The soccer lottery allows people to bet whether the host team will win, lose or tie in nine matches in the Italy Seria A and four matches in the England Premiership.

China Seria A will also be included in the soccer lottery.

A ticket seller whose surname is Liu said that she had only sold 50 tickets by yesterday morning -- a small number compared with two other sports lotteries.

"It is too complicated, and I am not familiar with foreign soccer teams," said one middle-aged man.

Instead, he bought 5 tickets for the Fengcai sport lottery.

And one soccer fan said that he was not sure which matches to place bets on, so he is letting the computer choose at random.

Liu said most soccer lottery buyers are fans familiar with the foreign players and teams. She said that more people are likely to buy tickets after they become more familiar with how the lottery works.

Another soccer fan whose surname is Zhu said he would wait to buy tickets until Saturday, the last day of the current round. "I am going to buy some soccer newspapers and read the latest about the teams and players," Zhu said. "I think lottery buyers need knowledge rather than just trying their luck."

All of the interviewees said they did not participate in the trial round of the soccer lottery on October 10.

Results were announced on October 15; 166 people won prizes nationwide.

But three of five Beijingers who won first prize -- 40,000 yuan (US$4,837) each -- did not pick up the money on time. Lottery officials said it was possible they did not know they won.

(China Daily October 23, 2001)