Latest news with #Lotto
Extra.ie
2 hours ago
- Business
- Extra.ie
How a lucky Galway Lotto winner held on to their ticket worth a life changing sum
A Galway Lotto player had an unorthodox way of hiding their winning ticket worth €250,000. There were three winners in the county of the tribes over the course of a week scooping impressive sums, with one of those wins being a tasty €250k purchased in a Circle K store on the Newcastle Road during the July 16th Lotto Plus draw. Heading to Lotto HQ with their ticket in tow, the player said that the safest place to put their new windfall was in a ziplock sandwich bag. A Galway Lotto player had an unorthodox way of hiding on to their winning ticket worth €250,000: hiding it in a sandwich bag. Pic: Shutterstock. 'I was at the kitchen table doing some life admin when I saw the news that the winning ticket was sold where I bought mine,' the player said. 'I danced around the kitchen when I realised I had won!' The player plans to put their winnings toward a new home and dream holidays to exotic destinations around the world, while another Lotto player matched five numbers and the bonus on the July 19th draw — which was worth an astonishing €314,859. The winning ticket was purchased at the XL store in Laurel Park, Newcastle — just up the road from where the winning €250k ticket was purchased just three days earlier — with the winner saying that they thought they were seeing things. Pic: Derick P. Hudson/Shutterstock 'I was watching the draw on TV and playing along with my numbers,' the winner said. 'I couldn't believe my eyes as each number matched – I thought I was seeing things! I'm looking forward to sharing the win with family, and a sun holiday is definitely on the cards!' The wins come as this weeks midweek Lotto jackpot is worth an astonishing €13.2million, with the Lotto advising players to get their tickets before 7.45pm on Wednesday night ahead of the draw. The Lotto jackpot is worth an estimated €13.2million. Pic: Chrisdorney/Shutterstock Tickets can be purchased in-store, through the National Lottery app or at ahead of the 7.45pm cut-off time for sales on Wednesday evening.
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Irish Sun
Two lucky Lotto players collect life-changing prizes as winning shops revealed ahead of mega jackpot
TWO lucky Lotto punters are celebrating after collecting life-changing prizes worth half a million euros between them. The first big win came on July 16, when a Galway player scooped the Lotto Plus 2 top prize of €250,000. Advertisement 1 Lotto players are being urged to get their tickets for tonight's draw before the cut-off Credit: Alamy The winning Quick Pick was purchased at Circle K, Newcastle Road, In a quirky twist, the player presented their ticket at The player recalled the moment they discovered the win. They said: 'I was at the kitchen table doing some life admin when I saw the news that the winning ticket was sold where I bought mine. Advertisement READ MORE IN MONEY "I danced around the kitchen when I realised I had won!' The player plans to put their winnings towards a new home and dream holidays to exotic destinations around the world. Just days later, on July 19, another Galway player matched five numbers and the bonus in the main Lotto draw to win an impressive €314,859. The winning ticket was purchased at XL Laurel Park, Newcastle, Galway. Advertisement Most read in Money Speaking from National Lottery HQ, the delighted winner said: 'I was watching the draw on TV and playing along with my numbers. I couldn't believe my eyes as each number matched – I thought I was seeing things! Penneys 'Lotto Lovelies' collect huge cheque at National Lottery HQ "I'm looking forward to sharing the win with family, and a sun holiday is definitely on the cards!' With excitement building nationwide, Lotto players are reminded that tonight's jackpot is heading towards an estimated €13.2million. A National Lottery spokesperson added: "Lotto players dreaming of becoming Ireland's next millionaire are reminded that tickets can be purchased in-store, through the National Lottery app or at ahead of the 7.45pm cut-off time for sales." Advertisement Meanwhile, Ireland's newest millionaire has told how he plans to "pursue some business interests" after collecting his life-changing Daily Million prize. The long-time player who always believed his day would come, wasted no time in making his way to National Lottery HQ in And he kept the winning ticket safely tucked away in his wallet since the draw. Speaking to the Advertisement He said: 'I am delighted with this win. I'm looking forward to being able to share the win with my family. "I have a strong work ethic so my goal is to be sensible with the win, pursue some business interests, but also enjoy more time for myself and with my family." The winning numbers were: 9, 20, 25, 33, 37, 39 and the bonus was 29. Advertisement Store Manager Dunnes Stores Kyle Shopping Centre, Ken Cullen, said on Tuesday: "It is an incredible moment for our shop and for Portlaoise. "We're absolutely delighted to have played a part in such a life-changing event. "There's a real buzz around the place, and we're so proud that someone in our community has won this amazing prize."
