years, one elderly couple in particular has stuck in her mind. The two came to the head office with their lottery ticket and had won several thousand euros. When the elderly lady was asked to sign the form to transfer the money, she had to get a magnifying glass out of her handbag because her eyesight was already bad. "She wanted to buy a new magnifying glass with the money and maybe a dress," says Mausolf. "That moved and touched me very much."

Mausolf believes that the most important requirements of her job are common sense and empathy. "Every person is different and it's always great." That makes the job exciting and varied, says Mausolf. "I can also be happy for the customers, I'm not jealous. That wouldn't be good in my role."

When she talks about her job in private, she regularly hears one question: Can you tell me the numbers for next Saturday? But of course Sabine Mausolf cannot give that tip.

© dpa-infocom, dpa:250225-930-386065/1