Lotto winner could miss $670,000 payout

One unwitting lottery winner has been sitting on a $670,000 ticket for almost seven years, but in three weeks it expires for good.

One lotto winner has been unwittingly sitting on a $670,000 ticket for almost seven years, but could miss collecting the winnings when it finally expires for good in three weeks.

On Saturday 11 August 2018, the mystery player scored a total prize of $671,513.12, holding one of the six division one winning entries nationally in Saturday Gold Lotto Draw 3867.

Since then the ticket has remained unclaimed likely meaning the owner is unaware of the ticket’s value.

The ticket is unregistered meaning its owner’s details are unknown and the ticket is currently the oldest unclaimed lottery prize in Australia.

In Queensland, winners have up to seven years from the draw date to claim their prize; that deadline is Monday 11 August 2025.

The winning entry was purchased at Golden Lucky News in Helensvale on the Gold Coast.

The winner likely has no idea their ticket is worth $670,000. Picture: Supplied

Golden Lucky News owner Melanie Zhi said she hoped the mystery division one winner would check their ticket and come forward before the deadline to claim the prize.

“It’s hard to believe the division one winner still hasn’t come forward after all these years. We’re really hoping they’ll check their ticket and finally claim their prize,” she said.

“While most of our customers are locals, we do get plenty of visitors from various places, especially from NSW. Honestly, the winner could be anyone.

“I took over the outlet late last year, and it would be incredible if the mystery winner came forward. What a moment that would be.”

With less than one month left to claim the exciting prize, The Lott spokeswoman Anna Hobdell urged all players in the area to check their tickets.

Golden Lucky News in Helensvale Gold Coast is where the ticket was purchased. Picture: Supplied

“It’s highly likely our mystery winner has been going about the past seven years as normal with no idea they’ve been sitting on a winning ticket worth $670,000,” she said.

“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.

“This is a great reminder to all players to register their tickets to a player card or online account.

“If this player had registered their ticket to The Lott Members Club, they would have already been united with their good fortune seven years ago.

“For lost lottery tickets not registered to The Lott Members Club, a lost or damaged ticket search form will need to be completed.

“If you discover you are holding the winning ticket, contact The Lott on 131 868 immediately to begin the process of claiming your prize.”

The winning numbers in Saturday Gold Lotto draw 3867 on 11 August 2018 were 1, 23, 8, 15, 44, 20, while the supplementary numbers were 11 and 18.

Originally published as Lotto winner could miss $670,000 payout