ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Oct. 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The UAE Lottery, operated by the Game LLC, has made history as it officially announces the first-ever Grand Prize winner of AED 100,000,000, a moment that marks an unprecedented milestone for the country’s entertainment and gaming industry. 

Anilkumar Bolla, a 29-year-old Indian national and long-time Abu Dhabi resident, struck gold in The UAE Lottery’s 23rd Lucky Day Draw #251018 held on Saturday, October 18, 2025, becoming an instant multimillionaire and forever signing his name in The UAE Lottery’s record books.

At the time of the draw, Anilkumar was at home relaxing when he received the life-changing call from The UAE Lottery. A loyal participant since the lottery’s launch, he was completely shocked and overjoyed by the news, admitting he still can’t believe it happened. Anilkumar first shared the exciting news with a colleague before calling his brother back home in India.

“This win is beyond my wildest dreams,” said emotional Bolla. Recounting the event, he confirmed that he was absolutely stunned to learn that he won the AED 100,000,000 prize. “When I received a call from The UAE Lottery, I thought it was surreal. I kept asking them to repeat the message. It took time to sink in, and even today, I still can’t believe my new reality.”

He added: “This sum will change my life forever. I plan to buy a supercar first and treat myself to a month-long stay at a seven-star hotel. I will also take time to carefully plan how to invest this money wisely. My win is proof that hope and luck can align for anyone, especially when they least expect it.”

A Mother’s Influence on The Winner’s Luck

Bolla selected his winning numbers with a blend of chance and heartfelt meaning. His winning ticket combined an Easy Pick from the ”Days set” and the number 11 from the “Months set” to honor the month of his mother’s birthday, unknowingly sealing his fate as the first-ever AED 100,000,000 winner in The UAE Lottery’s history.

What makes this win even more symbolic is its unique timing, just on the eve of Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, which symbolizes new beginnings, hope, and prosperity. “It feels like an exceptional blessing,” said Bolla. “Winning on such an auspicious occasion makes it even more meaningful.”

A Record-Breaking Evening

While Bolla made history, he wasn’t the only winner that evening. The Lucky Day Draw #251018 also celebrated 10 other lucky winners who walked away with AED 100,000 each, adding to the excitement of what was a record-breaking draw.

Since its launch, The UAE Lottery has awarded over 200 winners of AED 100,000, and more than 100,000 players have claimed prizes totaling over AED 147 million. This latest draw not only marks a personal victory for Bolla, but a defining moment for the UAE’s growing lottery and gaming scene.

“First, congratulations to Anilkumar on this phenomenal win,” said Scott Burton, Commercial Gaming Director at The UAE Lottery. “The AED 100,000,000 prize will not only change his life but also signifies a remarkable milestone for The UAE Lottery, reinforcing our mission to uplift people’s lives while delivering regulated, exciting, and fun lottery experiences. Our growing participant base reflects the genuine interest and trust that players place in The UAE Lottery.” Scott concluded.

More Than Just a Game

Regulated by the GCGRA, The UAE Lottery has quickly become a trusted platform known for real winners, guaranteed prizes, and responsible play. With every draw, it continues to deliver meaningful moments, grounded in fairness, integrity, and player protection.

As the excitement settles from this historic win, all eyes now turn to the next live Lucky Day Draw, taking place on Saturday, November 1, 2025, at 8:30 PM. With millions more up for grabs, who will be next?

Visit www.theuaelottery.ae for ticket pricing, upcoming draws, and how to play.

For media enquiries, please contact:
[email protected]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea33018d-fbf0-40e6-8ead-965bb8ac5b07/en

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Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, has installed more than 22,000 Wave terminals across UK retail locations.

This marks the halfway point in Allwyn’s scale rollout of the new machines, which Allwyn said will modernise and improve The National Lottery in-store experience for retailers and players alike.

Shop owners and staff are said to be responding enthusiastically to the new terminals – which are replacing legacy machines dating back to 2009 – with the new technology making an immediate difference to their businesses and customers.

The new machines offer retailers a significant upgrade to the previous technology, including:

• A high-speed processor for faster transactions

• A larger, tilt-adjustable LCD screen

• Wireless 1D barcode and 2D code scanners

• A versatile play slip reader that can be fed both horizontally and vertically

• Enhanced functionality, including improved reporting and the ability to update National Lottery Fast Pay cards.

Allwyn’s director of operations, Jenny Blogg, said: “Our wide-ranging transformation of The National Lottery continues at pace, with thousands of Wave terminals being installed every week.

“We’ve now invested more than £400m upgrading The National Lottery’s outdated operations and technology.

“Not only is this generating a hugely positive response from our retail partners, but it stands us in good stead to deliver on the exciting plans we have for new games, a better player experience, and a commitment to double returns to Good Causes from £30m to £60m every week by the end of our 10-year licence.”

Allwyn said the rollout is part of its broader strategy to overhaul The National Lottery to ensure it delivers even more for its millions of players, tens of thousands of retail partners and hundreds of Good Cause projects in every postcode district right across the UK.

The post Allwyn Installs Over 22,000 Wave Terminals Across UK Retail Locations appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Pollard Banknote Limited has announced that, following a notice of intent to award and a mandatory 15-day standstill period under Belgian procurement law, the National Lottery of Belgium has awarded the company a contract to deliver and operate a next-generation Gaming Platform. The new Gaming Platform from Pollard Banknote will securely support Loterie Nationale’s core business, including the sale of draw games, instant games and more, across both retail and online channels. Valued at approximately €177 million (CAD $289 million), the 12-year agreement—effective immediately—underscores Pollard Banknote’s global growth and leadership in digital lottery innovation.

This project is a key strategic advancement as it marks the first omnichannel deployment of Pollard Banknote’s Catalyst Gaming Platform—a future-ready solution designed to unify and elevate the player experience. Built on a cloud-native, microservices architecture, Catalyst delivers unrivaled flexibility and scalability to evolve with the Lottery’s changing needs, and brings everything together into one seamless ecosystem, including:

• Omnichannel Central Gaming System to seamlessly sell lottery products across retail and digital channels

• Player Account Management to securely manage player information, wallets and preferences

• Player Engagement Technology to enhance interactions and responsibly drive long-term player value

• Game Aggregation Bridge to deliver diverse game content from leading game providers in one unified player experience

• Instant Ticket Management System to optimize warehousing, inventory control and instant ticket distribution

• Integrated Marketing Engagement Platform to deliver personalised, data-driven experiences at every player touchpoint.

“This award represents a significant milestone in Pollard Banknote’s history. By choosing Catalyst to power its core operations, Loterie Nationale has not only placed its trust in us, but has also endorsed our vision for the future of lottery innovation. Together, we’re redefining the global standard for how lotteries engage with players—securely, responsibly, and seamlessly across channels,” said Doug Pollard, Co-Chief Executive Officer at Pollard Banknote.

The post Pollard Banknote Awarded Contract by the National Lottery of Belgium to Deliver Omnichannel Gaming Platform appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.