Millions in unclaimed lottery prizes are waiting for lucky winners. A recent £83.4m EuroMillions jackpot was claimed after 13 days, but many other prizes remain uncollected.
Unclaimed lottery prizes are more common than you might think. Winning tickets can be forgotten in wallets, bags, or online accounts before the lucky holders realise the life-changing sum they're entitled to. While a recent EuroMillions jackpot of over £83.4m was claimed after sitting unclaimed for 13 days, many other prizes are still up for grabs.
According to operator Allwyn, the winning ticket for the January 24 draw, worth £83,474,081.80, was bought in the UK. It was the largest unclaimed prize that had been left for six days or more. However, this is just one of many potential fortunes waiting to be discovered.
For those who play the UK National Lottery, it's crucial to know that winning ticket holders have 180 days (approximately six months) from the draw date to claim their 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.
Claiming your winnings is a straightforward process. For prizes of £500 and under, you can claim in store from a National Lottery retailer. Prizes over £500 and up to £50,000 can be claimed online. For larger amounts, including monthly prize winnings (Set For Life), winners should call the National Lottery to confirm and arrange the claim.
If you're worried about missing out on a potential win, consider joining a lottery syndicate. This popular method allows players to pool resources with others, boosting the odds of winning. While you'd have to share the prize, when it's a £100 million EuroMillions jackpot, sharing might not seem like such a hardship.
Currently, there are several unclaimed National Lottery tickets, including multiple £1m prizes from EuroMillions draws. These tickets were purchased in various locations across the UK, including London, Swansea, and Wiltshire. There's also an unclaimed Set For Life prize worth £10,000 every month for 30 years, purchased in Sevenoaks.
Remember, that life-changing ticket might be hiding in your jacket pocket, tucked away in your car's glove compartment, or sitting in an old email. It's always worth double-checking your tickets – you never know when you might be sitting on a fortune.
