The Unexpected Lucky Charms Of Big Lottery Winners
When it comes to our wildest dreams, even the most unsuperstitious person may a trick or two to boost their luck and good fortune. And what better example than winning the lottery?
Of course, there are some practical steps you can take to boost your chances. For example, you could enter a draw with a higher probability of winning. Alternatively, you could join a syndicate—where a group pools money together to significantly increase their total number of tickets in play—in person, or through an online service like Lotto Social.
That being said, lottery luck can occasionally come from very surprising sources. Take a look at some of the most surprising things previous lottery winners believe were key to their success. Perhaps your own lucky charm will be something you’d never expect.
A cat
British couple Andrew and Paula Hancock couldn’t believe their luck when they won £1 million on a lottery scratchcard, and credited their fortune to their hungry cat named Shortcake. In July 2019, Andrew drove to a petrol station to buy their pet a can of food, but left with only fuel and a £5 Monopoly Millionaire scratchcard.
Before returning to purchase Shortcake’s dinner, he scratched the card off and, to his surprise, became a millionaire! Back at the house, the couple celebrated their newfound wealth with their 12-year-old son Xavier, but their poor puss’s stomach was still rumbling. Luckily, Shortcake was finally treated to a tin of ham, and the promise of “first class dining” from now on.
A dog
In another tale of animal magic, a dog called Ruby was responsible for her owners’ double lottery win. Jane and Alan Slater were overjoyed when they realised that Jane had won almost £150,000 on the EuroMillions. However, Alan had forgotten about the identical ticket he had bought the previous week, which was hidden in the car, yet to be uncovered.
Luckily, a few days later, the couple’s pooch bundled into the car, kicking a catalogue into which Alan had tucked his winning ticket. When the piece of paper unexpectedly emerged, the pair soon realised that they had won yet another £150,000. “I’ve done it a few times before when I’ve forgotten I bought a ticket and left it in the car,” Alan admitted. “The ticket could so easily have disappeared in the rubbish when I tidied up the car, we couldn’t help but feel that someone was looking down on us.”
A good samaritan
Plasterer Arron Walshaw was able to plan his dream wedding to fiancée Ceri Hall when they landed a seven-figure lottery jackpot. However, Arron wouldn’t have been so lucky if a fellow Tesco Extra shopper hadn’t let him go ahead and buy a ticket before the draw closed.
“I popped in to a nearby shop where me and another lady approached the same cashier. She must have seen that I was in a rush because she insisted I went before her,” he told the Evening Standard in July 2018. “What a stroke of luck that turned out to be! I don’t think I would have been in time to buy my ticket if she hadn’t let me go first.”
Mushy peas
In May 2018, William Richards found himself in a Cardiff supermarket after his wife Sophie asked him to pick up some mushy peas for the roast dinner she was cooking. The couple became two of Wales’ biggest lottery winners after winning £1 million on one of the five lucky dip tickets William spontaneously treated himself to while shopping.
After the life-changing jackpot, they paid off their mortgage, went on a family trip to Disney World Florida, and bought a seven-seater Range Rover, after learning Sophie was pregnant with their fourth child.
A penny
“Find a penny, pick it up and all day long you’ll have good luck,” the saying goes. And bus driver Sean Lloyd was, remarkably, able to transform one into a whopping £1.8 million lottery win after noticing a shiny penny on the ground after his shift.
Sean quit his job the day after he won and went on to build a penny wishing well tribute in his back garden, encouraging his friends and family to throw their coins in for luck. And in spite of his impressive wealth, he continues to play the lottery from time to time. “Since finding the penny, and the lottery win, I have kept it safe in my wallet and often rub it on other lottery tickets I’ve bought as well as lending it to friends,” he said. “It is still proving to be lucky – I’ve had lots more smaller wins since the big one earlier this year.”