UK Edition
Builder who handed in lost £30 gets instant karma with £50,000 jackpot
A Scottish builder enjoyed instant karma after winning £50,000 on a £1.50 bet just minutes after handing in money left at a supermarket cash machine.
Colin Banks was shopping at an Asda store in Motherwell with his daughter Zoe when he spotted the £30 left behind at the ATM and handed it in to a supermarket worker.
The 50-year-old was celebrating an unexpected jackpot just minutes later when he beat odds of 372,000/1 to win £49,077 on a Betfred Lucky 15 virtual horse.
“They say honesty is the best policy…and it certainly was for me!” said the father-of-two.
“I have been having a go on virtual racing for six months but this is easily my biggest win. It is amazing really to win so much from just a £1.50 bet.
“My first choice Richardson Lakes (28/1) was because I have a nephew called Richard and I have regularly backed Rifle Bore (20/1). The other two Granary Loaf which was a 50/1 shot and Soviet Fighter (11/1) were random choices.”
He celebrated his win with “more than one glass” of wine and has also spent £8,500 on a second-hand Ford Focus.
“I have a big family and I’m now going to make sure we all have a brilliant time this Christmas, the best we as a family have ever had,” he added.
“I was curious and went back into the supermarket on Sunday and the same member of staff at the self-service checkout area was on duty who I had handed the £30 to and she said the lad had been back in and was very grateful. I suppose one good turn deserves another.”
Betfred boss Fred Done said: “Christmas has come early for Colin…and it won’t be virtual but real for sure. Congratulations on emptying my pocket so quickly with such a tiny stake!
“This was one of the biggest virtual horse racing wins in our fifty year history.”