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PlayThe syndicate, known as the Ayrshire Butterflies, bought the winning entry from Tesco Extra in Kilmarnock. It was for the special Euromillions draw on Friday 19th July, when 20 prizes of £1 million were put up for grabs in the Millionaire Maker raffle instead of the usual one; they ended up matching one of the 20 lucky codes to each become £125,000 richer.
The friends would not normally have taken part, as their syndicate was set up to play Lotto twice a week and they had not entered EuroMillions since 2017. Explaining what happened, group leader Patricia Dixon said: “It was a spur-of-the-moment decision as we had some money left in the pot, but I’m certainly glad I did!”
Having never previously won more than £150, it came as quite the surprise for everyone in the group to find out about the windfall. Patricia said: “It was so much fun calling round everyone in the syndicate to tell them. As it was a Saturday afternoon, most were out and about so their reactions were absolutely priceless.”
The syndicate usually put their winnings towards a Christmas night out and Patricia knows that “this year will certainly be one to remember”. All of the friends have their own plans for what to do with their share of the money, and Patricia is excited that she will now be able to buy a new house for herself and her daughter.
“This is something I have been dreaming of doing for so many years and it feels fantastic to know that the worry has disappeared practically overnight,” said Patricia, who added that the ‘Ayrshire Butterflies’ name signifies endurance, change, hope and life: “The two original syndicate members starting the syndicate almost six years ago signify endurance - the win will change our lives and gives hope to others that this could happen to them and, of course, that life is for living and to make the most of.”
Benefits of Playing in a Syndicate
There are a number of benefits to playing in a syndicate, aside from being able to share the winning experience with friends or colleagues if you are lucky enough to land a big prize. Playing in a syndicate can actually increase your chances of winning too.
When you play on your own, the only way to boost your odds is to purchase more entries, and the cost of buying multiple lines may be off-putting. However, by joining forces with others, you can effectively submit more entries at a lower price. If everyone in a syndicate of eight contributes the cost of one line, for example, you have eight chances to win without having to pay for more than a single entry each.
It has been estimated that as many as one in five UK lottery prizes is won by a syndicate. You can even join an online syndicate to avoid the organisational work involved in setting one up with friends, colleagues or family members.
EuroMillions Jackpot Back Above £60 Million
The EuroMillions jackpot has not been won since a Spanish ticket holder scooped £96 million (€107 million) on 19th July, and has now quickly climbed higher than £60 million following a run of five rollovers.
Millions of prizes have still been given away in every draw, with 12 different ways to win apart from the jackpot. Take part online or by visiting an authorised retailer in one of the nine participating countries, and then take a look at the EuroMillions Results straight after the draw to check the numbers and see if you are a winner.
