Latest news with #SetforLife
Scotsman
2 days 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
Scotsman
2 days 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 – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, 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
West Australian
5 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Search for Aussie millionaires as $116m in lotto prizes remain unclaimed
A group of Aussies could be secret millionaires as Lotto tickets worth more than $100m remain unclaimed. Aussies have been urged to check their lotto tickets to see if they could be one of the 17 mystery winners of prizes totalling a combined $116 million. This includes a staggering $100 million prize from the June 12 Powerball this year. The ticket was purchased at the Bondi Junction Newsagency & Internet Cafe in NSW. Other major prizes yet to be claimed include $4.8m from the Set for Life game on April 8, 2021, purchased at the Thistle Kiosk. Another Set for Life winner is yet to claim $4.8m from the November 30, 2024 draw, the ticket bought at the Nextra Kiama. Majority of the unclaimed prizes are from NSW, the figure sitting at about $107m followed by $5.3m in the ACT, $2.7m in Queensland, and $1m in Victoria. A Lott spokesperson said they were eager to connect Aussies with their unclaimed cash and 'help kickstart their dreams'. 'So, whether you're digging through old receipts in preparation for tax time or deep cleaning the house, keep an eye out for any unchecked lottery tickets,' the spokesperson said. 'We'd love to pair the winners with their prize!' However, they warned prize claim periods vary across each state and territory. Those in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia have only 12 months to claim their winnings, with the claim period extending to three years in the Northern Territory, six years in ACT and NSW, and seven years in Queensland. Just last month a Wonthaggi man discovered he'd won more than $2.1m from a ticket his wife gifted him for Christmas, but had forgotten to check as 'life got in the way'. 'It's very surreal,' the man said following the discovery. 'My wife always buys a lottery ticket for everyone in the family for Christmas. 'I completely forgot about the ticket … I only thought the other day that I should check the ticket. I couldn't believe it. 'Things like this never happen to us.' He said he would divide the prize up between his family. 'It will help many people!' he said. The Lott spokesperson emphasised the importance of registering entries to ensure winners can be easily identified and contacted.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Search for Australia's mystery millionaires
A group of Aussies could be secret millionaires as Lotto tickets worth more than $100m remain unclaimed. Aussies have been urged to check their lotto tickets to see if they could be one of the 17 mystery winners of prizes totalling a combined $116 million. This includes a staggering $100 million prize from the June 12 Powerball this year. The ticket was purchased at the Bondi Junction Newsagency & Internet Cafe in NSW. Other major prizes yet to be claimed include $4.8m from the Set for Life game on April 8, 2021, purchased at the Thistle Kiosk. A staggering $116 million worth of Lotto prizes remains unclaimed. NewsWire / Diego Fedele Credit: News Corp Australia Another Set for Life winner is yet to claim $4.8m from the November 30, 2024 draw, the ticket bought at the Nextra Kiama. Majority of the unclaimed prizes are from NSW, the figure sitting at about $107m followed by $5.3m in the ACT, $2.7m in Queensland, and $1m in Victoria. A Lott spokesperson said they were eager to connect Aussies with their unclaimed cash and 'help kickstart their dreams'. 'So, whether you're digging through old receipts in preparation for tax time or deep cleaning the house, keep an eye out for any unchecked lottery tickets,' the spokesperson said. 'We'd love to pair the winners with their prize!' Aussies have been urged to check their tickets to see if they could be one of the 17 mystery winners. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia However, they warned prize claim periods vary across each state and territory. Those in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia have only 12 months to claim their winnings, with the claim period extending to three years in the Northern Territory, six years in ACT and NSW, and seven years in Queensland. Just last month a Wonthaggi man discovered he'd won more than $2.1m from a ticket his wife gifted him for Christmas, but had forgotten to check as 'life got in the way'. 'It's very surreal,' the man said following the discovery. Each state and territory has different prize claim periods. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia 'My wife always buys a lottery ticket for everyone in the family for Christmas. 'I completely forgot about the ticket … I only thought the other day that I should check the ticket. I couldn't believe it. 'Things like this never happen to us.' He said he would divide the prize up between his family. 'It will help many people!' he said. The Lott spokesperson emphasised the importance of registering entries to ensure winners can be easily identified and contacted.
