Filipino baker wins Dh20m Big Ticket jackpot after 36 years in UAE

Renante Caballero, a 55-year-old Filipino baker who has lived in the UAE since 1988, won the Dh20 million grand prize in Big Ticket Abu Dhabi’s draw on Tuesday, 4 August. The long-term resident secured the jackpot with ticket number 264639, purchased online during the final week of July. Three decades of perseverance Caballero, who works at a local bakery in Abu Dhabi, has been a consistent participant in the raffle for several years. He confirmed that he shared the cost of the Dh500 ticket with a group of 10 colleagues and friends, a common practice among UAE expats to increase their odds of winning. The Dh20 million prize will be split equally among the group, granting each member Dh2 million. The win follows 36 years of residency in the UAE for Caballero, who arrived in the country as a young man in the late 1980s. He noted that the funds would be used to clear personal debts, support his family's education in the Philippines, and secure his retirement after decades of manual labor in the food industry. Recent prize structure changes The announcement follows a period of heightened activity for UAE-based prize draws. The Big Ticket recently resumed its operations following a brief industry-wide pause in early 2024 to comply with new gaming regulations set by the General Commercial Gaming Regulatory Authority (GCGRA). This draw was one of the first major grand prizes awarded since the raffle returned to its full monthly schedule. Filipino expatriates represent one of the…