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Two Galway Lotto players claim combined winnings totalling over €500,000
One county is celebrating a double Lotto delight this July, as two Galway players have claimed a combined total of over half a million euro in National Lottery prizes. The first big win came on July 16, when a Galway player scooped the Lotto Plus 2 top prize of €250,000. The winning Quick Pick was purchased at Circle K, Newcastle Road, Galway City. In a quirky twist, the player presented their ticket at National Lottery HQ in a ziplock sandwich bag, with the player joking it was 'the safest place for it!' The player recalled the moment they discovered the win: 'I was at the kitchen table doing some life admin when I saw the news that the winning ticket was sold where I bought mine. I danced around the kitchen when I realised I had won!' The player plans to put their winnings towards a new home and dream holidays to exotic destinations around the world. Just days later, on July 19, another Galway player matched five numbers and the bonus in the main Lotto draw to win an impressive €314,859. The winning ticket was purchased at XL Laurel Park, Newcastle, Galway. Speaking from National Lottery HQ, the delighted winner said: 'I was watching the draw on TV and playing along with my numbers. 'I couldn't believe my eyes as each number matched – I thought I was seeing things! I'm looking forward to sharing the win with family, and a sun holiday is definitely on the cards!' With excitement building nationwide, Lotto players are reminded that tonight's jackpot is heading towards an estimated €13.2 million, offering another chance to join Ireland's growing list of 2025 millionaires. Lotto players dreaming of becoming Ireland's next millionaire are reminded that tickets can be purchased in-store, through the National Lottery app or at ahead of the 7.45pm cut-off time for sales on Wednesday evening. Nearly 30 cent in every €1 spent on National Lottery games goes back to Good Causes in the areas of sport, youth, health, welfare, education, arts, heritage and the Irish Language. In total, more than €6.5 billion has been raised for Good Causes since the National Lottery was established 37 years ago. In 2024 alone, €239.3 million was raised for local Good Causes in communities across Ireland. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
South Wales Guardian
3 hours ago
- Business
- South Wales Guardian
National Lottery 36-hour pause will allow ‘biggest tech upgrade' since launch
All draw game sales and prize claims will be paused in shops across the UK from 11pm on Saturday night following the Lotto and Thunderball draws until 'late Monday morning', operator Allwyn said. The National Lottery website and app will also be down over the same period. Allwyn advised players to buy draw tickets, check results and claim prizes before 11pm on Saturday and warned that they would not be able to log into their online accounts, buy draw tickets or claim prizes – in-store or online – until Monday. Players will be able to check results until systems go offline and will still be able to buy Scratchcards. They will also be able to see the latest draws and view the full results for the Saturday draws on the National Lottery's YouTube channel. During the pause, Allwyn will transfer and upgrade the National Lottery's gaming and retail systems to new platforms. However, it warned that a 'small proportion' of in-store terminals could experience delays coming back up if certain upgrade processes are interrupted for various reasons. The Czech-based Allwyn group – which took over the 10-year licence to run the lottery from Camelot in February last year – said the systems and in-store terminals powering The National Lottery dated back to 2009, 'before iPads, Uber and Instagram', which now needed to be modernised to deliver on 'ambitious' plans for a National Lottery 'fit for the future'. Allwyn chief executive Andria Vidler said: 'This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to deliver The National Lottery that the UK deserves. 'We're making unprecedented and much-needed changes, which will move us closer to achieving our vision for The National Lottery, restoring its magic and significantly increasing its positive impact on lives across the UK. 'These major upgrades will mean short-term disruption for players and our retail partners but they will allow us to deliver on our promise to bring new, exciting games, a better player experience and our commitment to double returns to Good Causes from £30 million to £60 million every week by the end of the 10-year licence.' The switchover has been beset by delays after Allwyn took over the licence, which has held back the launch of new draw-based games. It was unable to switch to a new technology provider after agreeing to extend the contract for the existing supplier, International Games Technology (IGT). IGT had challenged the Gambling Commission's decision to award Allwyn the 10-year licence in court, but later dropped the legal action. Allwyn has previously admitted that delays to the new games it had hoped to introduce in 2024 will hold back the amount of money it can give to good causes in the early part of its 10-year licence. But the group remained committed to its long-term goal to double money for good causes, despite falling short of early targets.
