As the New Year unfolds, a treasure trove of unclaimed lottery prizes worth over $21.42 million is waiting to be discovered across Australia. The Lott announced on Tuesday that 24 major lottery prizes, with values ranging from $74,000 to an astounding $4.8 million, remain unclaimed, urging hopeful winners to dig through their belongings.
The geographical breakdown of these prizes reveals that 12 are from New South Wales, five from Queensland, and two each from the Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Western Australia, with one prize originating from South Australia. “Whether it’s tucked in a drawer, stuck on the fridge, or hidden in your wallet, that forgotten lottery ticket could hold the ultimate post-Christmas surprise – a major win!” said Matt Hart, a spokesperson for The Lott.
The challenge in reaching these fortunate winners lies in the fact that the tickets were not registered to a player card or online account, making it difficult for officials to notify them of their good fortune. “You can check your ticket in-store, online at thelott.com, or via The Lott app,” Hart added, encouraging players to take a moment to verify their tickets.
Among the unclaimed prizes, the oldest is a Saturday Gold Lotto jackpot exceeding $671,000, which has remained untouched since August 2018. This winning ticket was purchased in Helensvale, Queensland. In contrast, the most recent and largest unclaimed prize – a Set for Life reward of $4.8 million – was won in Kiama just last month. Another similarly large prize, also worth $4.8 million, has been unclaimed since April 2021 and was bought in Woden, ACT.
In addition to these astonishing amounts, four prizes drawn last Saturday, each worth more than $1.3 million, are also waiting for their rightful owners to come forward. Hart noted that it is not uncommon for winners to remain unaware of their good fortune for months or even years after the winning numbers are drawn. “They often tell us that their winning ticket was hiding in plain sight the whole time and just waiting to be checked,” he explained.
The time allowed for claiming these prizes varies by state, adding another layer of urgency for potential winners. For instance, residents of Queensland have seven years to claim their lottery prizes, while those in New South Wales and ACT have six years. In Victoria, the timeframe shortens to just 12 months for direct claims, after which winners must turn to the Victorian Government.
To avoid missing out on potential windfalls, The Lott strongly advises Australians to register their lottery tickets. This way, they can be promptly notified as soon as they win a prize, ensuring that no one is left in the dark about their good fortune.
As the excitement of the holiday season gives way to the hopeful possibilities of the New Year, now is the perfect time to check those old tickets—you might just find a life-changing surprise waiting for you.
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