Resident’s monthly windfall safe amid prize pause

A UAE resident who won a Dh25,000 ($6,800) monthly payout for 25 years has been assured his prize money is safe despite all operators being instructed to pause business from yesterday.

Robert Burkovski, 54, moved to the Emirates from Canada 18 months ago before becoming the fourth Emirates Draw FAST5 grand prize winner.

The industry-wide pause ordered by a national regulator will not affect the delivery of his winnings.

“Every prize, whether small or big, can be withdrawn and paid in full,” the Emirates Draw website said.

Paul Chader, head of commercial at Emirates Draw, said past winners would receive their funds in full.

“We are very pleased with the introduction of the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority, assuring all our customers that we will be showing a duty of care towards the protection of all their prize awards outstanding,” he said.

“We look forward to working with the GCGRA in establishing a well-regulated gaming environment in the UAE.

“To that effect we are temporarily pausing our activities in the UAE.”

No date has been set for when the raffles will resume.

Mr Burkovski, a consultant, earned the prize by playing a set of numbers he often used, occasionally incorporating random selections from his two children.

“I played similar games back in Canada, so when I found out about Emirates Draw online I decided to give it a go,” he said at the time.

He was left speechless after hearing of his life-changing win through email.

It took time for his family to accept they were in line for a major windfall, he said.

After receiving the email, its authenticity was confirmed in a call from the winner services team.

Mr Burkovski said the winnings would help to make life more comfortable for his family.

“We won’t be doing anything extravagant with this money, it will just help with the day-to-day stuff like housing, groceries, or the kids’ activities,” he said.

FAST5 was part of three gaming formats by Emirates Draw where players select five balls out of 42.

To date, Emirates Draw has had more than 100 winners.

On Sunday, Munavar Fairoos, a private driver from Al Ain, scooped Dh20 million in the last draw of the year from Big Ticket.

Mr Fairoos will still receive his prize money in full because he won before the industry pause began.

The grand prize winner, who purchased his ticket with a group of 30 people, said he will split the prize money evenly. “I did not expect this to happen,” he said.