Chicago Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Biblioracle: Hannah Pittard's novel ‘If You Love It, Let It Kill You' lives on its own terms
There is a whole, real-world saga/story behind Hannah Pittard's deeply entertaining new novel, 'If You Love It, Let It Kill You.' In 2023, Pittard published 'We Are Too Many,' an unconventional memoir jumping off from the moment Pittard found out her husband was having an affair (and leaving her) to be with her closest friend. I named 'We Are Too Many' the best book of 2023. In 2024, Pittard's ex-husband, Andrew Ewell, published a novel, 'Set for Life,' about a creative writing professor married to another professor who has an affair with one of his wife's closest friends, and sees the affair as a way to escape his dead-end job and the shadow of his much more successful novelist wife. Enter 'If You Love It, Let It Kill You' in which 'Hanna,' a writer and creative writing professor now cohabitating with Bruce and his 11-year-old daughter in the college town where her mother, father and sister have all moved, ostensibly to be near each other, even though this nearness is not always a good thing. Hanna finds out that her ex-husband is publishing a novel about the dissolution of their marriage which sounds a lot like 'Set for Life.' I mean this in the clearest possible terms. Possessing this knowledge does not, in any way, enhance one's enjoyment of 'If You Love It, Let It Kill You.' This is a novel that lives on its own terms, independent of the real-life circumstances of its author, Hannah Pittard. It is funny, searching, anarchic and ultimately somewhat unexpectedly and satisfyingly open-hearted, given that one of Hanna's chief problems is coming to grips with the power of her own emotions. The novel is structured through a series of titled sections, the opening of which introduces us to Hanna and her domestic situation, Bruce (the boyfriend and co-owner of the house they live in), the 11-year-old, and Hanna's various family members. Hanna's father is, on the one hand, a hoot, a charming eccentric who drops by for drinks on the porch and is frequently the source of some laugh-out-loud punchlines. On the other hand, he's obviously unreliable and a depressive who threatens to drag those in his vicinity down with him. We also have Hanna's students in her creative writing course who occasionally serve as a kind of Greek chorus commenting on Hanna's life or challenging her Gen X views of the world. One chapter is structured as a dialogue between Hanna and the student collective that is wonderfully reminiscent of Donald Barthelme's classic short story, 'The School.' This deadpan wit and social commentary shine throughout Hanna's story. The publisher's material is calling this autofiction, but it's more like a deconstruction of autofiction. Another chapter is a scene between Hanna and an injured cat she has rescued from her garage and refused to return to the original owner who has been looking for it. Somehow an imaginary conversation with a wounded, yet very perceptive cat becomes a turning point in the story. Hanna, like all of us, carries some wounds. She does not trust herself very much, so it is very hard to trust others. Bruce could not be a steadier hand, and yet Hanna may sabotage this clearly good thing because, well … because she's human. She has very purposefully decided not to give birth to a child and yet finds herself something very much like a mother to the 11-year-old. As Hanna retreats to and returns from a writer's colony, the novel comes to a satisfying resolution, but we shouldn't mistake resolution with conclusion. There is no conclusion to life, except the obvious one that eventually comes for us all. John Warner is the author of books including 'More Than Words: How to Think About Writing in the Age of AI.' You can find him at Book recommendations from the Biblioracle John Warner tells you what to read based on the last five books you've read. 1. 'The Constitution of the United States: A Primer for the People' by David P. Currie 2. 'Franklin Pierce' by Michael F. Holt 3. 'John F. Kennedy' by Alan Brinkley 4. 'Dodsworth' by Sinclair Lewis 5. 'N or M?' by Agatha ChristieI'm going to lean into Robert's obvious fondness for history, but also recommend a different bit of history than what's in this list, 'If Then: How the Simulmatics Corporation Invented the Future' by Jill Lepore 1. 'The End of Drum-Time' by Hanna Pylväinen 2. 'On Division' by Goldie Goldbloom 3. 'Hidden Valley Road' by Robert Kolker 4. 'City of Thieves' by David Benioff 5. 'Demon Copperhead' by Barbara KingsolverFor Judy, I'm recommending an interesting bit of speculative historical fiction, 'High Dive' by Jonathan Lee. 1. 'War and Peace' by Leo Tolstoy 2. 'Wise Blood' by Flannery O'Connor 3. 'The Life of Chuck' by Stephen King 4. 'My Friends' by Fredrik Backman 5. 'James' by Percival Everett'Godwin' by Joseph O'Neil braids together two storylines into a story that sneaks up on you with its emotional power. Get a reading from the Biblioracle Send a list of the last five books you've read and your hometown to biblioracle@
