How many times have you done the lottery and practically spent the winnings in your head before the draw is even made?
We’ve all done it. We see ourselves smiling gleefully, holding up the big cheque, and sipping champagne.
For most of us they are mere pipe dreams. But for some very lucky lotto winners, those dreams turn into reality. But in a fun twist, one Iowa man decided that he wanted his turn in the spotlight.
Tyler Heep, from Urbandale, won the non-life changing sum of $1 (around 80p) and decided to drive to the headquarters of the state lottery to demand that the company present him with a giant cheque!
Posting his story to Facebook, Tyler Heep wrote: “I just went by the state lottery office with a winning scratch off ticket.
JACKPOTJOY OFFER
PLAY £10 GET £50 OF FREE BINGO OR GET 30 FREE SPINS
Click for full Rules. New members only, must opt in. Min £10 deposit & wager. 30 day expiry from deposit. 18+. Free Spins: on Double Bubble. 1p coin size, max lines. Bingo: Advertised ticket value based on £1 tickets. Game availability & restrictions apply. 18+ begambleaware.org. #ad. Please bet responsibly.
“I told them I’d like one of those big ceremonial checks as payment. I figured it would be worth a shot and they all thought it was really funny.
“I’m surprised nobody else has done this before.”
To be fair, most people wouldn’t have the nerve or the inclination to drive to a lottery headquarters and demand a giant cheque for £1 or $1. They generally wait until they have won a life-changing amount of money.
And there have been quite a few of them recently. Andrew Clark won £76m when he checked his EuroMillions ticket six weeks after the draw had taken place. And even then it was only because his partner Trish had kept telling him to check the stash of lotto tickets he kept in his work van.
It was in December and Andrew and Trisha have already found, and bought, a new home and a couple of new cars to grace the driveway – but they’re most excited about sharing the win with their family.
Andrew said “It’s been great choosing a new home and cars but without question, the best bit about the win is how we can help all our family.
“We can quite simply change their lives, whether that’s paying off mortgages or supporting them in their future endeavours, it’s been amazing to put a smile on everyone’s face, and the fact it’s at Christmas makes it that little bit more magical.”
But more than producing multi-millionaires overnight, the lottery can also benefit many others. Around £30m is raised for charity in the UK every week through lotto sales. Thousands of small groups and projects benefit so even if you don’t win, you still help and that’s something to be very happy about.