Woman loses in court after losing lottery

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - A Dutch woman has lost her compensation claim for mental distress she suffered from missing out when her neighbors won a lottery windfall.

Prize winners are chosen by postal code and Helene de Gier would have shared in the 14 million euros ($19 million) if she had bought an 8.50 euro ticket -- as her seven neighbors in the town of Heusden did.

She had accused the organizers of "emotional blackmail" and demanded compensation, but court documents showed Thursday that she had lost.

The judgment said lottery organizers cannot be held responsible for those who fail to take part and later regret it.