A single UK ticket-holder has stepped forward to claim a staggering £25,701,358 EuroMillions jackpot from Friday’s draw — the second multimillion-pound win in just over a week, as confirmed by The National Lottery on Sunday, 12 October 2025. The winner, whose identity remains private, collected the prize through the official claims process managed by Allwyn Entertainment Limited, the operator of the UK National Lottery since February 2024. But here’s the twist: while two winners have been paid, two other life-changing prizes — totaling over £12.6 million — are still sitting untouched, waiting for someone to check their ticket.
Two Wins, Two Missing Millionaires
The £25.7 million win follows closely on the heels of another EuroMillions jackpot of £26 million claimed on 3 October 2025. Both were won by single ticket-holders in the UK, making it an extraordinary fortnight for British lottery fortunes. But the real mystery lies in the two unclaimed Lotto jackpots. On Saturday, 4 October 2025, a ticket matching the numbers 06, 08, 12, 33, 49, 59 won the £10,633,323 top prize — purchased at a retail outlet, as confirmed by The National Lottery. Then, just four days later, on Wednesday, 8 October 2025, another ticket matched 02, 21, 42, 48, 56, 57 to secure a £2 million prize. Neither winner has come forward."It’s been an amazing couple of weeks with big multi-million pound prizes being won every few nights," said Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor at Allwyn Entertainment Limited. "We will look after the two EuroMillions winners and help them start to enjoy their amazing win." But his tone shifts when he talks about the missing winners: "We hope to meet the Lotto winners soon, once we have a claim. So check those tickets and emails — remember it could be you!""
How the System Works — And Why People Miss Out
The UK National Lottery operates two major games: EuroMillions, drawn twice weekly on Tuesdays and Fridays, and Lotto, drawn on Wednesdays and Saturdays. EuroMillions requires matching five main numbers (1–50) and two Lucky Stars (1–12). Lotto is simpler: match six numbers from 1–59. But there’s another layer: the UK Millionaire Maker code, a unique alphanumeric string printed on each ticket, which can independently award £1 million — no number matching required.Many winners miss their prizes not because they lost the ticket, but because they assume they didn’t win. A ticket might be tucked in a wallet, forgotten in a coat pocket, or dismissed after a quick glance. The October 4 Lotto draw’s winning code? J W G H 0 3 5 3 0. If you bought a ticket that day and saw those letters and numbers — even if your numbers didn’t match — you might’ve walked away thinking you lost. But you didn’t. You won £1 million. And that’s just one of the prizes from that draw.
The National Lottery sends email alerts to online players and displays results on its website, but physical ticket holders rely on self-checking. Retailers can verify tickets, but only if the winner walks in. The 180-day claim window is generous — roughly six months — but it’s not infinite. After that, the money goes to the National Lottery’s "Good Causes" fund, which supports everything from community sports centers to heritage restoration projects across the UK.
What Happens to Unclaimed Prizes?
When a prize goes unclaimed, it doesn’t vanish. It gets redistributed. In the case of Lotto jackpots, the unclaimed funds feed into future prize pools, boosting future jackpots. But for smaller prizes — like the £1 million from the Millionaire Maker — the money flows directly into the "Good Causes" pot, which in 2024 alone distributed over £1.8 billion to charities, arts groups, and sports initiatives."It’s bittersweet," said Dr. Eleanor Hargreaves, a behavioral economist at the University of Edinburgh who studies lottery behavior. "People play for the dream, but the system is designed to reward vigilance. The biggest winners aren’t always the luckiest — they’re the ones who double-check." She points to a 2021 case where a £17 million EuroMillions winner in Scotland only discovered the win after finding the ticket while cleaning out a drawer two years later — but too late to claim. "That’s the tragedy. Not the loss of money. The loss of what it could’ve changed."
