What Happens if You Win the Record EuroMillions Jackpot?
Updated: Thursday 7th October 2021
Millions of players in the UK set their sights on EuroMillions glory every week, and one lucky player could be about to make history as the country’s biggest winner. But what actually happens if it turns out that it’s your numbers that get drawn?
The EuroMillions jackpot has already gone past the £170 million mark, which stands as the record for the largest win in the UK. It has the potential to go even higher, up to a maximum of €220 million (approximately £188 million).
There are eight other participating countries where the money could end up going, but the UK has historically created the most winners. Andy Carter, the National Lottery’s Senior Winners Advisor, said: “If one UK winner banks the entire sum, they would instantly become Britain’s biggest ever National Lottery winner.
“Players are urged to get their tickets early to be in with a chance of winning this fabulous prize.”
Once you’ve got your tickets for the draw, the most important thing to do afterwards is check the results. If you’ve played online you’ll be automatically notified by email if you’ve won any amount, but if you’ve purchased your entry in a store it is up to you to find out how your numbers have performed.
Keep Your Ticket Safe
There would be a mixture of emotions if you discovered you had won any major prize, let alone a jackpot worth £172 million. You might be shocked, ecstatic, perhaps even overwhelmed.
If you think you’ve won the jackpot, try not to get too carried away. Check the ticket again thoroughly, and perhaps even ask someone else to have a look to make sure. Just be careful about who you are sharing the moment with, as the winning ticket effectively belongs to whoever has a hold of it at this stage.
It’s a good idea to sign the back of your ticket, if you haven’t done so already, then keep it safe until you are ready to contact the National Lottery. Whether this is under lock and key somewhere or just a very secure secret location, it’s entirely up to you. Previous winners have been known to keep tickets in glass jars, under mattresses, even a snake tank!
You have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim your prize, so there is no urgent rush but you can’t sit on the winning ticket for too long. If you don’t come forward in time, you will not receive the money.
Claim the Prize
When you’re ready, contact the National Lottery on the claims line and tell them you’ve won. They receive lots of calls so you’ll need to prove you are the winner by answering some questions based on the details on your ticket. This will show that your entry matches up with the information on their official records. Go to the How to Claim page to get the contact details.
When you speak to the National Lottery, they will arrange for a winners’ advisor to come and meet you. You can have this at home, or another location if you prefer, and it will be scheduled at the earliest convenient time.
The purpose of this meeting is two-fold. Firstly, the National Lottery has a duty to thoroughly validate the win. You’ll need to present proof of identity and age and hand over the winning ticket so that it can be scrutinised to make sure it has not been cancelled, forged or stolen. Secondly, the lottery’s representative will speak to you about your win, offering support and financial advice.
They will help to set you up with a bank account somewhere that is used to dealing with wealthy clients. Once all the paperwork is sorted, the EuroMillions jackpot will be paid into your account.
Publicity or Anonymity
You will also have to decide whether to go public or stay anonymous. The winners’ advisor will discuss this with you and run through what you may wish to consider, but ultimately it is your call.
If you choose to stay private, there will be no more announcements from the lottery other than to say the jackpot has been claimed. If you wish to go public, your name will be disclosed and you can expect a media conference where you will be asked all about your success story.
Whether your identity remains a mystery and you've just become one of the world's most famous winners, the final stage is the most exciting of all. You can look forward to life as a multimillionaire, spending the money as you like. The National Lottery will continue to be on hand to offer support, as you enjoy splashing the cash or just living with a sense of financial security for you and your loved ones.
If you want the chance to win the record jackpot, make sure you take part in plenty of time. Pick up an entry from an authorised National Lottery retailer or take part online.
Published: Thursday 7th October 2021Lottery News News Archive