Woman who entered wrong lottery loses $126 million Powerball claim

A NT woman who thought she had become a multi-millionaire has been left with just $15 after entering the wrong lottery competition.

A Northern Territory woman who selected the winning numbers for a massive $126 million Powerball jackpot has been left empty-handed after entering the wrong draw.

The woman – identified only as Ms B – claimed to have hit the jackpot on January 17, 2019 after placing two bets on Powerball at 10.32pm.

But after Lottoland refused to hand over her alleged winnings, she appealed to the Northern Territory Racing Commission.

Ms B argued she had been tricked by Lottoland as the THU Jackpot’s branding was similar to that of Powerball.

In a decision handed down earlier this month, the commission ruled Ms B had actually entered an entirely different lottery competition, THU Jackpot, which meant she had only won $15.

Lottoland also revealed Ms B had selected the winning Powerball numbers – 4, 11, 18, 20, 22, 26, 33 and the Powerball number 9 – which had already been drawn earlier that night before she had purchased her entries.

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A woman's error cost her a $126 million prize. Picture: Supplied

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Ms B claimed she was “unaware that the winning numbers for the Powerball had already been drawn prior to the time she submitted her bet on Lottoland’s website” and that “Lottoland is illegally using trademarks of the Australian lotteries and further that these Australian lotteries such as Powerball and OZ Lotto were still being advertised on the bookmaker’s website.”

She also provided screenshots of Lottoland’s website and the bets, which allowed the commission to confirm she placed her bets on “a product advertised as the THU Jackpot”.

Ms B compared the alleged similarities in logos to “selling yoghurt in the packaging of Nutella”.

The claim was denied by Lottoland, which argued they are “not even similar”.

In its ruling, the commission found there was “no evidence” Lottoland did the wrong thing.

“There was ample information available to the complainant to make an informed decision to make a bet on Lottoland’s website,” the decision reads.

“She bet on THU Jackpot twice on 17 January 2019 and an email from Lottoland to the complainant was sent the next morning confirming the winning numbers of the night were 7, 10, 11, 17, 20, 23, 33, 9 – and ticket number AN698726004 had won $15.”

It ruled that both of Ms B’s bets were “lawful” and that one had won $15 only.

“As a result, the commission is satisfied that the complainant has received the correct amount of moneys payable to her by Lottoland on that winning lawful bet,” it stated.

So far, Australia’s biggest-ever lottery winner was a Sydney mum who claimed a $107,575,649.08 Powerball prize in January 2019.

At the time, the healthcare worker made headlines for her staggering win – but also for her promise to stick with her healthcare job.