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

• National Lottery winners in the UK have a limited time of 180 days to claim their prizes
• Significant amounts of lottery winnings remain unclaimed each year despite this deadline
• Winners might not realize they've won, with tickets often tucked away in various places
• Prizes can be claimed in-store, online or by contacting the National Lottery directly
• Current unclaimed prizes include substantial sums like £1 million and smaller amounts nearing £200,000

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, significant amounts of National Lottery winnings go unclaimed. Despite a six-month window to claim their prizes, some fortunate ticket holders haven't yet come forward.

They might not realise they've won, with the winning tickets potentially 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.

(Photo: SHAUN CURRY/AFP via Getty Images)

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.

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.

Don't miss out on a potential fortune! Check your tickets against the unclaimed prizes listed above. If you think you might be a winner, take action now and follow the steps provided to claim your prize.