URGENT UPDATE: A mystery Lotto winner in Queensland has just over a month to claim their incredible $670,000 prize, or it will slip away forever. The seven-year claim window closes on September 11, 2023, leaving the ticket holder racing against time to secure their winnings.
The winning ticket was purchased on August 11, 2018, at Golden Lucky News in Helensvale, but the winner remains untraceable. This ticket now holds the title of the oldest unclaimed lottery prize in Australia, and officials are urging anyone who might have it to check their belongings immediately.
The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell emphasized the urgency of the situation in a recent interview, stating, “We know other big winners have stashed their winning tickets in all sorts of places — from the fridge door to the car console — so it’s worth searching all nooks and crannies for unchecked tickets.”
If the winner does not claim their prize by the deadline, the funds will be returned to the community in some form. Hobdell added, “Eventually, unclaimed prize money must be returned to the community to support public services.” The lottery operator will exhaust all options to locate the winner, including reviewing ticket purchase details and any available CCTV footage, although privacy laws prevent them from releasing this footage publicly.
In a stark reminder of the importance of registering tickets, Hobdell noted that had this player registered their ticket with The Lott Members Club, they would have been notified of their win long ago. “If you discover you are holding the winning ticket, contact The Lott on 131 868 immediately to begin the process of claiming your prize,” she urged.
Meanwhile, another mystery surrounds a $100 million Powerball winner from New South Wales who remains unaccounted for since June. The winning ticket was sold at a newsagent in Bondi Junction, but with no registered player details, officials can only wait and hope the winner realizes they’ve struck it rich.
Calls for a redraw have emerged, but the rules for unclaimed lottery prizes differ across states. In NSW, unclaimed winnings must be claimed within six years, after which the funds become part of general state revenue. In contrast, Queensland allows winners seven years and offers more flexibility in how unclaimed funds can be utilized.
As the deadline approaches, the excitement and urgency surrounding these unclaimed prizes highlight the emotional stakes involved for both winners and the community. With just weeks left to act, it’s a critical time for anyone who may have these winning tickets to come forward.
Stay tuned for updates as this story develops, and remember to check your tickets!
