The approaching new financial year could be the best one yet for any Aussie who unearths a division one winning lottery ticket among their receipts and paperwork this tax time.
There are currently 22 unclaimed division one and major lottery prizes across Australia worth more than $22.7 million (see Table 1 below):
- Ten in Queensland worth $7.4 million
- Seven in New South Wales worth $3 million
- One in the ACT worth $4.8 million
- One in Victoria worth $4.8 million
- One in South Australia worth $1.05 million
- Two in Western Australia worth $1.6 million
Since these winning tickets were not registered to a player card or online account, lottery officials have no way of identifying or contacting the mystery winners to unite them with their prize.
The Lott spokesperson Matt Hart said Aussies were being urged to remain vigilant for any old lottery tickets they might find around the home, car or office.
“From old shopping bags and fridge doors, to car gloveboxes and sock drawers, Australians have a history of storing winning lottery tickets in weird and wonderful places,” he said.
“We’ve had past division one winners come forward months and even years after the draw after finding an old ticket in the back of a drawer, in the central console of their car, and at the bottom of their handbag.
“With more than $22 million waiting to be united with their rightful winners, it’s worth checking any old lottery tickets you might come across! You can check your tickets at any licenced lottery outlet, online at thelott.com or via The Lott app.”
The amount of time players have to claim their prizes varies from state to state. In Queensland, people have seven years, while in New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory it is six years. In Victoria, people have six months to claim their prize directly from Tatts, after which it can be claimed from the Victorian State Revenue Office. In South Australia, people have 12 months to claim their prize directly from SA Lotteries, after which it can be claimed from the South Australian Government.
The prize claim period is set to expire next month on two major prizes – the $4.8 million Set for Life prize from Echuca in Victoria, and the $1.05 million Saturday X Lotto prize from Naracoorte in South Australia.
Mr Hart said the list of unclaimed prizes was a great reminder for players grabbing an entry into this weekend’s Saturday Lotto $20 Million Superdraw to register their entry to a player card or online account.
“We’re in the business of paying prizes and should you win big, you’ll want us to be able to reach out to you with the winning news,” he said.
Table 1: Unclaimed major lottery prizes across Australia
| Game | Draw no | Win date* | Selling outlet | Outlet suburb | State | Division 1 prize |
| Set for Life | 2072 | 8-Apr-21 | Thistle Kiosk | Woden | ACT | $4,800,000.00 |
| Saturday Lotto | 3905 | 22-Dec-18 | Connection Newsagency | Sydney | NSW | $1,018,499.24 |
| Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot 1st Prize | 1235 | 28-Feb-18 | Top End Newsagent Katoomba | Katoomba | NSW | $200,000.00 |
| Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot 1st Prize | 1278 | 15-Apr-19 | Yagoona Newsagency | Yagoona | NSW | $200,000.00 |
| Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot 1st Prize | 1411 | 2-Aug-19 | Governor Macquarie Drive Newsagency | Chipping Norton | NSW | $200,000.00 |
| Saturday Lotto | 4147 | 17-Apr-21 | Winston Hills Newsagency | Winston Hills | NSW | $1,145,653.60 |
| Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot 1st Prize | 1529 | 23-Apr-21 | Spar Express Morpeth | Morpeth | NSW | $200,000.00 |
| Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot 1st Prize | 10467 | 7-Jun-21 | Anna Bay Newsagency & Post Office | Anna Bay | NSW | $100,000.00 |
| Saturday Gold Lotto | 3539 | 20-Jun-15 | Nextra Morayfield Village | Morayfield | Qld | $1,000,000.00 |
| Monday Gold Lotto | 3618 | 19-Dec-16 | Cotton Tree News | Maroochydore | Qld | $1,000,000.00 |
| Saturday Gold Lotto | 3699 | 31-Dec-16 | Lutwyche News & Gifts | Lutwyche | Qld | $1,347,826.09 |
| Saturday Gold Lotto | 3787 | 4-Nov-17 | Nextra Capalaba Park News | Capalaba | Qld | $369,059.13 |
| Saturday Gold Lotto | 3867 | 11-Aug-18 | Golden Lucky News | Helensvale | Qld | $671,513.12 |
| Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot 1st Prize | 1249 | 15-Mar-19 | Nextra Wynnum Plaza | Wynnum West | Qld | $200,000.00 |
| Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot 1st Prize | 10280 | 1-Apr-19 | NewsExtra Springwood Mall | Springwood | Qld | $100,000.00 |
| Saturday Gold Lotto | 3961 | 6-Jul-19 | Gatton Plaza Newsagency | Gatton | Qld | $774,838.34 |
| Saturday Gold Lotto | 3967 | 27-Jul-19 | News Worx | Victoria Point | Qld | $1,000,000.00 |
| Monday & Wednesday Gold Lotto | 4085 | 9-Apr-21 | news extra Mossman | Mossman | Qld | $1,000,000.00 |
| X Lotto | 4069 | 18-Jul-20 | newsXpress Naracoorte | Naracoorte | SA | $1,053,905.78 |
| Set for Life | 1996 | 22-Jan-21 | Echuca Square Lotto | Echuca | Vic | $4,800,000.00 |
| Monday & Wednesday Lotto | 4034 | 14-Dec-20 | Lucky Charm | Gwelup | WA | $1,000,000.00 |
| Saturday Lotto | 4039 | 4-Apr-20 | Willetton Newsagency | Willetton | WA | $613,017.00 |
*Editor’s note: this is the draw date, not the entry purchase date. Entries could have been purchased up to 10 weeks in advance of a draw.
The Saturday Lotto $20 Million Superdraw, draw 4165, is on Saturday 19 June 2021.
The home of Australia’s Official Lotteries, The Lott operates and markets Australia’s leading lottery games customers know and love creating everyday winners, winning every day.
In 2020, more than 111.6 million winners took home more than $3.33 billion in prize money from their favourite games at The Lott, including Saturday Lotto, Monday & Wednesday Lotto, Powerball, Oz Lotto, Set for Life, Lucky Lotteries, Keno, Super 66, Lotto Strike and Instant Scratch-Its.
Last financial year, Australia’s Official Lotteries contributed more than $1.4 billion via state lottery taxes and donations to help community initiatives, such as hospitals, health research, disaster relief and education.