Luck has once again smiled for expats who participated in Big Ticket Abu Dhabi, as four bagged Dh25,000 each in the latest June e-draw of the popular raffle.
The expats, all of Indian nationality, spoke of their extreme joy to receive the prizes and what they plan to do with the money, while stressing that they will continue taking part in Big Ticket, with eyes on the grand prize of Dh25 million.
For Ilanzhsuriyan Vijayakumar, a 45-year-old architect, his winning ticket was the first one he purchased on his own since he used to participate alongside his friendsfor several years, making his first win more special. “I’m very happy. After years of trying my luck, the win came as a rewarding surprise”.
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Ilanzhsuriyan, who has been living in Abu Dhabi for the past 15 years, said he plans to support his family with the prize money. Regarding how he selected the ticket number, he stated that it was was randomly chosen.
The second lucky winner in the e-draw was Risal Muhammed, a 31-year-old from Kerala, who works in the geotechnical field and is currently based in Abu Dhabi.
For him, this was also the first ticket he buys on his own after collaborating with a group of friends a handful of times.
Having previously lived in Dubai for four years before spending time in Saudi Arabia, Risal now resides in the UAE while his family remains in Kerala. “I saw the ticket number – 058718 – and it really stood out to me, so I decided to go with it.
“When I received the call, I honestly thought someone was playing a prank on me. It was only when the news sank in that I realised it was real, and that’s when the excitement really kicked in,” he said, adding that he still has no plans on how to spend the money.
Anandhu Shalini, a 34-year-old safety professional from Kerala, was also among the e-draw’s lucky winners. Anandhu, who lives in Bahrain since 2017, said that the brand is so well known that he could not recall a specific moment, adding that it is something people often talk about.
He has been purchasing tickets on and off for the past couple of years and only recently began participating more consistently. While he previously took part as part of a group, he has since started purchasing tickets independently, including his winning ticket. Sharing his reaction, Anandhu said, “I feel really happy. I plan to save the cash prize and send a portion back home to my family.”
The fourth winner was Jayakrishnan Kannan, a 31-year-old rigger from Kerala who has been living in Saudi Arabia for the past four years while his family remains back home.
Jayakrishnan first heard about Big Ticket through friends and later came across it in the newspaper as well. Around a year ago, he began participating as part of a group of 10 friends. He described receiving the winning call as a truly joyful moment for everyone involved.
July 3 draw
During the July 3 live draw, one winner will take home the grand prize of Dh25 million. Five other participants will each receive Dh1 million, as a consolation prize.
Those who purchase one Big Ticket anytime during June will also be entered into The Big Spin. Three participants will be selected during the live draw and will go on to play the game on August 3, where each one of them could win up to Dh1 million cash prize.
Besides the cash, two luxury vehicles will be up for grabs over the coming two months. A BMW X6 will be awarded during the July 3 draw, followed by a Maserati Grecale on August 3.
One weekly June e-draw remains left, where four winners will each receive Dh25,000. It will be held on July 1 for tickets purchased between June 24 and 30.
Source: Khaleej Times