A Cardiff resident who was grieving her sister's death said she sought spiritual reassurance during an emotionally difficult evening and discovered the following morning that her family lottery syndicate had secured a substantial prize.
Amanda Hampton, aged 51, explained that she initially overlooked the email notification about the win, only to learn later that her four-person syndicate had won £10,000 every month for three decades. The winning ticket was drawn on 3 February 2025, arriving less than a year after Amanda and her brother Gareth lost their sister Michelle.
"We know Michelle would be thrilled that the family is secure and that we're looking after the children,"Amanda reflected.
The syndicate, which had been participating in the Set For Life game since its launch in 2019, comprised Amanda, her brother Gareth, her ex-husband Matthew, and their close family friend Louise. According to the National Lottery's Set For Life information, the top prize delivers a total payout of £3.6 million across the 30-year period.
How did Amanda discover the win?
Amanda had experienced a particularly difficult day and was struggling with the weight of her sister's absence.
"I'd had a really bad day and was feeling incredibly sad about losing my sister. Lying in bed that night, I remember speaking to her in my head and saying, 'I just need a sign that you're okay',"she explained.
When a National Lottery email arrived the next morning, Amanda did not initially treat it seriously, assuming it might contain news of a modest £5 win. However, upon checking the details later that morning, she discovered the extraordinary £10,000-monthly prize.
"I nearly fell over,"she said.
"I immediately called Matthew at 6am. He wasn't very happy I'd woken him up until I sent him the screenshot. Then he couldn't believe it either."
Amanda was in a vehicle with work colleagues when the win received official confirmation.
"Everyone from work was in the car when I got the confirmation. When they told me it was real, we all just screamed,"she recalled.
What has the win changed for the family?
Before the lottery success, Amanda had been managing persistent financial anxiety.
"I now feel completely secure and can look forward, instead of worrying all the time,"she said, describing the transformation in her outlook.
The four winners have each directed their share towards different priorities. Amanda and Louise have invested in improvements to their homes and gardens, while Matthew purchased a new vehicle. Gareth eliminated his mortgage debt entirely following the prize.
The win has also removed educational barriers for the next generation. Amanda's son, who is preparing to attend university in Scotland, will no longer need to take out a student loan. Additionally, Amanda is providing support to Michelle's son as he prepares for a move to Australia scheduled for the following month.
How has the family honoured Michelle's memory?
Before Michelle's passing, the three women—Amanda, Michelle, and Louise—had maintained a tradition of celebrating birthdays and special occasions at Celtic Manor hotel in Newport. They had developed a long-standing joke that should they ever win the lottery, they would book the hotel's Presidential Suite.
Following Amanda's win, the family made good on that promise, arranging a stay at the suite to coincide with the anniversary of Michelle's death.
"Michelle should have been here enjoying all of this with us,"Amanda said.
"We miss her every day. Everything we do, we think about whether she'd be smiling about it."
What is Set For Life?
Set For Life is a National Lottery game that awards £10,000 monthly for 30 years to its top prize winners. The syndicate's participation in the game had spanned since its introduction in 2019. According to National Lottery records, there have been 109 winners of the top Set For Life prize to date.
When a syndicate wins a National Lottery prize, the claim is processed to a single designated claimant rather than being divided by the operator, meaning that groups must establish their own internal sharing agreement to distribute winnings among members.
Key Facts
- Amanda Hampton's four-person syndicate won £10,000 monthly for 30 years on 3 February 2025, totalling £3.6 million over the prize period
- The win arrived less than a year after the death of Amanda and Gareth's sister Michelle
- The family had been playing Set For Life since the game launched in 2019
- The winners have used their share to pay off mortgages, fund home improvements, and remove student loan requirements for family members
- The family honoured Michelle's memory by booking the Presidential Suite at Celtic Manor hotel, fulfilling a long-standing joke between the three women
