Can we still play EuroMillions? People are worried about losing the lottery game after Brexit
Some unexpected fears over Britain leaving the UK are doing the rounds in the wake of the vote
BREXIT fever has got social media in a lather – and not just over the big stuff.
People are getting pretty worried about a whole range of issues – not least the fate of the EuroMillions.
The weekly lottery game is amongst the things that anxious Brits believe could disappear from daily life altogether - along with Magic Stars and Game of Thrones.
Here are the bizarre fears trending on social media – and the truth about their future in post-Brexit Britain.
Can we still play EuroMillions?
Many a Brit takes a weekly gamble on the Friday night draw, which offers an extra chance to hit the jackpot.
But some are worried that UK punters might now miss out.
John McColl tweeted: “Now that we are leaving the #EU does this mean I can't do the #EuroMillions anymore???”
But The Lottery Company Limited, who runs the EuroMillions, issued a statement reassuring Brits that they can still play.
It read: “As of 10.00am on Friday 24th June 2016, the UK has voted for Brexit. This will not affect the ability of UK residents to play EuroMillions.”
It did add, however, that the fluctuating pound might make the prizes slightly smaller.
It explained: “EuroMillions prizes are fixed as Euro amounts before UK winners receive the equivalent pound sterling value based on the exchange rate at the time of the draw. It is for this reason that Chris and Colin Weir won £161.6million when the Euro prize was worth €185 million in July 2011, yet Adrian and Gillian Bayford took home £148.6million in August 2012 when the Euro value was higher at €190million.”
Let’s face it, if you’re pocketing over £100million you’re not going to be too worried about the odd million.
Will Magic Stars disappear?
The scaremongering hit a new high earlier this month when an eagle-eyed chocolate fan spotted an ominous message on a Magic Stars pack.
It read: “Product should not be sold outside of the EU.”
User Ben, aka @Swarley_94, tweeted the picture with the caption “Reason number 183270 for staying in the EU.”
The message went viral with horrified chocolate lovers tweeting that they would vote remain.
One wrote: “You can’t buy Milky Ways or Milky Way products outside the EU… Decision made!”
But the fears were unfounded.
The packet was actually a Magic Stars hot chocolate drink and Mars later confirmed that all the products currently available in the UK would still be on sale.
Phew!
Related
Will we have to replace our passports?
As most travellers will have noticed, our passports currently have a European Union Stamp across the top of them.
But will the passport office suddenly have to replace millions of valid passports with new UK versions?
Twitter user Amanda Harris tweeted: “If we leave EU I will have to get a new passport, hadn't considered that!!! #more expense.”
The Passport Office didn’t want to say but Radio Four’s Moneybox presenter Paul Lewis seemed to clear up the confusion.
He tweeted: “No. It is a British passport issued by the UK government not an EU passport. Passports remain valid for their term.”
But the bad news is likely to be queues at the airports.
Instead of being fast-tracked through the EU Passport controls, we may well have to join the never-ending ‘Non-EU Countries’ queue when we fly abroad.
Will Game of Thrones still be made?
Could winter fall on Westeros after Brexit?
The hit HBO series is filmed in Northern Ireland with the EU subsidising some of the cost.
The European Regional Development Fund contributes to the cost of filming the big budget series on location in Europe.
But when we leave the EU they could stop funding the parts of the show that are filmed in Northern Ireland.
In the last seven years British films and TV series have benefited to the tune of £24million and Oscar nominated movies Carol and Brooklyn are among the beneficiaries.
Can we still play in the Euros?
With England battling out in France for the Euros 2016, even footballers are confused about whether we will still be eligible for the next one.
Former Liverpool star Jermaine Pennant tweeted: “Now we are not in Europe what’s going to happen with the next euros 2018??? #eu”
Ignoring the fact he got the date wrong – it’s actually in 2020 – there’s no question of us being banned.
You don’t have to be in the EU to qualify, hence the inclusion of Russia, Iceland, Switzerland and Turkey.
That’s always assuming we play well enough to get in.
Can I still play Overwatch?
Gamers are getting flustered over Brexit’s effect on one multiplayer online game.
Overwatch is played by over 10million players who tool up a variety of superheroes to 21 heroes with unique weapons and abilities to do battle.
But the multiplay goes through an EU server and the players need a real hero.
One tweeted: “People from the UK not gonna be able to play on EU Overwatch servers no more.”
However, Blizzard games have now confirmed fans will STILL be able to play.
A spokesman said: “Overwatch players should not worry about UK leaving the EU.
“Our players can play anywhere in the world that we have servers (with the exception of China which is its own walled-off region).
“Our EU (region) refers to 'Europe' – broadly and geographically, not the European Union.”
One more thing ... Can we keep the EU weather?