Scotsman
3 hours ago
- Business
- Scotsman
National Lottery offline this weekend – play smarter through syndicates
The National Lottery will be shut down for three days this weekend This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. The National Lottery will be offline from Saturday night to Monday — but here's how to get your entries in early and keep your chances alive. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The National Lottery will shut down ticket sales and prize claims for around 36 hours this weekend to make way for what operator Allwyn describes as the biggest technology upgrade in its 31-year history. From 11pm on Saturday 3 August, all draw-based game sales and prize claims will be suspended in shops across the UK. Online access via the National Lottery website and app will also be unavailable, with services not expected to resume until late Monday morning. Players are being urged to buy tickets and check results before the weekend cut-off. Scratchcard sales will remain unaffected, and draw results will still be available via the National Lottery's YouTube channel. The pause is part of a planned transition to upgraded gaming and retail systems, which Allwyn says are necessary to modernise a platform dating back to 2009. A 'small proportion' of retail terminals may take longer to reboot, depending on upgrade conditions. What does it mean for players? Anyone intending to take part in this weekend's Lotto or Thunderball draws — or upcoming EuroMillions and Set for Life games — is being advised to enter early, before the blackout begins. For those seeking an alternative way to play without relying on shop terminals or the National Lottery app, third-party syndicate services such as You Play We Play (available via Wowcher) remain operational during the pause. These services offer managed group play, pooling hundreds of official National Lottery entries per draw. Lottery syndicates remain available during shutdown For anyone still keen to get their entries in ahead of the freeze syndicate play via Wowcher remains open. Through a deal with You Play We Play, players can join a 50-player group and get 500 National Lottery lines for £9, covering Lotto, EuroMillions, Set for Life and more. For more information click here. While syndicates do not guarantee wins, they increase the number of lines entered for a lower individual cost, with prizes shared between group members. Tickets are purchased in advance and are unaffected by the temporary service suspension. The upgrade comes just 18 months after Allwyn took over the National Lottery licence from Camelot. The operator says the changes will help it deliver 'a better player experience' and support its goal of doubling weekly returns to Good Causes from £30 million to £60 million by the end of the decade. National World Play Euromillions with 500 lines and 500 Millionaires Raffle tickets £ 9.00 Buy now Buy now If you're dreaming of one of those huge European jackpots, the Wowcher Euromillions syndicate deal is hard to beat. For just £9, you'll get an incredible 500 Euromillions syndicate lines plus 500 genuine Millionaires Raffle tickets. All tickets are official National Lottery entries, bought and managed by You Play We Play, so you're not betting — you're really playing. By joining a 50-person syndicate, you massively increase your chances of winning while sharing the fun and the prizes with your group. The draws happen every Tuesday and Friday, giving you two shots each week at jackpots that can top £200 million. Ready to aim for life-changing winnings? Join your discounted Euromillions syndicate here If you're worried about how gambling makes you feel, you can find free, confidential advice, tools and support, by visiting GambleAware or contacting the National Gambling Helpline, available 24/7, on 0808 8020 133 Play Set for Life with 500 lines for steady wins £ 7.50 Buy now Buy now If you like the idea of a regular monthly payout over a giant jackpot, Wowcher's Set for Life syndicate deal is perfect. This offer gives you 500 Set for Life lines in a 50-person syndicate, entered into Monday and Thursday draws. Each line could win you (and your syndicate) a steady income-style prize, and because you're part of a group with 500 entries, your odds are much better than playing solo. Like all the other deals, the tickets are official National Lottery entries — no betting, no hassle, just real chances to win and support good causes. At only £7.50, this is a budget-friendly way to join the fun. Sign up for your Set for Life syndicate here If you're worried about how gambling makes you feel, you can find free, confidential advice, tools and support, by visiting GambleAware or contacting the National Gambling Helpline, available 24/7, on 0808 8020 133 Canva Play Thunderball with 500 lines for regular wins £ 5.00 Buy now Buy now For those who enjoy regular, smaller wins twice a week, Wowcher's Thunderball syndicate deal is an excellent choice. You'll get 500 Thunderball lines in a 50-person syndicate, covering Wednesday and Saturday draws. The Thunderball game offers more modest prizes than Euromillions or Lotto, but the odds of winning something are higher — making it great for regular players who love the buzz of a win. Your 500 official National Lottery lines are fully managed by You Play We Play, so all you have to do is sit back and wait for the results. At just £5, this is the most affordable way to get hundreds of chances at winning. Grab your Thunderball syndicate deal here If you're worried about how gambling makes you feel, you can find free, confidential advice, tools and support, by visiting GambleAware or contacting the National Gambling Helpline, available 24/7, on 0808 8020 133
