Man wins $1 million months after losing out in DDF raffle

Dubai - Speaking to Khaleej Times just hours after receiving the news, he said everything still felt "so surreal".

It was a case of bad luck turning good for father-of-one, George Lubbe on Tuesday, as the South African national bagged the latest $1 million jackpot as part of the Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Millennium Millionaire draw. His big win came just three months after losing out on another $1 million scoop.

Speaking to Khaleej Times just hours after receiving the news, he said everything still felt "so surreal".

"I buy my tickets online because I can choose my numbers. Usually I pick number 2024 but a few months back I saw that some Japanese guy had got to it first. I guess he picked it because it coincided with the same year Japan will host the Olympics. That number actually went on to win the $1 million jackpot in the DDF draw. You can't even imagine how gutted I felt," he said.

But on Tuesday, his luck changed and the 51-year-old said he has famous inventor, Nikola Tesla, to thank for the big win.

"This time around I picked 2166. My birth year is 66 and Nikola Tesla said the divine number is divisible by three, six and nine. I couldn't find a number divisible by all three, but 2166 is divisible by three and six, so I chose that."

And in hindsight, he said, it was pure fate he couldn't find a number divisible by all three, otherwise the win never would have come to be.

Working as a computer programmer, Lubbe started buying his Millennium Millionaire raffle tickets two years ago. So far, he has spent about Dh15,000 on trying his luck, but for him it's well worth the investment.

"I've never even won a nail clip in my life, but I thought to myself 'I'm going to give it a go'. It's not cheap to buy a ticket, but you know, the chance is one in 5,000. It's much better than a lottery ticket. The chances of winning that are basically zero."

Still reeling from the news, he tried to explain the feeling that came over him when he got the call early on Tuesday morning, during a work meeting.

"If you ever get a phone call saying you've won a million bucks, let me tell you, it's an unreal feeling. Actually, I didn't believe it at first, because technically, if all those spam emails are anything to go by, I've won a million bucks about 50 times, so I was sceptical, I didn't believe it," he said.

Asked what he plans to spend the money on, Lubbe said he'll "play it sensible" by paying off his house and car first. But the celebrations tonight will be anything but sensible.

"I'll probably get some friends over for a big get together. Actually, thinking about it, I should probably block my credit card first, just in case I get too excited and carried away," he laughed.

Winner of Series 274 with ticket no. 2166, Lubbe said he had been hoping for the win for years. He is the fourth South African national to win one million dollars since its inception in 1999.

Meet two-time millionaire who bought 170 tickets

Receiving his second ceremonial cheque on Tuesday, winner of Series 273 with ticket no. 0742, Musleh Hassan, told Khaleej Times that since his first win back in 2012, he has bought 170 tickets - totalling more than Dh170,000 - as he had a "feeling" he would win again. "I just felt like I would win. Every time I buy a ticket I tell myself I will win. This latest jackpot means I no longer have to work again. It will help build my retirement."

Lebanese expatriate Hassan is the seventh person to win twice in the history of the promotion. But he said he has yet another feeling he could win again.

kelly@khaleejtimes.com

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