Husband and Wife Win

China’s Shanghai Welfare Lottery Centre has announced that for the national draw on 14 September 2006, there were two winners of the top lottery prize worth 5 million Yuan, but for the first time ever, the two winners were a husband and wife. Earlier in the year a father and son had both won a 5 million Yuan prize in the same lottery. The national game is called Shuangse Qui, which means Double Colour Balls and since the couple had each bought a ticket, they each won a 5 million Yuan (£332,000) prize.

Under China’s regulations the winner’s identities have not been released to protect them, but it is known that the winning couple share a 20sq metre apartment with their son and older relatives, and so are planning to move. They also hope to use their windfall to start a business and educate their son. The couple have also made a donation to a charity for disabled people.

Traditionally in China it is men who buy lottery tickets, but more women are now doing so. For this winning couple the wife initially disapproved of her husband’s lottery playing, but for this draw she decided to buy a ticket to see which of them was the luckiest. She paid 10 Yuan for five single combinations based on the birthdays of family members, and he paid 14 Yuan for a complicated combination also based on birthdays of family members.

Profits from China's nationwide Lottery fund various public projects including nursing homes.

- 25/9/06