Consortium wins Dh1m jackpot in Big Ticket draw

A Bangladeshi resident who along with 18 friends hit a Dh1 million ($272,295) Big Ticket jackpot plans to buy a family home with his share of the end-of-year windfall.

Mohammed Meah, who lives in Ras Al Khaimah and works as a driver, and his fellow winners struck it lucky after playing the Big Ticket draw every week for a year.

The group bought four tickets for Monday’s weekly draw, and it was Mr Meah, 56, who picked out the winning numbers.

Each member of the syndicate will collect about Dh52,600.

“We are a group of 19 people, we have been buying the Big Ticket every month for one year now,” Mr Meah said.

“This is the third time for me to buy a ticket under my name. We bought four tickets with the special buy two, get two free offer.

“I selected two tickets, and my friends selected the other two. The winning ticket was chosen by me. I am very happy for our win.

“I will share my prize with my friends, and with my cash portion, I might buy a new house in

Bangladesh for my children.” The Big Ticket draw offers contestants the opportunity to win Dh1 million each week, in addition to the monthly jackpot of up to Dh20 million.

The next weekly draw will be held on Monday – December 25 – offering the prospect of a memorable Christmas Day win.

The next monthly raffle will take place on December 31.

The Big Ticket was established in 1992 and has made numerous millionaires over the years.

Many Big Ticket winners who are residents from overseas pledge to provide for their families back home.

This month, M Rao, who is from Singapore, won the weekly Dh1 million prize pot and said he would spend his winnings on education for his children.

The winner, who lives in Dubai and arrived in the UAE 10 years ago, said he was inspired to have a go at the draw by an advert on Instagram.

“I will make sure to spend my prize wisely. I have two children, and I will use part of my winnings for their education,” he said.