How to spend $38 million in Mexico

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One of the first things the five winners of Mexico’s biggest-ever national lottery will do, presumably after recovering from hangovers, is get counseling.

The lottery agency requires winners to listen to a lecture about how to deal with their new riches and avoid scammers. By law, winners’ names are kept secret to stave off trouble.

The pot ($38 million, and that’s not in pesos) grew to record size after lottery players failed to pick a winning combination for four months in the twice-a-week drawings. Mexico’s lottery is called Melate, a play on words that means playing a hunch.

About 31% of ticket proceeds go to such public services as public hospitals and schools.

The government also will be first in line for its tax share of the spoils.

Posted by Carlos Martinez and Sam Enriquez in Mexico City