PEOPLE are being urged to check their National Lottery tickets as a huge £1million prize is still waiting to be claimed.
The Lotto-winning ticket was bought earlier this month in Northern Ireland but no one has yet come forward for the life-changing amount of money.
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It was bought in Co Antrim and matched five main numbers and the Bonus Ball in the June 3, 2023 Lotto draw.
The winning numbers were 4, 13, 15, 20, 22, 59 and the Bonus Ball was 17.
In order to claim their prize the lucky ticket holder has until November 30, 2023 to step forward.
Anyone who doesn’t have their ticket, for whatever reason, but thinks they have a genuine claim can still make a claim by writing to lottery organisers Camelot, but this must be done within 30 days of the draw.
Andy Carter, senior winners’ advisor at The National Lottery said: “We are desperate to find this mystery ticket-holder and unite them with their winnings.
“This amazing prize could really make an enormous difference to somebody’s life.
”We’re urging anyone who bought a ticket in this area to check their old Lotto tickets again – the easiest way to do this is via the National Lottery app – and by looking anywhere a missing ticket could be hiding.
“On Lotto, every ticket-holder who matches five main numbers and the Bonus Ball is guaranteed to win an incredible £1m, so it’s definitely worth spending a bit of time checking in the pockets of clothing, in wallets, bags and down the back of the sofa for that missing ticket.
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“We have the champagne on ice and our fingers crossed that the lucky winner comes forward to claim their win.”
Andy added: “There have been an astonishing 174 millionaires made in Northern Ireland since the first National Lottery draw in 1994, with Northern Ireland ranking an impressive second out of all of the areas in the UK for lottery millionaire-making.
“The figure includes an astonishing 36 winners across the last three years, meaning that a new National Lottery millionaire has been made on average every single month since 2020 (April 1, 2020 – March 31, 2023).
“This mystery millionaire is so close to joining these lucky 174, all they need to do is dig out the missing ticket and claim their prize.”
Players can buy as well as check their tickets online by downloading the National Lottery app or via the website national-lottery.co.uk.
People can also buy and check tickets in retail outlets.
If no one comes forward with the winning ticket before the deadline, then the prize money, along with all the interest it has generated, will go to help National Lotter-funded projects across the UK.
The appeal comes after lottery players were also urged to check their tickets after a £10,000-a-month prize went unclaimed.
One lucky punter matched the five main numbers and the Life Ball in the Set For Life draw on June 5, 2023.
The winning Set For Life numbers on that date were 2, 5, 21, 34, 35 and the Life Ball was 6.
Lotto bosses revealed the winning ticket was bought in the South Holland District, Lincolnshire.
The matching ticket-holder has until 2 December 2023 to claim their £10,000-a-month prize.
It comes after a man was devastated when his ex won a £14.5million lottery jackpot – and immediately told him he would not see a penny.
Elsewhere, a mum who scooped £55,000 on the Postcode Lottery has revealed exactly what she is going to spend the money on.
HOW TO GET HELP
Gambling addiction can be extremely serious.
If you or someone close to you is affected by gambling addiction, there are a number of places you can seek help:
- National Problem Gambling Clinic: NHS specialist clinic for problem gamblers (in England & Wales only, for those aged 16+).
- GamCare: The UK’s main support and counselling organisation, who also run the National Gambling Helpline (0808 8020 133).
- Gamblers Anonymous: A charity which uses the same 12-step approach as Alcoholics Anonymous.
- GamAnon: A support group for family and friends, run by the people behind Gamblers Anonymous.
- Samaritans: A 24-hour service for those feeling suicidal (116 123).
- Childline: A free helpline for those up to the age of 18 (0800 1111).
There are several different treatments available for gambling:
- Inpatient programmes: Round-the-clock for those with a particularly serious gambling addiction.
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: A type of talking therapy, with between six and 15 sessions, which can be prescribed on the NHS.
- Hypnotherapy: Through the power of suggestion, therapists hope to change problematic patterns in their client’s mind.
There are also a number of ways you can treat gambling at home:
- Block your access to gambling: Block gambling websites and stay away from casinos, betting shops and even pubs with slot machines.
- Give someone else control of your money: This removes the temptation to loss chase, or try to gamble your way out of debt.
- Stay busy: As with any addiction, you will experience a withdrawal period. Keep yourself busier than usual for the first week or so.
- Talk: Speak to a therapist/medical professional, and open up to at least one trusted friend/family member.
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