$1 million Aussie Lotto winner loses everything after simple mistake

An Aussie who won $1 million on the Lotto has lost everything after this one simple mistake.

A mystery Australian Lotto winner has unknowingly forfeited their $1 million lotto prize after failing to claim their jackpot within a year.

The winning ticket was purchased from a BP petrol station in Mawson Lakes, North Adelaide, on September 27, 2023.

The mystery owner had won $1 million with the ticket but never claimed the prize.

Lottery tickets in South Australia have a one-year expiration date.

Lott spokesperson, Anna Hobdell, said the ticketholder would have been given their prize if they had registered their ticket to a player card or online.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

In South Australia, prizes must be claimed within 12 months. Picture: The Lott

Ms Hobdell told news.com.au that South Australia, Victoria and Tasmania lottery prizes must be claimed within a year, while winners in the Northern Territory will have three years.

In New South Wales and the ACT, winners have six years to claim their prizes, with Queensland having the longest period of up to seven years.

Western Australia is independently managed by Lotterywest, but patrons will also have twelve months to collect their prize.

The mystery winner could still however claim the $1 million if they submit their original ticket, a prize claim form and an ex-gratia statutory declaration form with the commission.

This incurs a $22 fee to cover searches, due diligence checks and administrative costs.

“This also serves as an important reminder to register your tickets,” Ms Hobdell added.

The winning numbers in Monday and Wednesday X Lotto draw 4325 last September 27 were 15, 41, 14, 35, 4 and 5, while the supplementary numbers were 20 and 37.

The mystery winner has lost $1 million. Picture: The Lott

‘I won the $20 million’

It comes after a western Sydney mum won a massive $22 million Powerball prize – and immediately told her work colleagues shortly after.

The woman in her 30s, from St Clair, held the only division one winning entry nationally in Powerball draw 1479 last month and pocketed $22,207,849.80.

“I can’t believe it. I saw I had a win, and I thought it was just $11, then I scrolled down and realised I won the whole thing,” she said.

“I’m only in my 30s. This is going to completely change my life.”

But in a move that she could regret, the woman immediately told her colleagues at work about the life-changing win.

“I just got to work, and I couldn’t help but yell out to everyone I won the $20 million,” she said.

The Lott has urged people to register their tickets. Picture: iStock

“One of the guys said, ‘You’re on the shout now’.”

The woman said she wasn’t sure how she’d “be able to focus on the rest of the day”.

“Luckily my day isn’t too busy,” she added.

“This does so much for me. Buying a house and helping my family is my main priority but I’d love to do some travel, too.”

What are the chances of winning?

Firstly, to take home a division 1 win, you’ll need to get the numbers. All seven and the Powerball.

And on that front, the odds are long – 1 in 134,490,400.

A division 2 win, needing all seven numbers and no Powerball, is slightly more achievable, with the odds becoming 1 in 7,078,443.