How you claim a EuroMillions prize depends on where you played and how much you've won. Small prizes are paid over the counter or straight into your National Lottery account; bigger ones are claimed online or by phone, and anything over £50,000 is claimed in person. Whatever the amount, you have 180 days from the draw, and every prize is tax-free.
If you bought your ticket in a shop
| Prize | How to claim |
|---|---|
| Up to £100 | Any National Lottery retailer must pay it (retailers with till-point terminals, up to £50), in cash or, in some shops, onto a debit card. |
| £100.01 to £500 | Some retailers can pay it, but they don't have to. If one can't, try another National Lottery shop. |
| £500.01 to £50,000 | Start your claim online on The National Lottery's website, with your ticket to hand. Post Offices no longer pay prizes over £500. |
| Over £50,000 | Call The National Lottery to register your win; it will arrange a date and time for you to claim in person. |
In a shop, you have to claim during its opening hours and by 11.55pm on the last day of the claim period at the latest. If a retailer can't pay, says the ticket has already been paid or tells you it isn't a winner and you disagree, contact The National Lottery: every prize query is investigated.
If you played online
| Prize | How to claim |
|---|---|
| Up to £500 | Paid straight into your National Lottery account. You don't need to do anything. |
| £500.01 to £30,000 | Claim in 'My Games' in your account: enter your password to confirm the card linked to your account, before midnight on the last day of the claim period. |
| £30,000.01 to £50,000 | Call The National Lottery during opening hours; the prize is paid by cheque. If you play by Direct Debit, prizes up to £50,000 are paid into your account automatically, usually within 3 to 5 working days. |
| Over £50,000 | Call to register your win; you'll then claim in person on a date and time arranged with you. |
The National Lottery's Customer Care Team is on 0333 234 44 33; its opening hours are on its website.
Jackpots and other big wins
For any prize over £50,000, including the jackpot and the £1 million UK Millionaire Maker, the first step is a phone call. The National Lottery registers your win, checks it and arranges a date and time for you to claim in person. It will tell you what to bring; keep your ticket safe and don't hand it to anyone else in the meantime.
EuroMillions prizes are paid as a single lump sum, in pounds, and they're tax-free. Whether you go public is your choice: you don't have to, and many of the biggest UK winners haven't.
The 180-day deadline
Every EuroMillions prize must be claimed within 180 days of the draw. Each draw has its own deadline, so if your ticket covers several draws, a prize from the first one expires 180 days after that draw, not after the last. If you tell The National Lottery before the deadline that you intend to claim in person, you can still claim up to seven days after it. After that, unclaimed prizes are forfeited and the money goes to National Lottery good causes.
Lost, stolen or damaged tickets
Write your name and address on the back of a paper ticket: if it's lost, only the person named on it can claim.
If you think a lost, stolen, destroyed or damaged ticket would have won, write to Allwyn's Winner Services Department at The National Lottery, PO Box 287, Watford, WD18 9TT, or email [email protected]. Your notice must arrive by 5pm on the 30th day after the draw and include your name and contact details, when and where you bought the ticket, the draws it was for, your numbers and what happened to it.
If Allwyn is satisfied the claim is valid, it may pay the prize after the claim period ends. If you only notify it after 30 days (but within 180), it can only consider your claim if someone hands the ticket in. A damaged ticket can be posted to the same address, at your own risk.
Tax on EuroMillions prizes
Lottery winnings aren't taxed in the UK, so you receive the full amount. Money you make from your winnings afterwards, such as savings interest or investment income, is taxed in the usual way. If you live outside the UK, check the rules in your own country.
After a big win: the first steps
- Keep the ticket safe and check the result carefully, on our results page or The National Lottery's.
- Call The National Lottery to register your win, well within the 180 days.
- Think before you tell people. Decide who needs to know, and whether you want any publicity at all.
- Take independent advice from a financial adviser and a solicitor before making big decisions.
- Take your time. There's no need to decide everything at once.
- Be alert to scams. Big winners attract fake advisers and fake charities, and nobody genuine will ask you for money to release your prize.
Never pay to claim
Claiming a EuroMillions prize is always free. Nobody genuine will ask you for a fee, 'tax' or bank details to release a prize, and The National Lottery doesn't give prize amounts in its emails. If anyone does, it's a scam: see how to avoid EuroMillions scams.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to claim a EuroMillions prize?
180 days from the draw. After that the prize is forfeited and the money goes to National Lottery good causes.
Can I claim a EuroMillions prize at the Post Office?
Not if it's over £500: Post Offices no longer pay prizes above that amount. For £500.01 to £50,000 on a shop ticket, you start your claim online.
How are online EuroMillions prizes paid?
Prizes up to £500 go straight into your National Lottery account. Up to £30,000 you claim in 'My Games'; from £30,000.01 to £50,000 you call The National Lottery; above £50,000 you claim in person.
Do I have to go public if I win the jackpot?
No. Publicity is entirely your choice.
What if I've lost my winning ticket?
Write to Allwyn's Winner Services Department straight away. Your notice must arrive by 5pm on the 30th day after the draw for Allwyn to consider it.
Is a EuroMillions jackpot paid all at once?
Yes. It's a single, tax-free lump sum, paid in pounds.
Last reviewed: . Independent information: official results are published by the lottery that runs the game.