Countdown to Winning Euro Millions
Winning the Euromillions jackpot is something that a massive percentage of lottery players throughout Europe dream about. But what is the experience of winning Euromillions really like? And what happens after you find out that your numbers have come up? Here’s our guide to how a Euromillions win typically unfolds...
Six Days To Friday...
Euromillions tickets can be bought at any time from the Saturday
morning preceding the draw until early evening on the day of the
draw itself, which is of course Friday. The day on which you buy
your Euromillions tickets has no bearing at all on the chance of
you winning, so the most experienced of players tend to but theirs
early in the week before the last-minute rush has had time to develop.
In weeks where there is a rollover, queues for tickets on Fridays
can be lengthy, so buying before Wednesday or Thursday is definitely
advisable. Just be sure to keep your tickets safe until the draw
itself.
Euromillions Friday
Every Friday is Euromillions day, and the big draw can be seen live
on UK television at 9:55pm (on Challenge, which is channel 124 on
Sky and 152 on NTL). Check with the lottery organiser in other participating
countries for local times and details. To win the Euromillions jackpot,
players need to match all five main numbers and both Lucky Star
numbers. The jackpot is never less than €15 million, and in
many cases it is a great deal more.
Checking Your Entry
If you watch the Euro lottery draw live on television then
checking your entry is simple – watch the screen and see if
your numbers come up! If you aren’t able to catch the draw
live, you can check the numbers using the internet, teletext or
by looking in newspapers published the next morning. Now, if you
check your numbers and you discover that you are a jackpot winner,
this truth may take some time to sink in. To speed up the process,
consider asking a spouse or other relative to double-check your
numbers for you. This will enable you to share the feeling of shell-shock
that almost all Euromillions winners report experiencing.
Making The Phone Call
Euromillions jackpot winners need to register their claim by calling
the lottery operator of the country they are playing in. For players
in Great Britain, Camelot plc is the lottery operator, and so Euromillions
winners need to call Camelot on 0845 9 100 100. The number you need
to call appears on the reverse of your Euromillions ticket, so if
you have your ticket you also have the necessary contact details.
Making the phone call quickly is usually a good idea, because although
you have up to 180 days to claim, the chances of you losing your
ticket increase the longer you wait to make yourself known.
Becoming A Multi-Millionaire
When you have registered your claim by calling the appropriate number,
you will need to brace yourself for a whirlwind of activity. First,
the lottery operator will need to confirm your win and also your
identity. You will need to decide whether or not you want to be
named as the winner. Your prize money will be deposited into your
bank account. And, after all of that, you will be offered free financial
advice on the options that are available to you now that that you
are a Euromillions multi-millionaire.
After The Win
Winning a Euromillions jackpot takes some getting used to, and most
winners report that it takes months, not weeks, for them to accept
the reality of their wealth. For this reason, our best advice is
for you to take things easy, and to try and avoid falling into the
trap of being too reckless.