What’s Next? The Clock Is Ticking
With the October 4 and October 8 Lotto jackpots still unclaimed, The National Lottery has ramped up its outreach. Billboards across England, Scotland, and Wales now carry the message: "Did you check your ticket?" Social media campaigns feature real winners telling their stories. The hotline has seen a 40% spike in calls since the announcement.But the real question isn’t whether the winners will come forward — it’s whether they even know they’ve won. Could someone have bought a ticket on a whim, forgotten about it, and never checked the results? Maybe. Could a family member have thrown the ticket out thinking it was trash? Possibly. The odds of matching all six numbers are 1 in 45 million. But the odds of missing a win? Just one in two.
Behind the Numbers: The Bigger Picture
Allwyn Entertainment Limited took over the National Lottery license from Camelot in February 2024, promising greater transparency and higher returns to good causes. So far, they’ve delivered: since taking over, over £1.2 billion has been allocated to community projects — from youth football clubs in Manchester to dementia support groups in rural Wales.And while the headlines focus on the jackpot winners, the real story is in the ripple effect. Every ticket sold, whether it wins or not, contributes to public good. The unclaimed £12.6 million? It’s not just lost money. It’s lost potential — a new playground, a restored library, a music program for teenagers who otherwise couldn’t afford lessons.
"We don’t want to be the reason someone misses their chance," said Carter. "We’re not just a lottery. We’re part of the fabric of this country. And if someone out there is sitting on a winning ticket, we’re not just asking them to call us — we’re asking them to change their life. And maybe, just maybe, change someone else’s too."
Frequently Asked Questions
How can someone check if they’ve won a lottery prize?
Winners can verify tickets online at national-lottery.co.uk, by calling the dedicated claims line, or by visiting any authorized retailer with their physical ticket. Online players receive automatic email alerts. For the October 4 and October 8 Lotto draws, the winning numbers were 06, 08, 12, 33, 49, 59 and 02, 21, 42, 48, 56, 57 respectively — and the UK Millionaire Maker codes were J W G H 0 3 5 3 0 and another unique code printed on each ticket. Even if numbers don’t match, checking the code could reveal a £1 million win.
What happens if a prize isn’t claimed within 180 days?
Unclaimed prizes are redirected to the National Lottery’s "Good Causes" fund, which supports over 20,000 community projects annually — from sports facilities to arts programs. For Lotto jackpots, unclaimed amounts roll into future prize pools. But for fixed prizes like the £1 million Millionaire Maker wins, the money goes entirely to good causes. The October 4 and 8 unclaimed prizes, if left unclaimed, will add over £12.6 million to this fund.
Why are so many prizes going unclaimed in 2025?
Experts point to increased ticket sales and digital distractions. More people buy tickets online or via apps, but physical tickets often get misplaced. A 2024 study found 17% of UK lottery winners don’t check their tickets within the first week. With two jackpots won in a single week and a third unclaimed, it’s clear that the excitement of winning can be overshadowed by forgetfulness — or the assumption that "it couldn’t be me."
Can you claim a prize anonymously?
Yes. Winners can choose to remain anonymous. The National Lottery offers a confidential claims process with legal and financial advisors on hand to help winners navigate their new reality. The £25.7 million EuroMillions winner chose privacy — and that’s entirely normal. Over 80% of major UK lottery winners opt not to go public, according to Allwyn’s internal data.
How does the UK Millionaire Maker work?
Each Lotto ticket includes a unique, randomized six-character code (e.g., J W G H 0 3 5 3 0). If that code matches the one drawn, you win £1 million — regardless of whether your main numbers match. It’s essentially a second chance built into every ticket. On October 4, 2025, the winning code was J W G H 0 3 5 3 0. Anyone with that code on their ticket — even if they matched zero numbers — won £1 million. Many people overlook this entirely.
Is it still possible to claim the unclaimed £10.6 million and £2 million prizes?
Yes — but only until 1 April 2026 for the October 4 draw and 6 June 2026 for the October 8 draw. The 180-day window starts from the draw date. Winners must present the original physical ticket or, for online purchases, their account records. If the ticket is lost, claims cannot be processed. With over 12 million tickets sold per Lotto draw, someone out there still has the winning ticket — and time is running out.