• Millions in National Lottery prizes go unclaimed every year
• Winners often don’t realise they’ve won due to lost or forgotten tickets
• Lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the draw date
• Several major jackpots worth millions remain unclaimed across the UK
• Joining lottery syndicates can boost your chances of winning big prizes

Each year, millions of pounds in National Lottery prizes go unclaimed — not because the money disappears, but because winners never realise they’ve won.

Life-changing tickets are forgotten in coat pockets, hidden behind sofa cushions, or buried in unopened emails — with their owners none the wiser that they’re sitting on a small fortune.

That unclaimed jackpot could be yours. With several major prizes still waiting to be claimed, it’s worth checking the list below. One missed ticket could change your life.

Winning lottery ticket holders have 180 days (approximately six months) from the draw date to claim the prize.

If no valid claim is made within the deadline, the prize money – along with any interest it accrues – goes towards funding National Lottery Projects across the UK.

Prize winnings of £500 and under can be claimed in store from a National Lottery retailer – that is, an authorised store or outlet where you can purchase lottery tickets, like newsagents, supermarkets, and petrol stations.

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.

Let’s be honest: hitting the jackpot isn’t easy. The odds are slim, but there are ways to improve your chances and spend less money while pursuing that life-changing prize.

Lottery syndicates have been popular for as long as the draws themselves – and for good reason. By pooling resources with others, you can boost your odds of winning.

Sure, you’ll have to share the prize, but when it’s a £100 million EuroMillions jackpot, does that really matter?

This is the clever ethos behind Lotto Social, an online syndicate anyone can join in. Not everyone will have a syndicate at work, or in a pub, or a sports club, so this opens the opportunities up to the wider public.

With its simple online platform, Lotto Social unlocks far more opportunities for wins, whether they are big wins or small wins, by increasing the number of entries you’re getting.

It’s completely free to join, so you’re in control of how much you’re spending, and you choose the syndicates you join, and the prizes you’re hoping for. You can even opt in to international lotteries to increase your chances of a win even further.

EuroMillions – £106,738.50

A EuroMillions ticket remains unclaimed following the draw on January 14. The lucky winner has until July 13, 2025, to claim their prize. The ticket was purchased in the London Borough of Barnet.

EuroMillions – £1m

A second EuroMillions ticket remains unclaimed. The draw in question took place on February 14, and the lucky ticket holder has until August 13, 2025 to come forward. The ticket was bought in Liverpool.

Lotto – £1m

Someone became a millionaire in the May 24 Lotto draw with the numbers 9, 12, 13, 26, 38, 40, (Bonus 4) — but they haven’t come forward yet. The winning ticket was bought in Birmingham, and the prize must be claimed by November 20.

EuroMillions – £3,613,887.00

A third EuroMillions prize from the June 13 draw is still unclaimed. The winning ticket was bought in Fife, and the lucky ticket-holder has until December 10 2025 to come forward and claim their prize.

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