I lost my entire lottery winnings over silly mistake millions could make – I’m furious but there’s nothing I can do
A MAN lost his entire lottery winnings after one silly mistake cost him his fortune.
Gareth Thomas, 38, was “buzzing” when he realised he’d won – but his excitement was unfortunately short-lived.
The thrilled jackpot winner from Canton, Wales, bought the lucky scratchcard from a local Londis.
He decided to try his luck with a £2 “£120,000 Richer” scratchie and was shocked to find out he was in for a win when he got home.
Gareth told playcasino.com: “I’d just scratched it at the table and was buzzing when I saw the win.”
He’d scored £500 from the National Lottery and was chuffed as it was the first scratchcard he’d bought in months.
However, it appears Gareth’s luck ran out after he popped outside leaving his little dog Teddy at the table.
“I nipped outside for five minutes to bring the washing in, came back, and there it was — tiny bits of foil and cardboard everywhere,” he continued.
His hungry pup had chewed through the entire ticket.
Teddy, the little black, white, and tan pooch, had managed to get his paws on the scratchcard and fancied a £500 dinner.
The gutted lottery winner said he was planning to pay back some bills and said half a grand felt like a small fortune to him.
Gareth joked: “Typical, isn’t it? The one time I actually win something, and the dog thinks it’s lunch.”
He desperately got in touch with officials at the National Lottery and explained the situation but to his dismay, Gareth was told there was nothing they could do.
Despite piecing together the nibbled pieces of scratchcard there was no barcode or numbers legitimising his win and he wasn’t able to claim any cash.
Teddy has chewed his way through a range of Gareth’s things, including TV remotes and socks, and he’s now made his way through a winning ticket.
Damaged, lost, and perhaps even digested scratchcards have been known to happen, and many have lost out before.
The National Lottery sells millions of tickets each year and unfortunately, not everyone keeps hold of them.
In order to keep your ticket safe and sound, it’s recommended to take a picture of it and put it in a safe place.
A spokesperson for playcasino.com added: “This is a funny story, but it’s a serious reminder — scratchcards are legal proof of your win.
“If they’re lost or destroyed, there’s very little that can be done.
“We always recommend treating them like cash: keep them dry, secure, and absolutely out of reach from pets with expensive taste.”
The Sun has reached out to the National Lottery for a comment.
Tips to protect your winnings
Take a picture of the ticket immediately after scratching
Make sure you have photographic evidence of your win that clearly shows the barcode and numbers.
This does not guarantee your win but it’ll help your case and back up your claim.
Keep tickets away from low surfaces
Tables, counters, and sideboards can be prime targets for hungry pups and curious kids.
Making sure your ticket is out of reach of prying fingers and canine teeth is a sure way of keeping it in tact.
Hide your winning ticket somewhere safe
Once you realise you’re onto a winner, hold onto that card as if you’re holding onto the cash.
In order to get hold of that money you’ll need your ticket, so it’s just as valuable.
Without a legitimate ticket, there is no win.