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Contestants who win big on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire aren't guaranteed to walk away rich.
According to the show's terms and conditions, contestants can only collect their prizes once their episode has screened.
Philip Smith, managing director of Great Southern Television, which makes the show, says the term is a "technicality".
"We haven't entertained the thought. The broadcaster and producers do have the right to withhold a segment and if it doesn't go to air, then the person doesn't get paid.
"Having said that, unless there is an absolutely compelling legal reason, such as cheating, it would be difficult to find a reason for it not to go to air, especially if the person is successful, because everyone wins - the contestant wins, the network wins, the viewers win."
The producers have taken every precaution against cheating, hiring former police detectives to sit among the audience.
"There was no suspicious activity," Smith said. "People were screened when they came in. Melbourne has a well-oiled machine in terms of security."
The show is still rating well, drawing 679,000 viewers in the 5+ category last week.
