A LOTTO player was fuming after a little known rule meant he missed out on a £50,000 life-changing jackpot.
Nathan Moody, from Billingham in County Durham, was stunned when the shopkeeper at his local scanned his ticket and the machine suddenly started beeping.
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The employee at Low Grange Store told the 25-year-old he must have bagged a colossal win.
He informed Nathan he would have to call Lotto HQ to receive his eye-watering pay out.
I was absolutely gutted. I couldn’t speak, I was devastated”
Nathan Moody
After picking his jaw back up from the floor, the dad-of-three started planning a family holiday and driving home in a flash new motor.
But, in a devastating twist, Nathan discovered the next day he had merely scooped a free lucky dip worth two quid.
The fuming punter told The Chronicle: “I was talking to my partner about getting everything sorted and paying my bills.
“We could have got a nice little car, and helped my mum and dad out
“The most I’ve ever won before is £100. I do it about once a month.”
Nathan described the moment he thought his life had changed forever.
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Big changes to the National Lottery
Camelot, who have been in charge since 1994, are being replaced by Allwyn, as chosen by the Gambling Commission.
THE handover on February 1 marked the first time the lottery has changed hands since it was launched nearly 30 years ago.
It is said to introduce a host of different rules but vows to “breathe fresh life” into the draw as the number of winners dwindles.
They hope to launch new scratch card initiatives with the idea to turn it into a trend to give these as gifts.
New products could even include scratch card advent calendars, as seen in the Netherlands.
One rule in particular surprised players as it could limit their chances of winning.
From February 1, punters will not be able to buy more than 10 Scratchcards at any one time with online retail partners.
The company also announced its original promise to halve the price of a lottery ticket from £2 to £1 is under review.
Highly-anticipated plans for new draw-based games have been delayed until 2025 too.
“It made a beeping noise to say I had won. The shop assistant was quite shocked,” he explained.
“The machine was telling him it’s a big payout and I should contact Lottery HQ.
I boasted to my work and family that I’d won £1million lottery jackpot but I only got 20p after stupid code error
“He gave me a pen and told me to write my name on the back of the ticket. Everyone in the shop was over the moon for me.”
But, Nathan had actually had his ticket scanned during what is known as a “draw break” – a period immediately after a draw where numbers and prizes are being worked out by Camelot.
Heartbroken Nathan returned to the shop the next day to check again – but his luck had run out.
He said: “The machine made the beep again and it gave me a free lucky dip.
“That was it – he took the ticket and gave me the print-out that says I’m entitled to a lucky dip. I had won no money.
“I was absolutely gutted. I couldn’t speak, I was devastated.
“I knew it wasn’t the £1m raffle but I assumed it was one of the 10 prizes of £20,000.”
A spokesman for Camelot, the National Lottery operator, confirmed the ticket was scanned and the terminal displayed the following message: “Results not in. Return ticket to player and tell player to check another day.”
He described the message as being “entirely normal” and until this “draw break” is over, no prizes can be given out.
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It comes as one couple thought they had banked an incredible £182million – only to be told a payment issue meant they could not claim the prize.
Plus, a cruel error meant these winners lost out on over £30million.
What is a draw break
A draw break is the period of time after a draw where numbers and prizes are being worked out by Camelot.
Until a draw break is over, no prizes can be given out.
If a player scans their ticket during this time they will see an error message pop up.
It also marked the period of time between the close of game ticket sales prior to a drawing, and the resumption of game ticket sales for the next drawing.
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