Lucky punter scoops £200,000 on lottery

Photo: Darren Robinson

BOOKMAKER Bob Johnson with the winning lottery ticket

A FAMILY-RUN Failsworth bookie has paid out £200,000 to one lucky punter following a bet on the Irish Lottery.

Bob Johnson bookmakers, in Partington Street, took the £30 bet on the draw held on Wednesday December 2.

The independent bookie, which has been based in Oldham for 42 years, has a maximum pay-out limit of £100,000 advertised to all customers in the shop.

But when the regular customer’s numbers came up, they decided to honour the bet.

Andrea Johnson (35), manager, said: “The customer, a man from Oldham who does not want to be identified, is a regular of ours and always bets on the Irish lottery but with different numbers.

“He took out a £30 bet on guessing four of the six numbers in the draw, and he guessed right.

“Most independent bookmakers have a limit on what the maximum pay-out is and ours is £100,000 which is displayed in the shop. However, we felt paying the full amount was the right thing to do.”

The Irish Lottery jackpot can be won by picking the first six numbers drawn.

However, customers at Bob Johnson’s can also win a cash prize by betting on the results of the draw.

Ms Johnson said: “£200,000 is a lot of money for a small independent and it is our biggest pay-out yet.

“If we had another big winner, I still think we would pay out the full amount.

“My dad Bob regularly served this customer and he said he always seemed confident he was going to win and knew his numbers would come up.

“I’m sure he will have a great Christmas.”