A National Lottery jackpot exceeding £10 million has gone unclaimed after the ticket holder failed to come forward by the stipulated deadline. The £10.6 million prize, for a Lotto ticket purchased in Bexley, south-east London, on October 4, 2025, officially expired earlier this month, 180 days after the draw.

Allwyn, the operator of the National Lottery, confirmed that no valid claim was submitted despite what they described as an "extensive search" to locate the winner. Consequently, the substantial sum will now be reallocated to various good causes supported by the lottery.

A spokesperson for Allwyn highlighted the unusual nature of this occurrence. "The majority of prizes that typically go unclaimed are from the smaller tiers," the spokesperson stated, adding that it is "very uncommon for a prize of this magnitude to remain unclaimed."

Andy Carter, a senior winners' adviser at Allwyn, expressed regret regarding the situation. "Despite an exhaustive search for the mystery Bexley millionaire, I can confirm that the ticket holder did not claim their Lotto prize and has now unfortunately missed out on a life-altering amount of money," Carter said. He further noted that the funds would now benefit numerous charitable initiatives, contributing to the £33 million raised weekly for National Lottery-funded projects.

Among the local projects that have received support from the lottery in Bexley is the You & Me Happy Family Children’s Disability Trust, which assists disabled children and their caregivers.

This unclaimed jackpot is not an isolated incident for the National Lottery, although its size makes it stand out. Currently, there are five "major" National Lottery prizes, each valued at more than £3.2 million, that are awaiting collection. This includes three additional £1 million EuroMillions or Lotto tickets that have yet to be claimed.