Bulgaria launches probe as winning lottery numbers repeated

Bulgaria probes repeat of lottery numbers

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Authorities have launched an investigation after the same winning numbers were produced on two consecutive draws of Bulgaria’s national lottery.

Sport Minister Svilen Neikov ordered the probe after the numbers 4, 15, 23, 24, 35 and 42 were selected by a machine — in a different order — on two consecutive weeks in draws which are televised live.

Lottery officials are calling the repeat draws a freak coincidence, and insist it is impossible to tamper with the lottery machine.

Neikov on Wednesday said the investigation will be concluded by the end of the week.