Unclaimed Set for Life Lottery Tickets Worth £360,000 Expire, Boosting Lottery-Funded Projects

In County Durham, three identical Set for Life lottery tickets purchased for the January 9 draw have reached their expiry date. With the 180-day deadline to claim the prizes passing at midnight on July 8, 2023, the unclaimed tickets amount to a total loss of £360,000, plus any accrued interest. At least one person has missed out on a substantial £120,000 prize.

The National Lottery made a final attempt to locate the ticket holder(s), but their efforts were in vain. The winning numbers drawn on January 9 were 7, 16, 24, 29, 31, and the Life Ball was 3. The Set for Life prize offers a remarkable £10,000 per month for 30 years, resulting in a total payout of £3.6 million over the three-decade period.

Andy Carter, senior winners' advisor at The National Lottery, expressed regret over the missed opportunity for the winner(s). However, he highlighted that the unclaimed funds would now contribute to the £30 million raised each week for National Lottery-funded projects.

To avoid missing out on potential winnings, The National Lottery encourages players to purchase and check their tickets online via the official National Lottery app or website. This ensures that tickets are automatically checked, and winners receive email notifications. Retail ticket holders can also scan their tickets using the National Lottery app for convenient prize checking.