Would You Keep A Big EuroMillions Win Private?
One of the main considerations for any big EuroMillions winner is whether or not to stay anonymous or go public, but most players are naturally so delighted with their success that they immediately share the news with their friends and family. One lucky ticket holder from Co Clare, however, gave a couple of pals a nice surprise by keeping his win quiet before he took them along to collect a prize of €195,998.
The lucky winner matched five main numbers and one Lucky Star in the EuroMillions draw on Friday 7th October, and came forward last week as he visited the National Lottery offices in Dublin. Having posed with a set of smiling emoji face masks, the player explained: “I asked the two lads to come with me to Dublin today but I didn’t tell where we were going. I could have come on my own but I wanted to share the experience with my two best friends.”
As the winner from Co Clare looks forward to paying off his mortgage and then seeing what he has left, his decision to remain anonymous will allow him to avoid the unwanted attention that can come from going public and get on with his life normally. Other winners prefer to opt for publicity, as it stops them from having to worry about keeping a big secret and allows them to take control of disclosing information.
Rumours about lottery winners can surface even if players want to stay private, and the Irish National Lottery helps to organise press conferences with winners who want to share the news. A public profile can also help winners who wish to help others or pursue business interests, but the decision is down to the individual and what they feel comfortable with doing.
Another winner who wished to remain private came forward last week to collect €500,000, having won the EuroMillions Plus top prize on Tuesday 11th October. The man, from Wexford, said: “This is a life-changing, once-in-a-lifetime win for my family. I am a full-time carer for members of my family and we were living from week to week on my carer’s allowance. I have worked hard all of my life to take care of my family and those around me. This money will go a long to make sure that we are all secure for many years to come.”
EuroMillions Plus was also won on Friday 14th October, by a player from Macroom in Co Cork, who now faces the same decision about whether to go public or not. EuroMillions Plus, along with the Ireland Only Raffle, provides another great chance for Irish players to win prizes in addition to the main EuroMillions draw, with fixed prizes for matching as few as three of the numbers.
There is a EuroMillions jackpot of €39 million up for grabs this Friday night following another rollover on Tuesday, and you can play now by either visiting an authorised retailer in Ireland or entering online. If you are lucky enough to win a big prize, you can either stay private or go public, and possibly have a bit of fun too as you come forward. Good luck!
20th October 2016
