National Lottery luck is booming in Dorchester

Analysis of the 5,000 participants revealed that 115 players in the county town have banked a big prize, including a very lucky 15 millionaires.

The National Lottery has now created an amazing 5,000 millionaires. Astonishingly, the last 1,000 have been made in just 29 months, at the rate of more than one every day. Nationally more than 38,800 big winners of £50,000 or more have been made across all National Lottery games since 1994.

Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor at the National Lottery said: “The winners team here at Camelot travel the length and breadth of the country paying out lucky winners every day. It is no surprise to me to see how lucky Dorchester has been and I’m sure I’ll be back there soon with another giant cheque.”

Contrary to popular wisdom National Lottery millionaires have declared that the best thing about their win isn’t the lifestyle it buys you, but rather the happiness felt from sharing the cash with others.

Research reveals that gifting to friends, family and charity remains the top priority for winners, with almost half declaring that it is the sharing of the win that has given them the most happiness. These gifts include cash, holidays, cars and houses, but in another sign of the win benefitting others for years to come, for a fifth it now means helping others with university fees.

Mr Carter added: "After the shock and excitement nearly all winners first question how they can look after their nearest and dearest. In many cases this seems to bring winners even greater joy than thinking about how they can treat themselves.

“I see first-hand the effect a win can have on the circle of people close to a winner, and this always reminds me that at heart we are a nation that is kind and generous.”