Four of the UK’s newest millionaires are yet to claim their winnings from last Friday’s EuroMillions draw, prompting the National Lottery to urge players to check their tickets. The hunt is now on for these individuals who have won a life-changing £1 million from the special EuroMillions European Millionaire Maker draw but are likely unaware of their newfound fortune.
Across Europe, 100 millionaires were created overnight, with 26 of those located in the UK. So far, 22 of these winners have claimed their prizes, leaving four still at large, with just 180 days to collect their winnings. Friday’s winning numbers were 10 - 11 - 12 - 29 - 31, with Lucky Stars 08 - 11. Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor at Allwyn, the operator of The National Lottery, urged all players to check both their paper tickets and their National Lottery accounts to see if they might be one of the four missing millionaires.
“I can’t believe four ticket-holders out there are millionaires and they don’t even know it yet!” Carter expressed. “It’s only been a week since this special draw, but 22 of these lucky UK-winning ticket-holders are already enjoying their life-changing win.” The excitement continues as EuroMillions has seen significant recent activity. Just four days after this draw, one very lucky ticket-holder scored the entire £177 million jackpot, which has since been claimed.
Following this extraordinary week, 27 winners have emerged with prizes exceeding £1 million, totaling just over £203 million. The National Lottery disclosed intriguing details about the missing winners, noting two purchased their tickets online, whereas the other two bought theirs at retail locations. The latter have been advised to check their paper tickets, either in-store or by scanning their EuroMillions ticket via the National Lottery app, and to contact the National Lottery Line at 0333 234 5050 to initiate their claims.
For the online ticket-holders, the National Lottery advises checking their emails and logging onto their accounts before reaching out via the lottery hotline. The frenzy of ticket verification follows several instances of unclaimed lottery prizes, which shockingly are more common than you might think.
While winners have up to six months to claim their earnings from the draw date, many winning tickets go unnoticed. The anticipation can grow as significant sums linger unclaimed, with tickets often hidden away in wallets, forgotten bags, or neglected online accounts.
National Lottery winners, particularly for prizes of £500 and below, need to visit authorized retailers—such as newsagents, supermarkets, and petrol stations—for verification. Larger prizes, ranging from £500 to £50,000, can be managed online, and claims for prizes exceeding £50,000 necessitate direct contact with lottery officials at the National Lottery.
Recent statistics show multiple unclaimed prizes remain across various lotteries. For example, there’s one unclaimed EuroMillions ticket worth £1 million drawn on September 3, with the holder needing to claim it by March 2, 2025, after purchasing it in Lambeth, London. Another £1 million ticket from the October 4 draw, bought in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, must be claimed by April 2, 2025.
Further, three more unclaimed tickets linger from draws held on October 18, November 5, and November 19, respectively, each bought across various regions, including Swansea and Winchester, with varying deadlines reaching throughout 2025.
Further noteworthy is the recent ‘Set For Life’ ticket worth £10,000 every month for 30 years, drawn on October 24 and purchased in Sevenoaks, which the holder has until April 22, 2025, to claim. The urgency continues as players are reminded to double-check any old tickets or receive refunds on damaged tickets—those might still be valid if reported within 30 days of the draw.
Unclaimed tickets could be hiding anywhere. Therefore, whether it’s tucked inside a purse or forgotten within the depths of your online account, everyone is urged to look closely. After all, you might be holding the key to a life-changing fortune!
“If your ticket is damaged, you may still be able to claim it within 30 days of the draw,” noted the National Lottery, illustrating the importance of timely actions.
The phenomenon of unclaimed lottery prizes pushes players to appreciate the necessity of vigilance, often turning their dream of winning the jackpot from fantasy to reality. So, have you checked your tickets recently? You could be the next million-dollar winner without even knowing it!
