Unwrap a winning surprise: Aussies urged to check lottery tickets this festive season

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As Aussies prepare to celebrate the festive season, there might be an extra present waiting to be discovered – an unchecked major lottery win.

With 13 unclaimed major lottery prizes across Australia worth more than $115 million, lottery officials are encouraging players to keep an eye out for unchecked lottery tickets they might find around the home, office or car this summer.

Seven of the unclaimed prizes herald from New South Wales, four from Queensland and two from the ACT.

These winning unclaimed tickets were not registered to a player card or an online account with The Lott, so lottery officials have no way of contacting the mystery winners to unite them with their prizes.

The Lott spokesperson Matt Hart said some Aussies could be starting 2026 with a major prize in their bank account – they just needed to check their tickets.

“Whether it’s tucked in a drawer, stuck on the fridge or hidden in your wallet, that forgotten lottery ticket could hold the ultimate Christmas surprise – a major win!” he said.

“We’re in the business of paying prizes, so we’re reminding all players to check any lottery tickets they find as they clean up around the home or car during the holidays. You could be one of the mystery winners we’re looking for.

“We’ve had some winners discover their good fortune months and even years after the winning numbers were drawn. They often tell us that their winning ticket was hiding in plain sight the whole time and just waiting to be checked.

“In fact, in June this year, a Wonthaggi man found a $2.1 million winning ticket tucked away in a card he received for Christmas last year!

“Players can check their tickets in-store, online at thelott.com or via The Lott app.”

Mr Hart said the amount of time lottery players had to claim their prizes varied from state to state.

“In Queensland, people have seven years to claim their lottery prizes, while in New South Wales and the ACT, and  six years,” he said.

“After this time, unclaimed prizes can be used to benefit players and the community – including bonus draws, promotions and making donations to charitable organisations.

“The oldest unclaimed division one win is in Queensland – a ticket purchased in Wynnum won a Lucky Lotteries Mega Jackpot 1st Prize of $200,000 from a draw held March 2019.

“The biggest unclaimed division one wins is Sydney’s $100 million Powerball division one prize from June this year.

“By registering your lottery ticket to The Lott Members Club either in-store or online, not only can we contact you directly after the draw if you win big, but any of your prizes are secure and we can still pay you your prizes – even if your ticket was to go astray!”

Table:  Unclaimed major lottery prizes across Australia as at 17 December 2025

*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.