UK Lotto Players Enjoy Record-Breaking Year
Last Updated: Wednesday 11th November 2020, 11:56
There’s no doubt about it, 2016 was a mixed period for many, but for Lotto players it was certainly a year to remember. The last 12 months saw more brand new millionaires crowned than ever before, with a seven-figure prize being given out on almost a daily basis on average.
An incredible 347 Lotto players scooped a sum of £1 million or more in 2016, while 953 ticket holders claimed prizes of over £50,000, with a grand total of £862 million being paid out to lucky winners. Drivers proved to be the most prosperous, while Virgo emerged as the luckiest starsign.
The year began with a record-breaking prize on offer in the form of a £66 million jackpot. The result of 15 straight rollovers, the sum was eventually shared between David and Carol Martin from Hawick in the Scottish Borders and an anonymous ticket holder from Worcester. The dust had barely settled when Lotto players were sent into a frenzy once again as a prize of £32.5 million was claimed by Peterborough couple Gerry and Lisa Cannings. This total was soon surpassed by one player who claimed the largest single-ticket total in Lotto history by walking away with a prize of £35.1 million on Wednesday 6th April.
It wasn’t just Lotto players who benefited from the millions on offer from the National Lottery. Thanks to money raised through ticket sales, Great British athletes enjoyed their most successful Olympic and Paralympic Games on foreign soil, powering their way to 214 medals in total, including an amazing 93 golds. The National Lottery was also able to award its 500,000th Good Causes grant, money that has allowed projects up and down the country to continue their fantastic work in the community, while 442 British films also received funding.
In total, the National Lottery has created over 4,400 millionaires in its 22 year history, a figure that players will hope increases significantly by the same time next year. If you would like to become the first player to taste jackpot success this year, tickets for tonight’s draw are available to purchase online or from any authorised retailer across the country. Best of luck!