A West Bromwich shopkeeper is celebrating an unexpected windfall after receiving a £2,000 prize from the National Lottery operator – and he didn't even buy a ticket.
How Selling a Winning Ticket Led to a Retailer's Reward
Ashish Patel, who runs Milus Supermarket on Carters Green in West Bromwich, earned the cash bonus after one of his customers purchased a winning Set For Life ticket from his store. The lucky player secured a prize worth £10,000 every month for a year.
Mr Patel's £2,000 reward came through Allwyn's 'Share the Win' initiative. This programme is designed to multiply the joy of a big win by recognising the National Lottery retailers who help create those life-changing moments for players.
The 'Share the Win' Prize Tiers Explained
Under the scheme, retailers receive a cash reward when they sell a high-tier winning ticket or Scratchcard valued at £50,000 or more, provided the winning player agrees to publicity. The prize tiers are:
- Gold tier: For selling a ticket that wins £1 million or more, the retailer receives £10,000.
- Silver tier: A win between £250,000 and £1 million earns the shop owner £5,000.
- Bronze tier: For a win between £50,000 and £250,000, the retailer gets £2,000 – the tier Ashish Patel qualified for.
"It was wonderful to find out we’d won the prize from Allwyn," said Mr Patel. "Especially as it’s all thanks to one of our customers winning a substantial prize from a ticket bought in our store. We’re really happy. I’m going to spend the money on taking the kids and family on holiday."
Spreading Positivity and Supporting Good Causes
Alison Acquaye-Acford, Allwyn’s Director of Commercial Partnerships and Retail Sales, congratulated Ashish and his store. "This initiative is all about recognising the vital role retailers play in creating life-changing moments for players, multiplying that winning feeling and helping spread positivity in communities across the UK," she said.
She also highlighted that this activity continues to help raise around £32 million every week for National Lottery Good Causes nationwide.
In addition to the £2,000 cash prize, Milus Supermarket has received a new in-store kit to showcase its lucky status to customers. This includes a special 'Big Winner Made Here' poster and a wall plaque.
The story from the Black Country town shows that sometimes, selling the winning ticket can be almost as rewarding as buying it.
