A South Wales woman is awaiting the outcome of an investigation after her alleged £12 million National Lottery winning ticket was reportedly discarded at a local shop. Kath Main, 46, from Abercynon, says the winning numbers matched her usual combination, which she has played for 20 years, but the ticket was mistakenly binned after being scanned at a Londis convenience store.

According to Main, the ticket was checked at the shop on June 6, but the machine failed to confirm it as a winner. Her mother, Fiona Main, who regularly purchases the ticket on her behalf, said the terminal showed no prize and the shop staff suggested throwing the ticket away since there were no winners. By the time the error was realised, the bin had already been emptied.

Main reported the incident to Allwyn, the operator of the National Lottery, which has launched an investigation into the matter. Allwyn considers it unlikely that the machine was at fault and suspects human error as the cause. The Londis store is currently undergoing renovations and does not have CCTV footage that might clarify the events.

The winning numbers in question are 08, 10, 26, 30, 35, and 42, which Main has consistently played for two decades. If confirmed as the winner, the prize would grant her £12 million, a sum she describes as life-changing. She said she feels “sick” due to the uncertainty surrounding the claim.

Under National Lottery rules, prizes must be claimed within 180 days from the draw date. Because of the missing ticket, Main has been informed that even if confirmed, any payout could be delayed until up to six months after the draw, potentially as late as December. This waiting period adds to the emotional strain she is experiencing.

Londis owner Karan Kumar acknowledged the possibility of a machine malfunction but also noted that the investigation is ongoing and the outcome is not yet known. Meanwhile, Main, who also serves as treasurer and secretary at a local rugby club, faces a difficult wait for a decision from Allwyn, which is expected within 30 days.

The case highlights the challenges of validating lost winning tickets and the complexities involved when technical and human errors intersect in lottery operations. Allwyn has not yet confirmed the final result of their inquiry.