National Lottery player who has kept same numbers for 25 years left stunned on morning after draw

National Lottery player who has kept same numbers for 25 years left stunned on morning after draw

WATCH: National Lottery Heritage Fund gives £250K to controversial political activist group

GB News
Georgina Cutler

By Georgina Cutler


Published: 10/05/2024

- 13:39

Updated: 10/05/2024

- 13:43

The retired British Gas worker bought a new car and static caravan with his winnings

A National Lottery winner said he thought he was dreaming when he realised he had won £500,000 after keeping the same numbers for 25 years.

Raymond Young from Edinburgh won the Thunderball jackpot on March 23 and said he "couldn't believe his eyes" when he woke up in the middle of the night and checked his numbers.


His numbers - which he has played for 25 years - were 12, 14, 17, 25, 29 and the Thunderball 14.

The retired British Gas worker has since bought a new car and static caravan.

Raymond Young

A National Lottery winner said he thought he was dreaming when he realised he had won £500,000 after keeping the same numbers for 25 years

PA

He said: "I had woken up in the middle of the night and randomly decided to check my numbers, which led me to see that I had won the top prize.

"I must have still been half asleep though as, in the morning, I genuinely thought it was all a dream.

"So, when I decided to have another check in the morning, this time fully awake, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw that I was still a winner!"

Speaking about his new caravan purchase, he added: "I've chosen a beautiful spot on the coast so I can't wait to start going there with my family and friends."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

Young bought his winning ticket from the Keystore, known as Fordel Services in Dalkeith, Midlothian.

To celebrate his win, the 63-year-old visited his childhood holiday destination - Blackpool.

He said: "For me, Blackpool has and will always be a home from home.

"It holds such special memories and I just love visiting a few times a year."

To celebrate his win, the 63-year-old visited his childhood holiday destination - Blackpool

PA

He added: "I've been going there my whole life, from playing on the beach as a kid to staying with friends over the last decade, so it just had to be the place I chose to celebrate my win!".

Young's success comes as some Lottery winners have been left waiting weeks for winnings after changes to rules.

The new rules emerged after the Lottery was taken over by Allwyn in February this year.

In response, an Allwyn spokesperson said: "This is a new claims process we’ve had to introduce following the Post Office's decision to no longer pay National Lottery retail prizes between £500.01 and £50,000. As a result of it being new, we’ve been experiencing higher volumes of players contacting us and some initial delays to players receiving their prizes.

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