Lottery players across the UK are being urged to check their tickets as one luckiest ticket could hold the key to £83.4 million, the largest EuroMillions jackpot to remain unclaimed for more than six days. The winning ticket, which matched all five main numbers and both Lucky Star numbers, was purchased during the EuroMillions draw on January 24.
According to representatives from Allwyn, the operator of The National Lottery, the ticket holder is still to come forward to claim the staggering sum of £83,474,081, designated to create life-changing opportunities for the lucky winner. The ticket was bought at one of Allwyn's retail locations, yet the precise purchase area remains undisclosed.
The winning numbers are 02, 11, 19, 30, 49, with Lucky Stars being 03 and 08. Remarkably, this jackpot is noted as the largest prize to go unclaimed for six days or longer. “It is very unusual for such a huge prize to go unclaimed for so long,” remarked the spokesperson for Allwyn. The company has stated its plans to engage in ‘bespoke activity’ to reach out to potential winners if the prize remains unclaimed by February 7.
Andy Carter, senior winners' adviser at Allwyn, expressed astonishment at the unclaimed jackpot, stating, “I can’t believe there’s one lucky ticket holder out there who hasn’t claimed this incredible EuroMillions jackpot prize – there are 83,474,081 reasons for them to check their ticket straight away.” He encourages all EuroMillions players to verify their tickets – who knows if one of them has become an instant multimillionaire.
Despite the outstanding sum, this jackpot does not surpass the record UK EuroMillions wins. The largest win recorded was £195 million by an anonymous ticket holder on July 19, 2022. The third-largest win was £177 million, secured by another anonymous individual during the draw on November 26 of the previous year.
Lottery players are typically granted six months to claim their prizes, meaning the winning ticket holder has until July 24 to come forward or risk forfeiting the considerable fortune. If the time limit lapses without any valid claim, the winnings and any interest accrued will be redirected to fund National Lottery Projects across the UK.
So how do players go about claiming their lottery winnings? For amounts up to £500, players can claim their prizes directly from any National Lottery retailer. For claims exceeding £500 but not more than £50,000, players are encouraged to make their claims through online means. If the prize exceeds £50,000, winners must reach out to Allwyn via their specified helpline for guidance.
It’s not uncommon for lottery prizes to go unclaimed. Many players find themselves with winning tickets stuffed deep inside wallets, buried under piles of old receipts, or left forgotten within online accounts. The urge to check unclaimed tickets shouldn’t be underestimated. Numerous players may unknowingly possess life-altering tickets.
The National Lottery has faced criticism in the past due to the frequency of unclaimed prizes. With hours spent planning, selecting numbers, and purchasing tickets, some may lose track of their entries. Each year, countless winners fail to claim their life-changing sums, which raises considerable questions about players' engagement and ritualistic engagement with lottery games.
If you think you may be holding onto one of these tickets, don't hesitate! Call up friends, grab your receipts, and check all your tickets or online accounts to see if they are hiding any unknown riches. The National Lottery has previously noted, “It is in everybody’s interest for this prize to be claimed.”
Included among the current unclaimed jackpots are several £1 million EuroMillions tickets. For example, there is one ticket drawn on September 3, originally purchased within the London Borough of Lambeth. Its holder has until March 2, 2025, to claim their prize, with additional unclaimed tickets scattered across various regions, all waiting for their rightful owners.
So why wait any longer? Check those drawers, rummage through those receipts, and who knows what you might find! You could possibly be sitting on your very own fortune, just waiting for you to claim it. Don’t forget, the future could be brighter than you currently believe!