The myth of the money spider and the power of belief credited for UK woman's lottery win

A woman in the United Kingdom will get £10,000 (US$12,465) per month for the next 30 years after she said she purchased some tickets in the country's National Lottery after getting a visit from some lucky spiders.

Doris Stanbridge, 70, said she was at her home southwest of London last August when she spotted a "money spider", one of the most common spiders found in the U.K. The tiny creatures are also known as sheet weavers in many parts of the world based on their reputation for building large webs that resemble silk sheets.

"I was out in the kitchen when I felt something tickle my arm," Stanbridge told Lottery Post. "I looked down and it was a money spider crawling off my hand. I flicked it off, went into the conservatory, and there was another one."

Superstition suggests that finding a money spider on you or your hair will bring you new clothes and money.

No evidence supports the claim that spiders bring financial good luck. However, according to Glenlivet Wildlife, they are often considered a sign of good fortune, particularly if they land on you.

Stanbridge purchased a Set for Life ticket on the Lottery's mobile app, aware of the superstition.

On the day after her 70th birthday, while checking her emails, she was stunned by a message from the National Lottery declaring her a prize winner.

"I logged on to the App, thinking I had won £10, and then saw 'Congratulations, you've won £10K a month for 30 years,'" she told the Lottery in a statement. "I said to Keith [Stanbridge's husband], 'Have I read that right? Does that say what I think it says? No, it can't be."

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Furnishings, vacations purchased with winnings

The Set for Life drawing on August 3rd produced the winning numbers: 2, 11, 17, 30, 38, and the Life Ball was 3. Stanbridge matched all the winning numbers.

"I rushed round to my son-in-law, who lives next door," the winner continued. "I knocked on the door and practically shoved my phone in his face and asked him if it said what I thought it had said. He logged on to his National Lottery app and said, 'Yes, those are the numbers. There was one winner, and it's you."

Stanbridge and her husband utilized the prize money to purchase a new bed and an air fryer. They also went on a vacation to Cornwall with their extended family. In addition, they plan to renovate their house, which has been their home for the past 50 years. They are also considering treating their family to a vacation of their own.

"It will be my grandson's first trip on an airplane," Stanbridge said. "I have been looking at a villa in the country with a pool and sunshine all the time."

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What is the National Lottery's Set for Life game?

The National Lottery Set For Life Game is the U.K. version of the Powerball. Players must guess five numbers correctly plus the "Life Ball" to win £10,000 (US$12,465) monthly for the next 30 years.

Can Americans play?

Tourists visiting the United Kingdom can participate in the U.K. National Lottery without any restrictions. The U.K. National Lottery offers a variety of games, including Lotto, EuroMillions, and Thunderball, which are available to both residents and visitors. Authorized lottery retailers such as convenience stores and kiosks sell tickets, and tourists can purchase them just like residents do.

In case a tourist wins a lottery prize in the U.K., they can claim their winnings as per the rules and regulations of the specific lottery game they played. To claim the prize, they may need to present the winning ticket and fill out any necessary paperwork.