Ashik Patinharath, an Indian expat residing in Sharjah for 19 years, has struck gold with the Dh25 million grand prize from the Big Ticket series 271 draw held recently in Abu Dhabi. The 38-year-old Kerali native was thrilled to learn about his landmark win after spending nearly ten years purchasing lottery tickets.
"It’s yet to sink in. I’ve been trying my luck for the past 10 years, buying tickets on my own. I must have purchased about 100 tickets. Finally, I’ve won for the first time," Patinharath shared with Gulf News. He purchased six tickets for the draw, but it was his ticket number 456808, bought online on January 29, which brought him the jackpot.
Patinharath works in real estate, managing properties. He initially thought the call from the Big Ticket team was fake. "I was actually on a call with my family back home in Kozhikode when I got the call from Big Ticket. I was a bit skeptical, especially since I’m in the real estate field and am wary of scams," he reflected.
With Dh25 million now his to enjoy, Patinharath has ambitious plans for his future. "I always wished to flourish in the real estate sector, and now I can realize my dreams. I will keep purchasing tickets. For those who haven’t won yet, I tell them to keep trying – one day, they’ll get lucky just like I did," he encouraged.
Alongside Patinharath, another winner emerged from the draw — 39-year-old Emirati Mohamed AlZarooni, who took home a brand new BMW M440i as part of the ‘Dream Car’ draw. AlZarooni, who only started participating about five months ago after hearing about Big Ticket from friends, expressed his joy upon getting the thrilling news. "When I got the call, I was very happy. This win has only fueled my excitement. Now I’m setting my eyes on the grand prize!"
Though AlZarooni is uncertain if he’ll keep or sell the car, he is optimistic about the future. "I’ve tried to convince my friends to join me, but they remain skeptical. They always say they won’t win, so they don’t bother buying tickets. But I tell them, if you don’t try, you’ll never know! My advice to others? Keep going – one day, luck will find you," he advised.
The excitement doesn’t stop there, as the February promotion for Big Ticket is already underway. One lucky ticket holder will walk away with another staggering Dh20 million grand prize on March 3. Alongside this main draw, participants have the chance to win Dh250,000 through weekly e-draws, with two winners selected each week.
The upcoming promotion also includes the Big Win Contest, a spin-the-wheel game. Participants purchasing two or more cash tickets in one transaction by February 23 will have the opportunity to attend the live draw on March 3, where they can win guaranteed cash prizes ranging from Dh20,000 to Dh150,000. The names of four participants will be revealed on the Big Ticket website on March 1.
February also features two exciting dream car draws, with the Maserati Grecale draw happening on April 3, and the Range Rover Velar draw scheduled for March 3.
Tickets for Big Ticket are available online at the official website and at designated counters located at Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport. The anticipation for each draw continues to build excitement across the community, encouraging all hopefuls to keep dreaming big.