Lottery horror stories often leave one stunned, and for an Australian who missed out on a $1 million prize, the shock is undoubtedly immense.
The winning lottery ticket was purchased at a BP Power station in Mawson Lakes, North Adelaide, on September 27, 2023.
When the lottery results were announced, the ticket holder had won a substantial AUD $1 million prize, which is approximately $680,000. However, the winner never claimed the prize.
According to South Australia’s Lotto rules, ticket owners have up to one year to claim their prize before it expires.
By October 2024, the time for claiming the prize had officially lapsed.
The ticket holder’s failure to claim the prize can be attributed to a simple oversight.
Lotto spokesperson Anna Hobdell remarked: “It’s likely our mystery winner has (been) going about their year as normal with no idea they became an overnight millionaire more than a year ago.
“If the mystery winner had registered their ticket to a player card or online, they would have already been united with their million-dollar treasure.”
It’s interesting to note that various parts of Australia have different lottery expiration dates.
While ticket holders in South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania have one year to claim their prizes, those in the Northern Territory have a longer period.
In New South Wales and the ACT, there is a six-year window for claiming lottery prizes.
Queensland offers the longest period, allowing up to seven years to claim a prize.
Despite missing the traditional claim period, the mystery ticket holder still has an alternative route to claim their prize.
To do so, they would need to submit the original ticket, a prize claim form, and an ex-gratia statutory declaration form to the commission.
This process involves an additional $22 fee to cover the administrative costs necessary to release the $1 million funds, a small price to pay considering the stakes.
Hobdell emphasizes: “This also serves as an important reminder to register your tickets.”
If you’re playing the lottery in other regions, it’s crucial to understand the specific rules in your area. Neglecting to do so could result in missing out on substantial winnings, just like this unfortunate ticket holder.
For instance, in the US, the national Powerball lottery typically has a 180-day expiration date. However, it’s advisable to check for any state-specific rules where you purchase your ticket.