National Lottery issues urgent warning as 1.5 million players have cash waiting

The National Lottery has revealed that 1,542,081 players across the UK have yet to withdraw or use funds in their online accounts – instead leaving their winnings untouched.

The average amount unclaimed is £3.90, but more than 195,000 players have £10 or more waiting for them, and individual winnings go up to £500 – the maximum amount paid directly into online accounts.

Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor at Allwyn, said: “Come on, you’ve played a game, become a winner and yet not enjoyed your win.

Sending a huge CONGRATS to the two millionaires made in tonight’s New Lotto draw! #ItCouldBeYou ✨ pic.twitter.com/a0TKJ4KRo1

— The National Lottery (@TNLUK) July 15, 2026

“It’s time to log on and check – it could be you.

“I love making winners and it always amazes me that some players seem happy to wait to enjoy their win.

“Whether it’s a few pounds or something much larger, it’s money that could be spent on a treat, saved for something special or even used to play again.

“With Lotto making double the number of millionaires this win in your account could turn into a chance to win a million in just a couple of clicks.”

Across England, 134,229 players in Bristol and the rest of the South West have unspent winnings in their accounts.

Other regional figures include 200,553 in London, 192,680 in the South East, and 186,683 in the East of England.

The North West has 180,672, Yorkshire has 128,824, and the North East has 66,662.

In the West Midlands, including Birmingham, there are 121,141, while Nottingham and the East Midlands account for 95,474.

Among those who turned a small entry into a life-changing sum is north Wales father-of-eight Paul Wynne, who won £1 million on Lotto.

Mr Wynne said: “One of the lines are dates associated with my five younger children, and that’s the line that made me a millionaire.

“It took a while to work out what was going on, to compute it.

“I thought I had won £1,700 at first which I was overjoyed about but then I realised I had five main numbers and the Bonus Ball, so it was £1M.”

Since 1994, more than £53 billion has been raised for good causes through the National Lottery, supporting over 680,000 projects across the UK.

Have you checked your account? Let us know if you won big in the comments.