A mysterious Australian has unknowingly given up $1 million after failing to collect his Division 1 Lotto prize.
The ticket was purchased from a BP in Mawson Lakes, North Adelaide, on September 27, 2023, but was not claimed until the one-year expiry date had passed.
Lott spokeswoman Anna Hobdell said the winner would have received their prize if they had simply registered their ticket on a player card or online.
“It’s likely that our mystery winner spent their year normally, with no idea that they became an overnight millionaire more than a year ago,” she said.
“If the mystery winner had registered their ticket on a player’s card or online, they would already be united with their million-dollar treasure.”
Ms Hobdell said any prize left unclaimed for a year would be forfeited to the Lotteries Commission of South Australia.
However, the mystery winner can still claim the $1 million if they submit their ticket, a prize claim form and an ex-gratia declaration form to the commission.
This will incur a $22 fee to cover searches, due diligence checks and administrative costs.
A mysterious South Australian has unknowingly lost a $1 million Lotto prize after failing to claim his winning ticket within a year of the draw (stock image)
“This also serves as an important reminder to register your tickets,” Ms Hobdell said.
The winning numbers in the Monday and Wednesday X Lotto draw 4325 last September 27 were 15, 41, 14, 35, 4 and 5, while the additional numbers were 20 and 37.
It comes after a western Sydney mother won a huge $22 million Powerball prize – and immediately told her colleagues shortly afterwards.
The woman in her 30s, from St Clair, had the only winning entry in the first division nationally in the September 20 Powerball 1479 draw, winning $22,207,849.80.
‘I can’t believe it. I saw that I had won and I thought it was only $11. Then I scrolled down and realized I had won it all. I’m only in my thirties. This is going to completely change my life,” she said.
But in a move she might regret, the woman immediately told her colleagues at work about the life-changing win.
“I just got to work and I couldn’t help but shout to everyone that I won the $20 million,” she said.
The mystery winner could have avoided losing the huge prize if he had simply registered his ticket on a player card or online (stock image)
‘One of the boys said, ‘You’re shouting now.’
‘I don’t know how I can concentrate for the rest of the day. Luckily my day isn’t too busy.’
She also shared her heartwarming plans for the money, saying it would change her young family’s lives forever.
‘This means so much to me. Buying a house and helping my family is my main priority, but I would also like to do some traveling,” she added.