Lottery wins of more than $22million lie unclaimed across Australia as biggest Powerball prize looms

A mammoth $22.3million worth of lottery spoils have yet to be claimed across the country, as punters take their chances in Thursday’s huge Powerball jackpot. 

Prizewinning Aussies from Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia remain elusive, with 25 major lottery windfalls uncollected. 

Ticket holders are being encouraged to look for old lottery tickets, as The Lott, which showcase Australia’s official lotteries, have been unable to locate the winners.

NSW hold more than $9.5million worth of unclaimed prize money from 11 winnings, while Queensland has more than $5.5million from nine major unclaimed windfalls

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Ticket holders are being encouraged to look for old lottery tickets, as the Lott, which showcase Australia’s official lotteries, are unable to locate the winners 

The winning tickets were not registered so The Lott cannot do anything, unless the rightful owners of the prizes come forward. 

NSW hold more than $9.5million worth of unclaimed prize money from 11 winnings, while Queensland has more than $5.5million from nine major unclaimed windfalls.

Western Australian ticket holders from three big prizes worth $5.9million remain elusive, with more than $1.2million from two lottery events up in the air in Victoria.

The winning tickets were not registered so The Lott cannot do anything, unless the rightful owners of the prizes come forward

James Eddy from The Lott urged players to be on the lookout.

‘There’s millions of reasons to dig around the house, car, or even old shopping bags for potentially life-changing tickets,’ Mr Eddy said.

‘We’ve had winners come forward in the past having found an old ticket under the fridge, in the back of a drawer, or tucked away in the glovebox of their car.’ 

Anyone with tickets to the spoils can contact The Lott or the Lotterywest if they are in Western Australia. 

Punters are urged to be vigilant as there is a time limit to how long the winnings will be available to pocket. 

Victorians have one year to claim their prize, while NSW and the ACT have six years, with Queenslanders having seven years.  

The news comes as the country is poised to see who will clear its biggest-ever individual lottery payout of $160million on Thursday night. 

Powerball’s last five draws attracted no division one winners, which meant the amount has skyrocketed – resulting in the biggest prize money offered by an Australian lottery game. 

It ousted its previous record holder in the country, when a $150m Powerball draw held in September 2019, was picked up by three people who shared the massive windfall. 

The news comes as the country is poised to see who will take away its biggest-ever individual lottery payout of $160million on Thursday night (pictured, a news agency in South Australia pulls out all stops spruikng the massive jackpot)

Powerball’s last five draws attracted no division one winners, which meant the amount has skyrocketed – resulting in the biggest prize money offered by an Australian lottery game