Time Running Out For £57 Million EuroMillions Winner To Claim Prize
Last Updated: Wednesday 23rd September 2020, 14:40
A £57 million EuroMillions jackpot remains unclaimed almost six months after the draw took place and is set to be given to the Good Causes Fund unless the winner comes forward before 13th September.
*UPDATE: The National Lottery has confirmed that the prize has been claimed. Read the latest news about the Ayrshire EuroMillions winner.
All National Lottery tickets remain valid for 180 days and the vast majority of prizes do get claimed before the deadline, but every year there are still millions of pounds that do not get paid out in time and have to be transferred to charitable projects across the UK.
Ticket Sold in South Ayrshire
The National Lottery is still hoping that the EuroMillions jackpot from 17th March will be claimed, but time has almost run out and a final plea has been issued for players from South Ayrshire in Scotland to see if they can find the winning ticket - which had the numbers 5, 7, 8, 16 and 20, plus Lucky Stars 2 and 12.
“We’re desperate to find this mystery holder and unite them with this massive prize,” said Senior Winners’ Advisor Andy Carter. “We’re urging everyone who might have bought a ticket in this area to check.” Go to the Lottery Claims page to find out how to claim prizes.
The broad location - South Ayrshire - where the ticket was sold was revealed two weeks after the draw took place, and there were reports a little later that a claim had been staked for the prize. However, the jackpot has still not been paid out.
The National Lottery cannot disclose exactly where the entry was purchased - for instance the name of the store - because it could compromise the anonymity of the winner. All players have a right to stay anonymous if they scoop a large prize.
The story of what happened to the winning ticket therefore remains a mystery at present. If it was lost or damaged, anyone who thought they had bought it needed to submit an appeal within 30 days of the draw. This way they could still receive the money if they provided sufficient information to prove they were the winner - giving precise details about when and where they played. The National Lottery investigates such claims at its own discretion and can pay out prizes once the 180-day claim period is at an end.
Largest Unclaimed Prizes
If the jackpot cannot be paid out, it will go down as one of the largest unclaimed prizes in National Lottery history. The biggest-ever unclaimed prize was a £63 million EuroMillions jackpot from June 2012. The ticket on that occasion was bought in the Stevenage and Hitchin area of Hertfordshire, but nobody came forward.
It is essential to keep tickets safe if you play in-store and check them carefully before you dispose of them. You could use the EuroMillions Checker to find out quickly if you are a winner. If you take part online, there is no chance of your numbers being lost and you will always be emailed if you win.