A French lottery winner has lost a staggering €13 million (£11m) jackpot after failing to claim the prize within the required 60-day period, in what gaming operator La Française des Jeux (FDJ) described as an 'exceptional' situation.
Winning Ticket Sold in Orne Department
The winning ticket for the Super Loto draw on April 24 was purchased in the Orne department of northwestern France. The winning numbers were 12, 16, 2, 20, and 26, with the 'Chance' number 2. Despite extensive public appeals, including announcements during televised draws on TF1 and media campaigns, the winner never came forward.
FDJ issued a public appeal three weeks after the draw, urging the ticket-holder to contact the major winners' department. The operator also made announcements during lottery broadcasts. However, by the June 22 deadline of 11:59 PM, the prize remained unclaimed.
Largest Unclaimed Prize in FDJ History
An FDJ representative confirmed that this was the 'biggest unclaimed prize' in the company's history, surpassing the previous record of €8 million set in 2011. On average, only two cases of forgotten tickets are recorded each year, making this incident highly unusual.
According to FDJ, if a prize is not claimed within the deadline, the entire sum is put back into play as winnings across various draw games. The operator knew which retail outlet sold the ticket but could not disclose the information publicly due to confidentiality rules.
Parallel Case in the UK
The incident mirrors a similar situation in the UK, where a £12 million Lotto jackpot from a draw on June 6 remains unclaimed. The winning ticket was purchased in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, and matched all six main numbers: 08, 10, 26, 30, 35, and 42. The winner has until December 3 to claim the prize.
Andy Carter, senior winners' advisor at Allwyn, described it as an 'incredible win' and urged players to check their tickets. He 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.'
Lessons for Lottery Players
These cases highlight the importance of checking lottery tickets promptly and understanding the claim deadlines. FDJ noted that the winner's misfortune is a reminder for players to sign their tickets and store them in a safe place. The French operator also emphasized that public appeals and media campaigns are standard procedures to locate winners, but ultimately, the responsibility lies with the ticket-holder.
