What's the threshold of money before the SFO gets gets involved? Surely this sort of scam warrants criminal charges?

..... it was 5 million viewers ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6276388.stm ). That makes it a much more healthy 2.35 million GBP of fraudulent profits to split between 'em (less the 150K fine of course).

I meanm I think I read something like 5 million calls at 1 quid each. that makes 4,850,000 left. Lets assume a generous overhead of 1 million.... I think we're all in the wrong business... even with massive fines you still make money.

Everyone seems to be questioning the maths on this, but if they get £470,000 and 60% goes on prizes, then the profit is the remaining 40%, i.e. £188,000, not £282,000.

I demand a phone vote!

That's what's supposed to happen and it did.

The fact that some Muppets didn't get entered for the lottery surely doesn't matter - in the end one of them was chosen from the set of callers.

What gets me is they're running a lottery on the telly without paying tax. And the mind-numbingly crap programs they produce - which is by far the more important issue.

VAT (and a special gambling tax) should be levied on these calls so that the rest of society can benefit from the Muppets who play these lotteries.

I can't help but think that the viewers of this crap are getting what they deserve.