Millions in Lotto prize unclaimed

AAP

Poll

What would you do if you won Lotto?

This poll ended on 30 April 2011.

Buy everything I've ever wanted

18%

Spend it on family

24%

Bank it

14%

Invest it

24%

Give to charity

11%

Hide it in my mattress

6%

This is not a scientific poll. The results reflect only the opinions of those who chose to participate.

IF YOU bought a ticket in Saturday's Lotto draw from Newman's Newsagency in South Grafton, it could be in you best interests to toddle on down to your newsagent and check it.

There is a ticket out there, purchased by an unregistered player, that is worth $2.5 million to the lucky owner.

Owner of Newman's Newsagency, John Newman, is happy to have sold another winning ticket.

“The last winner was quiet a while ago and the largest amount that has been won by a ticket sold by us is 1.6 million. This ticket, however, is the largest amount anyone has ever won from our newsagency,” he said.

“I just hope that it is a regular customer. Either way, it is great news that we have sold another winner.”

A similar story was played out in November when the Grafton Mall Newsagency sold a ticket worth $1 million to an unregistered player.

Thankfully, the winner came forward to claim their prize about six months later, Grafton Mall Newsagency owner Megan Blacktop said.

“We sold it to someone from Queensland and they checked their ticket a little while ago and came out $1 million richer,” she said.

“I'm happy that another prize has gone off in Grafton and I really hope it was a local.”

As a fellow player and newsagency owner, Megan urges people to register with NSW lotteries when they buy a ticket for the next big one.

“People say all the time that they don't want to register because they don't want anyone to know if they have won,” she said.

“But even if you tick the box on your form that says you may be identified, NSW Lotteries won't tell a soul until they have spoken to you and gotten your permission to release your name.”

So go through your wallet, the bin and the car for the lucky ticket. It might just be the most worthwhile 10 minutes you have ever spent.