‘I have to pinch myself’: Emirates Draw releases Dh100m winner Sriram Rajagopalan's emotional call

Chennai: The life of Sriram Rajagopalan, 56, the first-ever global winner of Emirates Draw’s Mega 7 Dh100 million grand prize, changed forever in a moment that was captured and shared by Emirates Draw in a heartfelt teaser video.
The short clip, now available across Emirates Draw’s social media platforms, features the audio of the very first phone call placed to the retired engineer living in Chennai, India, by the show’s host.

“You are our Mega 7 Grand Prize winner,” the host announces.
In response, an emotional Sriram exclaims, “I cannot believe myself, ma'am! Is it true? Are you from Emirates Draw? I have to pinch myself many times.”
Sounding moved by his reaction, the host says, “We are so happy,” before gently asking, “Are you crying?”—to which the father-of-two replies in a trembling voice: “About to…”

Another teaser clip of his upcoming interview with Emirates Draw, this time with visuals, shows the winner sharing the overwhelming impact of the windfall. “This is a big life changer,” the former Saudi Arabia-based Indian expat says, clearly trying to grasp the magnitude of the prize that has altered his future in unimaginable ways.

By matching seven numbers in the Emirates Draw MEGA7—“just by tapping random numbers on his phone using a stylus with his eyes closed”—Sriram has etched his name in history with one of the world’s largest lottery wins.

Sriram’s win marks a major milestone for Emirates Draw as its first global Mega 7 jackpot winner, setting a new precedent in the draw’s history.

Operated by Tycheros, an Isle of Man-based lottery company, Emirates Draw said it is now available in 175 countries via its online platforms. This followed the company ceasing its operations in the UAE from January 1, 2024.

The UAE operations were stopped in compliance with new regulations from the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), which later licensed The UAE Lottery as the only government-recognised gaming lottery in the country.