Unclaimed Lottery prizes: unclaimed tickets and prizes news, where were they bought, results - how to claim

• Many UK National Lottery jackpots remain unclaimed despite winners having a six-month window to claim
• Some winners may be unaware they've won, with tickets potentially hidden in wallets, purses or online accounts
• Unclaimed prize money and interest are redirected to National Lottery Projects across the UK after the 180-day claim period
• Smaller prizes (up to £500) can be claimed in-person, while larger sums require online or phone verification
• Currently, several substantial prizes, including £1 million EuroMillions tickets and a £500,000 Thunderball prize, remain unclaimed
• Damaged or destroyed tickets may still be eligible for claims if an appeal is filed within 30 days of the draw date

For many, winning the National Lottery jackpot is a dream come true. But what if you've already won and don't know it?

In the UK, a significant amount of National Lottery winnings go unclaimed, and despite having a six-month window to claim their prizes, some lucky ticket holders have yet to come forward.

These winners might not realise they've won, with the winning tickets possibly tucked away in wallets, purses, or online accounts. Could you be holding a winning ticket? Below, we've listed the current unclaimed prizes...

How long do National Lottery winners have to claim their prize?

Winning lottery ticket holders have 180 days (approximately six months) from the draw date to claim the prize. If a valid claim is not received within this timeframe, the money and any interest earned on it goes to National Lottery Projects across the UK.

How can National Lottery winnings be claimed?

Prize winnings of £500 and under can be claimed in store from a National Lottery retailer. Prizes over £500 and up to and including £50,000 can be claimed online.

For prizes over £50,000, and monthly prize winnings (Set For Life), winning ticket holders should call the National Lottery on 0333 234 50 50 to confirm and arrange the winning claim.

If your ticket has been damaged or destroyed, you still may be able to make a valid claim, however, an appeal should be filed within 30 days of the draw date. Details on the information you would need to provide can be found on the National Lottery website.

Current unclaimed National Lottery tickets:

Euromillions - £1m

A UK Millionaire Maker winner is out there somewhere, drawn on 23 February 2024. The ticket holder - who purchased their ticket in the London Borough of Camden - needs to claim it by 21 August.

Euromillions - £1m

A second UK Millionaire Maker winner is out there too, with this winning ticket drawn relatively recently on 16 April. The ticket holder - who purchased their ticket in Rhondda Cynon Taf - needs to claim it by 13 October.

Euromillions - £196,646.70

It’s not quite a million pounds, but just under £200,000 will do nicely for this Cumberland ticket holder who picked out 6, 7, 9, 14, 43 (Lucky Stars 3, 4) as the winning numbers for the draw on 6 June. They have until 1 December to collect.

Lotto HotPicks - £350,000

A resident from the London Borough of Kingston upon Thames is sitting on over a quarter of a million pounds, with the winning numbers 6, 28, 30, 40, 53, 58 being drawn on 25 May. They have until 21 November to claim their winnings.

Set For Life - £10,000 every month for 1 year

A lucky Match 5 winner with the numbers 10, 18, 24, 27, 38 - Life Ball 5 has until 17 December to claim. The date of the draw was 20 June, and the winning ticket was bought in the Unitary Authority of Medway.

Thunderball - £500,000

Half a million pounds awaits for one lucky resident of the London Borough of Islington, who recently plucked 9, 21, 31, 35, 36 (Thunderball 9) as their fortunate numbers, drawn on 1 June. They have until 28 November to claim the cash.

Have you checked your old lottery tickets lately? With millions in unclaimed prizes waiting to be discovered, it could be worth taking a look! Whether you think you might have a winning ticket or just want to share your thoughts, we'd love to hear from you in the comments section.