Big Ticket hosts reveal trends, strategies to win millions in draws

Dubai: While we all look forward to 2025 with great hopes and expectations, one life-changing moment that many residents in the UAE dream of is winning a lucky draw one day.

With Big Ticket being one of the largest and longest-running raffle draws in the Middle East, offering cash prizes and luxury cars, Gulf News spoke to the show’s hosts Richard and Bouchra about the trends they’ve observed over the years among winners.

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Abu Dhabi’s Big Ticket frequently offers a ‘buy two, get one free’ promotion, along with other limited-time special offers. Bouchra pointed out that free tickets have often proven to be lucky for some winners. She shared the story of a second-prize winner who walked away with Dh1 million after purchasing tickets with a friend for years.

“One day, while dropping off his wife at Abu Dhabi International Airport, he passed by the Big Ticket counter. They informed him about a special offer, and he decided to purchase. He called his friend, and they both agreed to spend Dh1,000 and get five tickets in total. To his surprise, one of the free tickets turned out to be the winning ticket for Dh1 million,” Bouchra said.

Bouchra also highlighted the story of a Russian national, whose first Big Ticket purchase turned into a lucky strike.

“She purchased two tickets and received one free. For each ticket, she selected numbers based on her birthday, her husband’s birthday, and her mother’s birthday. The winning ticket turned out to be the one with her birthday numbers.”

Similarly, an Indian expat won Dh15 million with a free ticket featuring the birthdays of his two children. “For some, it’s about choosing their lucky numbers, while for others, it’s about finding the right place to purchase their tickets, whether online or at Big Ticket stores,” Bouchra noted.

ChatGPT, a game-changer in the world of AI, has now even started playing a role in deciding winners’ fates. According to Richard, Mohammed Haneef, a contestant, was invited to participate in the popular ‘Big Win’ segment of the show, where contestants can either accept an initial prize or forfeit it for a chance at a larger amount.

Haneef was offered Dh40,000 after selecting number 6. But he remembered a conversation with his son, who had recently become fascinated with AI, particularly ChatGPT. His son said: “Dad if you ever get a chance, pick number 4. ChatGPT said it’s a lucky number.” So, Haneef decided to forfeit Dh40,000 and chose number 4. His decision paid off, as he was awarded Dh75,000.

Richard also mentioned numerology as an element of luck that resonates with some winners.

“One winner had used numerology to select his ticket number, drawing from his birth date and significant life events. For him, winning wasn’t just about luck. It’s about believing in something greater and trusting the process,” he said.

Last year, an Indian expat won Dh15 million by combining numerology and astrology to pick a winning ticket, including the number 3.

The first draw of 2025 for the Dh30 million grand prize will be held on Friday evening. Also, the January promotion for Dh25 million has started for the raffle draw on February 3. Tickets can be bought online at www.bigticket.ae or counters located in Zayed International Airport and Al Ain Airport.