Millionaire has no idea they've won £12million as lottery jackpot unclaimed

National Lottery chiefs have explained where and when the tickert was bought

Neil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle)

10:34, 19 Jun 2026 Updated 12:45, 19 Jun 2026

The search is on for a Lotto Jackpot multi-millionaire in South Wales who is yet to come forward and claim their £12million prize. The National Lottery is urging all Lotto players to double-check their tickets for the chance to claim the life-changing prize, with the simple message ‘it could be you'.

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The winning Lotto ticket was bought in Rhondda Cynon Taf in a National Lottery retailer for the Lotto Must Be Won draw on June 6. The ticket matched all six main numbers - 08, 10, 26, 30, 35 and 42 - to scoop the entire jackpot of £12,000,000.

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Anyone who purchased a Lotto ticket in the area for the draw in question, whether a local or someone visiting the area, should check their tickets. The lucky ticket-holder has until Thursday, December 3, 2026 to claim their prize.

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The hunt for the £12million Lotto Jackpot winner comes as the nation’s millionaire maker game Lotto has entered a new era. Now, every £2 Lotto line gives players two chances to win - for the same price and with the same number of balls to choose from.

The changes will create hundreds more millionaires each year (expected to go from around 140 a year to approximately 345), with players’ chances of winning any prize improving from 1 in 9.3 to 1 in 4.9. As well as making more millionaires and more prize winners, it will mean more money raised for good causes across the UK.

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Andy Carter, Senior Winners’ Advisor at Allwyn, operator of The National Lottery, said: “This is an incredible win for one lucky Lotto ticketholder. Someone out there is a multi-millionaire, and they have no idea that they are sitting on this life-changing sum of money. We are urging Lotto players to check their tickets to see if they are our would-be winner.

“Were you in and around Rhondda Cynon Taf in the weeks leading up to the Lotto draw on June 6? Perhaps our winner isn’t even from the area and played Lotto while visiting over the heatwave, or maybe you were just passing through? Think back to if this could be you, as we want nothing more than to unite the winner with their prize money.

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“Imagine this sum of money in your bank account and how it could change not only your life but that of your friends, family and charities or good causes close to your heart – this is a massive win and we can’t wait to unite the lucky ticket-holder with their Lotto Jackpot prize. Tell your friends, check your pockets, there are twelve million reasons to check your tickets as it could be you.”

Anyone not in possession of their ticket, for whatever reason, but who believes they have a genuine claim can still make a claim in writing to Allwyn, but it must be within 30 days of the draw. Players can check the current list of unclaimed National Lottery prizes on the website.

With all National Lottery draws, players have 180 days from the day of the draw to claim their prize if they have the winning ticket. Anyone who has any queries or who believes they have the winning ticket for any of the National Lottery draws within the 180-day deadline should call the National Lottery Line on 0333 234 5050 or email help@national-lottery.co.uk.