Unemployed couple hit the €10 million jackpot

IT is said that a person is more likely to get struck by lightning or be attacked by a shark than winning the lottery. But a very lucky couple in Velez-Malaga has beaten the odds and come away as the winners of Spain’s most popular lottery.

An unemployed housewife and a waiter are the winners of €10 million after getting seven numbers right of the 7/39 lottery, otherwise known as the ‘Lotto de la ONCE.’ ONCE is a Spanish foundation which raises funds to help blind and visually impaired people. One of their most popular products is a charity lottery ticket known as the coupon. To win the 7/39 draw, lottery players must get seven numbers right out of 39.

The ONCE lottery tickets are sold in clearly labelled kiosks. Dolores Leon, 44, remembers selling the couple the winning lottery ticket. Her kiosk is located on Camino de Malaga.

“I remember selling it at 8.37pm. It was the last ticket I sold before calling it a day, so I know who won,” said Leon.

Though she refused to disclose more information about the couple, she said they are habitual customers and that they went back the following morning asking what they should do to claim the prize money.

“They came back asking what they should do. They only said ‘Thank you. We really needed the money.’ They were at a loss for words,” she added.

The winning ticket was sold on the day of the draw. Leon says it was a slow day because most people were home watching the coronation of Felipe VI of Spain.

Cristobal Martinez, Director of ONCE in Malaga, Dolores Leon and the neighbours of Velez-Malaga celebrated the draw with a glass of sparkling white wine.