A new study by WDW Bingo has revealed the luckiest cities in the UK for winning the lottery, based on an analysis of postcode lottery wins, millionaire winners and residents' interest in chasing jackpots.
The research considered the number of millionaires and winners with prizes of £50,000 or more, as well as the volume of month Google searches for “lottery results.”
It claims that with 13 £1m winners per 100,000 people, Newcastle Upon Tyne is the UK’s jackpot hotspot.
Sheffield came eighth in the ranking with a large number of big lottery winners - for every 100,000 residents, there are 12 newly-made millionaires, and more than 75 have won prizes of over £50,000. And, for a city of over 400,000 people, it has also seen more than 1,000 postcode lottery winners, far outstripping more populated cities like Leeds and Glasgow.
In Sheffield, there have been 1,061 wins in the postcode lottery since it launched in 2005.
Harrison Score, Head of WDW Bingo, comments: “When it comes to the lottery, it's clear that some places have a winning track record. Our analysis shows that factors like a high number of jackpot winners and an enthusiastic community that regularly checks for results all contribute to a city's luck. This study isn't just about who has won the most; it’s about a city's collective spirit and hope for a big win."
To celebrate the relative luck of Sheffield, here are some of the people in the city and its surrounding areas who have won big in various lottery draws over the years.
5. Bus full of winners
Pictured celebrating their National Lottery win in April 1999 are a six-strong syndicate from the Sheffield Transport Sports & Social Club at Meadowhead, Sheffield on top of an open-top Mainline bus. Pictured left to right are Filip Carpino, Graham Sanderson, Joe Angell, Derek Moore, David Bingham and Jack Whitehead | Photo: Steve Ellis
6. Syndicate celebrations
A Penistone syndicate celebrate their £213,751 win at Naylor Myers Builders Merchants in February 2006. From left to right are Dave Rogers, Michael Walker, Ian Haddington, Dawn Morfitt, Andrew Garwood and James Riley | Photo: Roger Nadal
7. Bittersweet win
Retired miner Peter Brown from Sheffield won £1,284,612 in July 2002. Sadly, his wife Hazel died just a few months before the big win and he said no amount of money could make up for that loss | Photo: Andrew Partridge
8. Trish kept her feet on the ground
Lottery winner Trish Emson and baby Benjamin of Elliot Close, Wath, in Benjamin's room stuffed full of presents. Trish won £1.7 million in October 2003 but vowed to keep her feet on the ground - in 2015 she was working as a dinner lady in Benjamin's school | Photo: Andrew Partridge