While Aussies will be cracking into Easter eggs this long weekend, the Lott, Australia’s official lotteries, is hoping to crack the mystery surrounding 10 unclaimed division one prizes.
There are currently 10 unclaimed division one prizes across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria worth $9,266,702.24 in total.
Among these are six unclaimed division one prizes from Queensland worth more than $6.38 million, three from New South Wales worth more than $1.85 million, and one from Victoria worth more than $1 million.
Since these winning tickets were not registered to a players card, the Lott has no way of identifying or contacting the mystery winners and uniting them with their prize.
Aussies are being urged to remain vigilant for any old lottery tickets they might find around the home or car this Easter.
From old shopping bags and fridge doors, to car gloveboxes and sock drawers, the Lott spokesperson Lauren Cooney said Australians had a history of storing winning lottery tickets in weird and wonderful places.
“We’ve had past winners come forward 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.
“Some players have also told us they keep tickets in their underwear drawer for safe keeping.
“Could you have any old tickets lying around at home waiting to be unearthed this Easter long weekend?
“With more than $9.2 million waiting to be united with the 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.”
Unclaimed prizes across the Lott’s jurisdictions as at 17 April 2019
| Game | Draw | Draw date* | Selling outlet | Suburb | Total prize value |
| Wednesday Gold Lotto | 3315 | 22/01/2014 | NewsExtra DFO Cairns | Cairns, Qld | $2,000,000.00 |
| Saturday Lotto | 3447 | 2/08/2014 | Henry Deane Plaza Newsagency | Sydney, NSW | $400,009.97 |
| Saturday Gold Lotto | 3539 | 20/06/2015 | Nextra Morayfield Village | Morayfield, Qld | $1,000,000.00 |
| Monday Gold Lotto | 3618 | 19/12/2016 | Cotton Tree News | Maroochydore, Qld | $1,000,000.00 |
| Saturday Gold Lotto | 3699 | 31/12/2016 | Lutwyche News & Gifts | Lutwyche, Qld | $1,347,826.09 |
| Saturday Gold Lotto | 3787 | 4/11/2017 | Nextra Capalaba Park News | Capalaba, Qld | $369,059.13 |
| Saturday Gold Lotto | 3867 | 11/08/2018 | Golden Lucky News | Helensvale, Qld | $671,513.12 |
| Saturday Lotto | 3891 | 3/11/2018 | Southgate Newsagency | Sylvania, NSW | $441,295.45 |
| Saturday Lotto | 3905 | 22/12/2018 | Connection Newsagency | Sydney, NSW | $1,018,499.24 |
| Saturday Lotto | 3905 | 22/12/2018 | Coburg Hub Lotto | Coburg, Vic | $1,018,499.24 |
*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 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 it is six years. In Victoria, people have six months to claim their prize directly from Tatts, after this time it can be claimed from the Victorian State Revenue Office.
“The biggest and oldest unclaimed prize is a $2 million win from January 2014. This winning ticket for Monday & Wednesday Gold Lotto draw 3315 was purchased at NewsExtra DFO Cairns,” Ms Cooney said.
“In New South Wales, two of the three unclaimed division one prizes are from entries purchased in the heart of Sydney’s CBD. It makes us wonder whether these wins are to a hardworking Sydney resident or a visitor to the city.
“The sole Victorian unclaimed division prize of more than $1 million from Coburg Hub Lotto is one of our most recent additions to the list. This mysterious winner has a little over two months left to claim their prize from us.
“If you purchased an entry at any of these outlets during the days and weeks leading up to the draws in question, you could be one of our mystery winners!” Ms Cooney said.
“If you discover you’re the owner of a winning ticket, phone the Lott as soon as possible on 131 868 to start the prize claim process.”
The Lott recommends players register their entries to a players card so all of their prizes are secure and they can be contacted directly with the good news of a big win.
The Lott’s division one winning tally has now reached 104 so far this calendar year.
More chances to win
There are more chances to win big with tonight’s Powerball offering $12 million, while next Tuesday’s Oz Lotto has $15 million up for grabs.
Tonight’s Set for Life draw offers players the chance to win a First Prize of $20,000 a month for 20 years – that’s $20K on Replay! Set for Life is the only game that allows you to play your numbers across seven consecutive daily draws – meaning you have the chance to win $20K on Replay every day of the week.
The Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot prize is now $56.44 million for draw 1282, while the Lucky Lotteries Super Jackpot prize is now $4.92 million for draw 10284.
Tickets can be purchased at any licenced lottery outlet, online from thelott.com or via the Lott mobile app.
The sign 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 the 12 months to 30 June 2018, 74 million winners took home a total of $2.7 billion in prize money from their favourite games which include Saturday Lotto, Monday and Wednesday Lotto, Powerball, Oz Lotto, Set for Life, Lucky Lotteries, Keno and Instant Scratch-Its.