Featured Image Credit: Andy Teebay/Liverpool Echo
Topics: UK News, Euromillions, National Lottery
Claire Reid
Topics: UK News, Euromillions, National Lottery
A shop owner has had to deny claims that he won the whopping £195m EuroMillions jackpot amid rumours that the ticket was bought at his store.
Robert Boyle has run a Bargain Booze in Formby since 1996 and says he had an influx of people coming in ‘every day’ after the rumours started swirling about the lucky ticket.
A shop assistant who works at the Bargain Booze said she is ‘sure’ she sold the winning ticket while Boyle was on holiday in Cancun, Mexico.
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She said: "I'm sure I sold [the winning ticket]. I remember serving one lad, I looked at the ticket and the numbers just looked right.
"Our boss is on holiday and we haven't heard anything from Camelot about whether we were the ones to sell it."
But Boyle’s holiday has prompted some speculation that he was actually the winner. However, unfortunately for him, he’s not.
He said: "It's great that everybody is talking about it and people have been coming in asking about it.
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"People even think it's me because I was away in Mexico at the time. Every other customer comes in asking about it. You get a big payout if you sell the winning ticket as well."
The shop has even been sent a letter from someone claiming to be the winner denying they had bought the ticket from the shop.
The letter read: "Dear Bargain Booze, I don't know where you got the idea that the EuroMillions ticket was bought in your shop. I am that winner and bought the ticket in Paisley.
"Just for the record! Mr J.U."
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However, because the person has decided to remain anonymous, Camelot has not revealed where the ticket was bought.
The biggest-ever UK lottery jackpot - £195,707,000 - was won by a single lucky ticket holder in July this year.
As the person - or people - who scooped the jackpot decided not to go public, Camelot will not release information on whether they are an individual or syndicate winner, or where the ticket was purchased.
Camelot’s Andy Carter, senior winners’ adviser at The National Lottery, said: “This is absolutely incredible news! Last night saw history made with the biggest-ever National Lottery prize won by a UK player, and we’re ecstatic that we’ve received a claim. Our focus is now on supporting the ticket-holder through the process and helping them start to enjoy their truly life-changing and record-breaking win.”