Portsmouth Lottery jackpot is hit for the very first time

The Portsmouth Lottery was set up in 2016, with the money raised by players going to good causes throughout the city.

While many lotteries donate 25 per cent of the ticket price to charity, the Portsmouth Lottery gives 60 per cent to local charities and community groups.

Any local charity or community group can sign up to the lottery and sell tickets to their supporters, who have a one in 50 chance of winning a number of weekly cash prizes.

Now, Portsmouth-born Karl Bantin, 27, has scooped the first jackpot since the lottery’s inception – a grand total of £25,000.

He is a passionate supporter of Tonic Music for Mental Health, based in Southsea, and so purchased his ticket from them.

Karl said: ‘It's been very surreal – I play a lot of lotteries and this is my first big win, it took a while to sink in.

‘I plan to spend my winnings on a nice car and the rest for a house deposit.

‘It's a very good cause and in the current time even more so, to help people struggling.’

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Tonic Music for Mental Health aims to raise awareness of mental health, challenge stigma, and promote mental wellbeing through music and the arts.

CEO Steph Langan said: ‘Karl's parents Luke and Jo have supported Tonic since we formed, attending our events and gigs in Portsmouth to support the work we do locally in mental health.

‘We are delighted to hear that Karl, a long-term player of the Portsmouth Lottery and supporter of Tonic has won the first Portsmouth jackpot.’

To buy a ticket for the lottery or sign up a charity or community group to become a beneficiary, people can go to portsmouthlottery.co.uk.

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