A mystery winner is still walking around unaware they’re half-a-million dollars richer, as Wagga’s first division prize remains unclaimed.
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The $792,331,85 ticket was purchased from the Nextra Newsagency in Wagga’s Sturt Mall for an April Saturday draw.
While NSW Lotteries spokesman Matt Hart confirmed it was rare to see such a delay, the prize is one of four which remain unclaimed in NSW.
“Most division one winners come forward in the first seven days,” Mr Hart said.
“Some customers have a favourite lotto they like to play each week and therefore only check their tickets when they go to purchase next week’s entry.”
The missing customer is not Wagga’s first mystery lotto, with one winner claiming their $2.7 million prize after a 12 day search in 2015.
One lucky Newcastle man claimed his prize in February this year, more than a year later, after finding his ticket in the bottom of an Aldi shopping bag.
“People tell us all sorts of reasons as to why it took them a while to claim,” Mr Hart said.
The search is still on for the winner of a one million prize winner from a Cherrybrook newsagency, $400,009,97 from a Sydney CBD newsagency and a whopping two million from Gladesville.
The winner still has plenty of time to claim their prize, but Mr Hart said it “can really pay” to have a clean out.
“NSW customers have six years to claim their prize, but the clock is ticking,” Mr Hart said.
“We’ve had people find old tickets on the corkboard in the kitchen, in their wallet or their car.”
Mr Hart encouraged any customers who believe they hold the winning ticket , even if it’s lost or damaged, to call 131 868.
