County Club Lottery

About the Lottery Draw - Your Questions Answered

When?

The lottery draw is made monthly, usually on or soon after the 16th of the month.

Where?

The current treasurer, PC Steven Broadbent works at Carnforth, Northern Division. Therefore, for convenience, the draw is made

at Carnforth Police Station though sometimes it can be at Police Headquarters, Hutton.

How?

We don't have machines like "Guinevere" or "Lancelot" - your chances are recorded on a spreadsheet and each chance you have will be allotted a consecutive row number.

We then configure a formula in the spreadsheet to pick four numbers at random from the list of chances taken for that month - let's say 1 to 10,500. By pressing the F9 Hot Key, the computer then selects 'randomly' numbers between the given range - once the button is released the computer displays four randomly selected numbers.
 

These are linked to four individual chances taken by our lottery subscribers - The top number on screen wins £1500, second wins £1000 3rd wins £500 and 4th wins £500 and 5th wins £150.

Random draw template - Demonstration image

Who?

The treasurer is present during each draw and he will choose two witnesses to observe the configuration of the 'random number' spreadsheet. The witnesses are usually members of staff at Carnforth Police Station. One of the witnesses will be given the honoured task of pressing the F9 key - this can be pressed once or held down allowing the numbers to roll over several times.

The witnesses will not have knowledge of who the random numbers relate to. Neither able to view the names of the winners until after the key is stopped and the four numbers are then revealed. The screen is then printed and the names are scrolled into view on the monitor.

To add to this sequence, from January 2005, the draw will always be filmed on video.

What are my numbers?

You don't actually have an allocated number or numbers like the National Lottery - you will have taken a number of chances that are added to the official spreadsheet. These are obtained monthly from County Hall Payroll Services.

The numbers are then sorted from high to low alphabetically or numerically against your name or payroll number. Depending on how the list is sorted, your chance or chances will be given a unique row number for that particular monthly draw. Therefore, it is more than likely that your lucky numbers will change each month as there are new members being added and subtracted from the list each month and the sheet is often sorted differently each time.

You may check to see how many chances you and what you pay have by visiting our subscribers page. This page is only available on internal police systems. This page is updated every three months.

If I win - How will I be notified?

The treasurer will e-mail you immediately with advance notification that you have won.  Time permitting, the treasurer may notify the lucky winner by phone. Ringing the lucky winners can be one of the more enjoyable jobs that the treasurer has to perform!

How do I get my winnings?

The treasurer will then send you covering letter with a cheque enclosed. This should arrive with you by internal police post within five working days.

If I win, can I remain anonymous?

We have only ever been asked this a couple of times. However, our Lottery and Gaming Licence legislates that we have to publicise the winners each month. These are published in this website and also included on 'Weekly Orders'.

Has anyone ever won more that once?

Yes! We have now had three subscribers win three times so far within a seven year period.  A further three members have won at least twice.

Has anyone ever won more that once in a monthly draw?

Not yet! But it would not surprise us if it happens one day and the lucky winner could receive two, three or even four cheques! Who knows - it is a lottery after all!

Has the treasurer or one of the draw witnesses ever won?

No not yet! Again, it is possible as the treasurer has 20 chances in the draw and witnesses may also be subscribers.

How do I find out who has won?

Go can go to our Lottery Winners archives. The lists show the names of those who have won monthly prizes since April 2000. Earlier archives will be added soon. These records are only available to view on police systems only.

How do I find out more about a particular lottery draw?

We are happy to give out any detailed information on when, where and who drew the lottery. Also, what the lucky numbers were for that month. This information is given automatically to every winner.

It is proposed to have a short movie clip of the draw on this website as from January 2005. You can then see for yourself first hand how the lottery was drawn and who the lucky winners were!