The popular raffle called Big Ticket will temporarily stop running from today, April 1, due to gaming rules in the UAE, as announced by the Abu Dhabi-based raffle on Monday.
However, the scheduled live draw for series 262 will still happen on Wednesday, April 3, where all prizes, including a guaranteed grand prize of Dh10 million, will be given away. There will also be Dream Car draws for Maserati Ghibli and Range Rover Evoque, which were originally planned for May 3.
The Big Ticket draw typically occurs on the 3rd of each month at Abu Dhabi International Airport. According to its website, Big Ticket awarded a total of Dh246,297,071 in prizes last year. The most recent winner, Dubai-based Indian expat Mohammad Shereef, said he would split the Dh15 million jackpot among 19 of his friends.
‘Industry-wide mandate’
Big Ticket is now the third major raffle draw operator to halt its operations. Both Dubai-based Mahzooz and Emirates Draw also stopped their operations in the UAE on January 1 of this year, and no information has been provided on when these games will resume. Both operators stated that the pause was following directives from the UAE Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA), a federal body formed in September last year. The authority's goal is to establish a "socially responsible" gaming atmosphere by coordinating regulatory actions, managing licensing, and promoting responsible commercial gaming to unlock economic opportunities.
Regulatory protocols
In a message to its customers, Big Ticket expressed gratitude for their continuous support during this pause. The organization emphasized its commitment to upholding transparency, responsibility, and integrity in all prize-related matters. Big Ticket assured customers that they would receive updates through official channels as they adhere to regulatory protocols. They anticipate a swift resumption of operations and look forward to serving their customers again soon.
Prizes secured
Big Ticket also assured that all prizes previously won are securely protected and guaranteed. While customers won't have access to their accounts during the pause, they will regain full access once operations resume.
Although the draw operator didn't provide a specific timeframe for when operations will resume, customers can still reach out for assistance or inquiries by calling +971022019244 or emailing help@bigticket.ae.
News Source: Khaleej Times
