Lancs mum wins £350K on lottery game after ‘struggling to pay bills’

She matched five main numbers in the draw on Saturday, May 23, after playing the same numbers online for years.

The mum, who wishes to remain anonymous, had played the same numbers online for years and had always hoped they would come up.

Speaking about the win, she said: “As a family, it’s been such a struggle to pay the bills.

“Now I feel such a big weight off my mind.

“I just can’t believe it; it simply does not seem real to me yet.”

She plans to use the winnings to take her family on a long-awaited holiday.

Caroline Talbot, winners’ advisor at Allwyn, the operator of the National Lottery, said: “Congratulations to our HotPicks winner, your persistence in playing the same numbers has paid off.

“We wish you all the best on your family holiday.”

Lotto HotPicks is a UK National Lottery game that uses the same winning numbers as the main Lotto draw, but the way you play is different.

Lotto has recently introduced changes to give players two chances to win with every £2 line.

The number of balls remains the same, but the odds of winning any prize have improved from one in 9.3 to one in 4.9.

The changes are expected to increase the number of new millionaires each year from around 140 to approximately 345.

A special draw on July 4 includes a special raffle with a guaranteed 10 Lotto millionaires made.

Beyond the prizes, the National Lottery continues to support good causes across the UK, raising around £33 million each week for community projects.

Since its launch, the lottery has raised more than £53 billion, supporting the arts, sports, and local groups, as well as helping to preserve British landmarks.

National Lottery tickets can be purchased and checked online via the official app or website, as well as in retail stores.

The app also allows players to scan retail tickets to check if they’re a winner.

National Lottery officials remind players that participating in the games contributes to a wider purpose.

A spokesman said: “Playing any National Lottery game is more than just a chance to win; it’s a way to contribute to something much bigger.”