No Winner For £5 Million Lotto Jackpot As Thunderball Delivers Two Big Prizes

On the evening of January 28, 2026, hopeful Britons tuned in to the National Lottery draw, each dreaming of becoming the nation’s next millionaire. The stakes were high: a £5 million Lotto jackpot was on offer, with the Thunderball top prize set at £500,000. As the clock struck 8pm, the Lotto numbers were revealed: 33, 45, 50, 52, 58, and 59, with bonus ball 15. Just fifteen minutes later, at 8:15pm, the Thunderball draw followed, producing the winning numbers 3, 6, 14, 22, and 24, with the Thunderball 4. But for all the anticipation, the night ended with a twist—no one claimed the main Lotto jackpot, setting the stage for a rollover and an even larger prize in the next draw.

According to The Sun, the Lotto draw has long been a fixture of British life, offering the tantalizing prospect of instant wealth since its inception in November 1994. That first draw, watched by an estimated 22 million people, saw seven lucky winners share a jackpot of £5,874,778. Over the years, the lottery has produced some truly life-changing moments, including a record £42 million single-ticket win in 1996 and Gareth Bull's £41 million windfall in 2020. These stories, recounted by outlets like Express and The Sun, continue to fuel the dreams of millions who participate every week.

But January 28, 2026, was not destined to be another entry in the ledger of multimillionaire winners—at least not for the Lotto. As Express confirmed, “No Lotto player won the £5million jackpot tonight in the National Lottery draw.” However, the night wasn’t without its share of good fortune. Two players managed to match all five main numbers plus the Thunderball in the Thunderball game, each walking away with £500,000. For these individuals, the evening was nothing short of transformative.

The mechanics of the games are straightforward, but the odds remain daunting. To win the main Lotto jackpot, players must correctly guess six numbers from one to 59—a feat with odds hovering around one in 14 million. Each Lotto play costs £2, and ticket sales close at 7:30pm on draw days. For those seeking different odds or smaller prizes, the Thunderball offers a top reward of £500,000 for matching five numbers plus the Thunderball itself, with tickets closing at the same time as the Lotto.

Despite the long odds, the National Lottery remains immensely popular. As Express noted, between 15 and 45 million tickets are sold for each Lotto draw, a testament to the enduring appeal of the chance to win big. The lottery’s reach extends beyond just the draws themselves; the National Lottery app, which was relaunched earlier that week, allows users to participate and check results from the comfort of their homes—a modern twist on a longstanding tradition.

For those who didn’t win, there’s always another chance. The next Lotto draw is scheduled for Saturday, January 31, 2026, with an estimated jackpot of £7 million thanks to the rollover. As Mirror pointed out, “The £3.8 top prize was not won on Saturday, meaning it's rolled over to today.” With each rollover, anticipation builds, and so too does the size of the potential prize, drawing even more participants into the fold.

The National Lottery isn’t just about individual dreams of wealth. Each week, around £30 million is raised for good causes across the UK, funding everything from community projects to heritage sites and sports initiatives. As WalesOnline explained, “Playing the Lotto also helps raise around £30m each week for good causes in the UK.” For many, this aspect of the lottery provides an added incentive to play, knowing that even if they don’t win, their contribution supports worthwhile endeavors.

Beyond the main Lotto and Thunderball draws, the National Lottery offers a variety of other games. The Lotto HotPicks, for instance, uses the same numbers as the regular Lotto but offers prizes up to £350,000 for matching five main numbers. There’s also Set for Life, which gives players the chance to win £10,000 every month for 30 years, and the EuroMillions, with its own eye-watering jackpots. These options ensure that there’s something for everyone, regardless of their appetite for risk or reward.

For those curious about the breakdown of prizes, the January 28 Lotto draw saw 20 players match five of the six main numbers, each receiving £1,750. Another 1,771 players matched four numbers, earning £140 apiece, while 40,512 matched three numbers for a £30 prize. Even matching just two numbers nets a free Lotto Lucky Dip entry for a future draw. The Thunderball game also rewards partial matches, with prizes ranging from £3 for just the Thunderball to £5,000 for five main numbers.

The history of the National Lottery is rich with stories of unexpected windfalls and dramatic life changes. Sue Davies, for example, bought a ticket to celebrate the end of pandemic shielding and ended up winning £500,000. Sandra Devine accidentally purchased a ticket and won £300,000. These tales, highlighted by The Sun, serve as reminders that sometimes, luck strikes when least expected.

Since its launch, the National Lottery has undergone significant changes. Originally operated by Camelot for three decades, the license transferred to Allwyn in February 2024, marking a new chapter for the institution. Yet, the core appeal remains unchanged: the dream of a life transformed overnight, the thrill of the draw, and the knowledge that each ticket supports the broader community.

With the next draw just days away and the jackpot swelling to £7 million, excitement is sure to build across the country. For now, the winning numbers from January 28 stand as a testament to the enduring allure of the National Lottery: 33, 45, 50, 52, 58, 59, bonus ball 15 for the Lotto, and 3, 6, 14, 22, 24, with Thunderball 4 for the Thunderball. For those still holding onto their tickets, there’s always hope—and for everyone else, there’s always next time.