The jackpot for Italy`s popular SuperEnalotto game has reached an all-time record of 102.5 million euros for Thursday`s draw, The previous record of some 100.7 million euros, set in October 2008, fell Tuesday night when no one picked the winning six-number combination.

SuperEnaLotto Jackpot

The Italian game has had the highest pot in the world for several weeks. USA Powerball is second with some 52 million euros up for grabs and USA Mega Millions is third, offering 33.7 million euros. SuperEnlotto`s stratospheric pot has attracted a vastly growing number of betters both at home and abroad.

The advantage of the Italian game over others, especially those in America, is that SuperEnalotto pays out the full prize almost immediately, while US games give winners the pot in long-term instalments or pays a single, reduced prize.

SuperEnalotto winners also receive interest on their winnings from the time they redeem their slips to when they receive full payment, which usually takes two months. In order to win at SuperEnalotto, betters must choose the correct six numbers drawn from one to 90. The last time there was a big winner was on January 31 and since then there have been 73 draws.

Draws are held three times a week, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. SuperEnalotto, which made its debut in December 1997, has been a boon for Italy`s state coffers which receive 49.5% of all bets made, far more than other national betting games which pay the Treasury between 20% and 25%.

The pool itself receives 38% of bets, slip vendors receive 8% and game organizers Sisal take a 4.4% cut. There is also a 5+1 win, in which a seventh bonus number is drawn and can be added to any five of the original six-number combination. There were two 5-1 winners on Tuesday, each receiving over 963,000 euros.

SuperEnalotto also pays for five, four and three correct guesses. Each six-number combination costs 50 euro cents with a minimum two combination or one euro bet.