Forfar Man Mistakes £10 Million Jackpot Victory for £10,000 Win
Last Updated: Friday 22nd April 2016, 12:02
A Lotto win of £10,000 would suit any player, especially John Bowman, who was delighted when he thought that he had won the handsome five-figure prize on Saturday 16th April. It wasn’t until he asked a friend to double-check his ticket that the true extent of his luck was discovered. The ticket was worth over a thousand times more than originally thought - £10,317,199 to be exact.
Successfully matching numbers 2, 5, 14, 42, 51 and 55, the Forfar resident first shared his joyous news with family members, ringing his daughters Lisa and Emma: "I told them to sit down because I had some news for them - they didn't believe me at first," he said, speaking at an event in Glasgow organised by the National Lottery. John’s next port of call was his local bar to celebrate with friends, but his companions were far from convinced when he told them the news. It was only when the newly-crowned millionaire left his job at Ramsay Ladders that they realised that this was no wind-up.
John, who has been playing Lotto for more than 20 years, recently updated his regular choice of numbers following the addition of ten extra digits in October 2015. He told lottery officials: "I've played the lottery since it started but I haven’t had any big wins, just three numbers here and there. When the new balls were introduced I thought I better update my lines to include some numbers in the 50s. Lucky I did because my winning line had 51 and 55 in it!" John now plans to look for a property abroad as well as taking a few holidays around Europe: "I enjoy Formula 1, too, so I think a trip to the Monaco Grand Prix will be on the cards."
Scottish Lotto players have enjoyed something of a hot streak in recent years after David and Carol Martin from the Scottish Borders secured half of a £66 million Lotto jackpot in January, but Ayrshire couple Colin and Chris Weir still sit top of the prize tree thanks to their £161.6 million EuroMillions win in July 2011.
You don’t have to live in Scotland to be in with a chance of winning this Saturday’s estimated Lotto jackpot of £4 million. Tickets can be purchased online or from any authorised retailer across the country. The very best of luck!