A mystery lottery winner has come forward to claim a £1 million prize just hours before it was due to expire. Allwyn, the operator of The National Lottery, confirmed that a claim has been received for the top prize from the Lotto draw held on 1 November 2025.
The winning ticket matched five of the six main numbers—17, 18, 31, 36, 39, 51—and the Bonus Ball number 29. The ticket-holder, from the South Gloucestershire area, submitted their claim on Wednesday, with the final deadline set for midnight on Thursday, 30 April 2026. The 180-day claim window had nearly elapsed, making this a last-minute success story.
A Remarkable Last-Minute Claim
Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at Allwyn, expressed astonishment at the timing. “WOW, this is truly incredible. To receive a claim for this life-changing £1 million Lotto prize in the final hours before the final deadline is absolutely extraordinary. While it is unusual for prizes to go unclaimed, players coming forward at this final hour is even more rare,” he said.
Carter added, “We search for missing winners, so to see a claim come in following our appeals to unite the lucky winner with their £1M prize is just fantastic. Huge congratulations to our Lotto winner, we’re absolutely thrilled to now be supporting them as they begin what will no doubt be a remarkable, life-changing journey.”
Similar Cases in the Past
This is not the first time a major National Lottery prize has been claimed in South Gloucestershire with just one day to spare. In 2014, James Wilson from Bradley Stoke, Bristol, discovered an old EuroMillions ticket while clearing out his wallet the day before the deadline. The then 28-year-old decided to check it and found it was worth £51,232.90.
Validation Process Ahead
As with all major prizes, the claim will now undergo a validation process to ensure compliance with the Games Rules Terms and Conditions and to protect the integrity of The National Lottery. Subject to validation, the prize will be paid at an appointment with one of Allwyn’s Winners’ Advisers.
Once the ticket has been validated and paid, the ticket-holder will decide whether to go public and share their news. No information will be released about whether the winner is an individual or a syndicate, or where the ticket was purchased, unless the winner chooses to disclose these details.
Another Unclaimed Prize Still Out There
While the £1 million Lotto prize from South Gloucestershire has been claimed, the search continues for a missing £1 million EuroMillions winner from the Unitary Authority of Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. Players are urged to check their tickets for the winning Millionaire Maker code HPCF58869 from the draw on 4 November 2025. The deadline to claim this prize is midnight on Sunday, 3 May 2026.
For a full list of major National Lottery prizes that remain unclaimed, visit the National Lottery website.
