Italy's "53 Fever" Lottery Hysteria

Between 2003 and early 2005, Italy experienced "53 fever," a mass hysteria surrounding the country's lottery, particularly the Venice wheel, where the number 53 stopped appearing. Gamblers placed increasingly large bets on 53, resulting in financial ruin for thousands and a spate of suicides. The hysteria came to an end when 53 finally appeared in the February 9, 2005 draw, following 182 consecutive absences and approximately four billion euros lost in bets.

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