‘It’s a lucky day’: Ramalde’s neighbors celebrate the Euromillions ‘jackpot’ at the tobacconist where the winning ticket was registered

Joao Ribeirinho learned on Tuesday evening that the tobacco shop he has run for less than two years, on Avenida do Bessa, in Ramalda, Porto, had registered a winning ticket for the biggest EuroMillions jackpot ever. “Happy” to learn that one of his clients won the biggest prize to date at the Santa Casa Games, João Ribeirinho makes no bones about the fact that it was a “historic day”.

The only winner of the European competition guessed five numbers and two stars in one attempt. The rate was manual and the lowest of all, that is, a minimum of two and a half euros.

News that the first Euromillions prize with a jackpot of 213 million was won in Portugal has sparked a search for the key on Santa Casa’s digital platforms. Nuno Pires, a spokesman for Santa Casa Games, said it was “not surprising that this is the case” as it was the largest prize ever awarded in Portugal.

“The winner now has 90 days to collect the prize from the central gaming services of Santa Casa in Lisbon, and the subsequent process is carried out quickly,” explains Nuno Pires.

On Wednesday, the winner had not yet claimed the prize, but already knows that the 213 million euros he wins are subject to stamp duty at a rate of 20% and therefore about 42 million are transferred to the state. Approximately 171 million euros will be deposited into the player’s bank account.

“You have to have a head to manage that kind of money,” said Maria Fernanda, a customer at the NLetras tobacco store. Heitor Fernandez, another customer, joined the owners to celebrate their “neighbor’s good fortune.”

“This is a lucky day for those who live here, although we don’t know who the lucky person is, but we know that he is our neighbor,” he laughed.