A DAD who won a luxury Mercedes and an Audi worth £80,000 in a competition has shared his secret to good luck.
Shaun Elliot, 52, entered two separate prize draws just before Christmas – and ended up hitting the jackpot with both.
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The machine operator from Newcastle bought six tickets from the competition site 7 Days Performance at just 79p each.
It wasn’t long before he found out he’d luckily bagged himself a Mercedes AMG CLA.
And in even more luckier circumstances a few days later, a draw with Storm Competitions landed him an Audi Q7.
He told ChronicleLive: “I’ve seen the draws before on Facebook and such like and in the last year or so, if I’ve had a spare five or ten quid, I’ve stuck it on.
“I was never really thinking I’d win but was hoping!”
Telling his friends how “easy it was to enter”, Shaun branded the double win unbelievable.
He added: “Everyone’s just absolutely buzzing and it’s been an amazing experience.
“My wife and kids have been completely blown away; we all feel incredibly humble.”
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Shaun revealed the secret to winning is by keeping a close eye on Facebook draws and to enter regularly.
Describing the Mercedes as not for everyday use, Shaun has since sold it back to the dealer.
However, he’s insisting on keeping his brand new Audi.
Advice for safer gambling
Set a money limit in advance
Before you start playing, decide how much you can afford and only gamble with that. It can sometimes be hard to stick to a self-imposed limit, but setting a limit on the gambling company’s app or website can help.
Walk away from your losses
If you’ve lost the money limit you set yourself, it’s time to walk away. Chasing your losses will usually just lead to bigger losses.
Treat gambling as an entertainment expense
Gambling companies are designed to make money. Over time you’ll give away more money than you receive. If you do gamble, think of it like buying a cinema ticket to help you remain happy with what you’re spending.
Set a time limit in advance
It’s easy to lose track of time – and miss other life moments – when you’re gambling. Odds are that the more time you spend gambling, the more money you’ll lose. Set a time limit or alarm, and when time’s up, quite and do other things you enjoy.
Be aware of how you’re feeling
Taking note of how you’re feeling can help you make the best decisions about whether to gamble or not. It can be easy to bet as a distraction or escape from something else, but this can make things worse.
Keep other entertainments in the mix.
If gambling has become your only way to have fun, consider whether it might be starting to cause you problems. It can help to balance gambling with other things you enjoy.
Take frequent breaks
Gambling continuously can make it harder to keep track of time and perspective. Stepping out at regular intervals for some air or a bite to eat can help clear your head.
Be careful if you drink or do drugs
Drugs and alcohol make it harder to stick to your limits. If you do drink or use drugs, tell a friend about your gambling and limits, to help you stick to what you have decided.
Source: BeGambleAware
