Irish Lotto Winner Leaves it Late to Claim
Last Updated: Tuesday 27th September 2022, 15:12 pm
An Irish Lotto winner, who bought their ticket for the draw on Saturday 30th April in Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim, has finally claimed their €94,672 prize for matching five main numbers and the Bonus Ball, 59 days after the draw. Irish lottery winners have 90 days to come forward and present their ticket to lottery officials before the prize is forfeited.
The cool-headed player, who waited until nearly two-thirds of the claims period had expired before collecting their giant cheque, visited National Lottery headquarters in Dublin this week and chose to remain anonymous. They were one of two winners in the same prize tier on the night, with the other ticket belonging to a family from Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, who picked up their cheque within a week of the draw.
Approximately two percent of Irish National Lottery prizes remain unclaimed every year, which works out at around €12 million, based on official figures for 2014. A ticket holder, who played Daily Million at the Bus Stop Kiosk in Rathfarnham, Dublin missed out on €1 million in February this year when they failed to present their winning slip, whilst in April, an Irish Lotto player from Limerick forfeited €117,317. The Irish National Lottery states that all unclaimed prizes are “used exclusively to promote the National Lottery with the core objective of raising funds for good causes.”
Irish Lotto players are encouraged to keep tickets in a safe, memorable place, as presenting the official slip is the only acceptable proof of purchase when staking a claim. It is advisable to check your tickets as soon as possible after the draw so you don’t risk forgetting before the 90 days have elapsed, and the Irish Lotto Checker makes this process incredibly simple.
If you choose your Irish Lotto numbers online, you will be sent an email informing you if you are due a prize, ensuring that you never miss out on a major payday. It is also a safer way to take part as you cannot lose or damage a virtual Irish Lotto bet.
