01 May 2024 , 18:57
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A life-changing jackpot of £8.5 million could be waiting for one lucky Brit in tonight's National Lottery draw.
As usual there's a stunning amount of money on the cards which one lucky Brit could take home. It could mean you are able to quit your job, buy your dream home and see the world or at least the holiday of a lifetime. You'll have to enter to be in with a chance though.
The Lotto draw has now taken place and the Thunderball has also been drawn tonight, in which you can win £500,000. Entry for Wednesday night's Lotto cost £2 and players need to pick six numbers between 1 and 59 - or generate them with a lucky dip - before 7.30pm. The draw is announced at approximately 7.45pm.
There are multiple chances to win the Lotto as draws take place every Saturday and Wednesday. To play the game, you choose six numbers from one to 59 or choose a lucky dip. Tonight’s National Lottery Lotto winning numbers are: 2, 15, 18, 25, 57, 58 and the Bonus Ball is 53.
The National Lottery was taken over by Allwyn, a multi-national lottery operator, from Camelot in February of this year and with the acquisition, new rules have emerged. This has changed the way winners are able to collect their prize money as the Post Office are no longer handing out rewards this large as previously. This means that many have been left waiting weeks for their money to come through.
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The National Lottery was taken over by Allwyn, a multi-national lottery operator, from Camelot in February of this year and with the acquisition, new rules have emerged. This has changed the way winners are able to collect their prize money as the Post Office are no longer handing out rewards this large as previously. This means that many have been left waiting weeks for their money to come through.
Sergei Cofie-Squire, from Toxteth, won £1,500 with a ticket he purchased from WHSmith on March 19 but last week said he was still waiting to receive his money. The 61 year-old has planned to spend his winnings on a holiday to Dubai but has expressed his frustration that despite sending in his ticket weeks ago, he still hasn't seen a penny.
He told the Liverpool Echo: "I have been in touch many times because I won on March 19. I have followed all the procedures and I'm still waiting. I've rang numerous times. Half the time I felt like I was talking to a brick wall. I could understand a seven day delay, but not four weeks, which is unacceptable."
In response, an Allwyn spokesperson said: ""This is a new claims process we’ve had to introduce following the Post Office's decision to no longer pay National Lottery retail prizes between £500.01 and £50,000. As a result of it being new, we’ve been experiencing higher volumes of players contacting us and some initial delays to players receiving their prizes.
"We've since increased the number of colleagues to assist with claims – which is helping us send out prizes more quickly – and are continuing to work to make improvements to the process. For example, we recently started a trial where anyone winning under £1,000 no longer needs to send in their winning ticket to us to help speed up the process. We're also reminding players that prizes of up to £500 can still be paid out in store."