Family tradition of choosing birthday dates finally paid off with a winning ticketLast updated: June 23, 2026 | 10:072 MIN READVijay MenezesSuppliedVijay Menezes, a 50-year-old banking professional from Mangalore, India, has been among four winners who each received Dh25,000 in the latest weekly draw.A long-time resident of Dubai, Menezes has lived in the emirate with his family since 1998 and currently works at Dubai Islamic Bank.Get updated faster and for FREE: Download the Gulf News app now - simply click here.Birthday number brings luckMenezes has first discovered Big Ticket through social media and began participating three years ago. Since then, he has made it a habit to buy tickets regularly.What makes his ticket selection process different has been a personal ritual of always including a family member's birthday date in the ticket number.This time, the lucky number has turned out to be 12, his own birth date.Winning callMenezes has shared that he had a feeling about the reason behind the call when Big Ticket host Richard phoned him with the news.“Richard called me and I already had an idea of what it was about from what I had seen online. It was a really nice feeling, I was genuinely excited to receive this,” recalled Menezes.The win marked a memorable moment for the Dubai resident, who has been trying his luck consistently for several years.The Dh25,000 prize has arrived “at just the right time” for Menezes and his family. He has planned to use the money towards a family holiday scheduled for August, helping cover travel expenses and making the trip even more special.Stay positiveReflecting on his experience, Menezes has encouraged other participants not to give up on their hopes of winning.“Do not lose hope. Someday you will get what you want. Some people give up too soon, but stay positive and keep trying,” advised Menezes.More chances to winBig Ticket's second weekly e-draw for June has rewarded four winners from India and Bangladesh, receiving Dh25,000 each.Two more weekly e-draws has remained this month, with four winners set to receive Dh25,000 in each draw.The weekly e-draws are streamed live on the Big Ticket YouTube channel at 11am.Also In This PackageTricia is a reporter and anchor whose work focuses on people, policy, expatriate communities, and Filipinos at home and abroad. Her reporting spans national affairs, overseas Filipinos, and major developments across the Middle East. She holds a degree in Broadcasting and has contributed to leading media organisations. With experience across television, print, and digital platforms, Tricia continues to develop a clear, credible voice in a rapidly evolving global media landscape.Related Topics:Get Updates on Topics You ChooseUp Next