- Oct, 12 2025
- 0
When The National Lottery spun its 3,105th Lotto draw on Wednesday, September 24, 2025, the £5,029,330 jackpot went unclaimed, sending the prize back into the pot for the next Saturday draw.
What Happened: Numbers and Jackpot
The six main balls – 03, 16, 23, 30, 38 and 47 – came out of the Lotto 2 ball machine using Ball Set 4. The bonus ball, drawn right after, was 25. That's the official result posted on the National Lottery’s draw‑history page, which also notes the draw as draw number 3105United Kingdom.
Prize Breakdown and Winners
Even though the top prize stayed empty, more than three‑quarters of a million people walked away with something. Here’s the quick tally:
- 61 players hit five numbers and collected £1,750 each – that’s £106,750 total.
- 3,961 matched four numbers, each pocketing £140, totaling £554,540.
- 82,388 matched three numbers and received £30, adding up to £2,471,640.
- Another 692,884 tickets earned a free‑ticket voucher for hitting two numbers.
All told, the prize fund for this draw was £3,132,930. The jackpot that rolled over – a cool £5 million – now sits ready for the Saturday, September 27 draw, where the estimated prize is £7,075,979.
How the Draw Works: Machines and Oversight
Behind the scenes, the draw follows a strict protocol. An independent adjudicator watches every spin, making sure the ball set and machine run exactly as the rules dictate. The YouTube broadcast of the live draw even reminded viewers: “Remember, you can check results and play national lottery games on the National Lottery app. It could be you.” That app – National Lottery app – lets players verify tickets in seconds, which is a big help when you’ve got over 779,000 winners to track.
International Draws on the Same Day
While Brits were glued to their screens, newcomers in the United States and South Africa were watching their own numbers roll. In New York, the New York State Lottery released a draw with the winning combo 1, 6, 27, 47, 53, 56 and a bonus 41, leaving its $4 million jackpot untouched. Their prize breakdown mirrored the UK’s format, with eight five‑number winners taking home $1,217 each.
Down under the southern tip, the South African National Lottery held three separate draws: the main Lotto (numbers 16, 23, 32, 42, 49, 58, bonus 55) with a R3 million top prize, Lotto Plus 1 and Lotto Plus 2 with R4 million and R1 million jackpots respectively. Those draws are part of a broader effort to fund good‑cause projects across the continent.
Impact and What’s Next
For the average ticket‑holder, a £5 million rollover means bigger dreams for the next Saturday. More importantly, the National Lottery channels a portion of every draw into community projects – the same night’s broadcast highlighted a “Good Cause story – Red Roses,” a women’s sport initiative under the Summer of Sport 2025 campaign.
The upcoming draw on September 27 will be the first to feature the new “instant win” add‑on that launched earlier this year, giving players a chance at a £10,000 cash prize regardless of the main numbers. Keep an eye on the app; it will send push notifications when the extra game becomes available.
Background: The National Lottery’s Role in the UK
Since its launch in 1994, The National Lottery has raised more than £45 billion for health, education, the arts, and sport. Every draw follows a transparent process overseen by the Gambling Commission, and the proceeds are split roughly 50 % to prizes, 20 % to good causes, and the remainder to operational costs and retailer commissions.
Last year’s “Summer of Sport” initiative, which featured the Red Roses story, allocated a record £150 million to grassroots clubs. Analysts say the growing jackpot sizes are partly driving higher ticket sales, which in turn buoy the fund for community projects. That feedback loop is why rollovers, while disappointing for winners, are actually a win for the broader public.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does the £5 million rollover affect Saturday’s draw?
The rollover is added to the base jackpot, pushing Saturday’s estimated prize to £7,075,979. That larger sum typically draws more ticket sales, which can boost the fund for good‑cause projects after the draw.
Where can players check if they’ve won?
Winners can verify numbers on the official National Lottery app, on the website’s results page, or at any authorized retailer. The app also sends push alerts if your ticket matches a prize tier.
What happens to the money that isn’t won?
Unclaimed jackpot funds are rolled over into the next draw’s prize pool, while a portion of every ticket’s price goes straight to community projects, sports clubs, and charitable causes through the Good Cause fund.
Are there any differences between the UK and US draws on September 24?
Both the UK and New York State draws use a six‑number format plus a bonus ball, but the prize structures differ. The UK splits money across multiple prize tiers, whereas the New York State Lottery adds a separate “cash‑5” game and a larger power‑ball style jackpot that year.
What is the “Red Roses” good‑cause story?
The Red Roses initiative, highlighted during the draw, supports women’s sport clubs across the UK, providing equipment grants and facility upgrades. It’s part of the National Lottery’s Summer of Sport 2025 campaign, which has already funded over 500 projects.
Landon Beauregard
Hello, my name is Landon Beauregard, and I am an expert in gambling with a passion for writing about games. Over the years, I've honed my skills in various casino games and developed a keen understanding of the strategies and intricacies involved. I enjoy sharing my knowledge with others by writing informative and engaging articles on the latest gaming trends and techniques. I believe that my expertise in gambling, combined with my love for writing, allows me to provide my readers with a unique and valuable perspective on the world of gaming.