Thurrock EuroMillions winner claims GBP 1 million prize after weeks of silence

A person from Thurrock, Essex, has come forward to claim a EuroMillions prize of GBP 1 million, roughly $1.34 million, about three and a half weeks after the draw took place on October 13.

The claim is still going through the validation process. Andy Carter, the National Lottery's senior winners' adviser, commented: "Just imagine the kind of Christmas this lucky winner could now be planning."

Allwyn, which operates the National Lottery, has not released further details. Staying anonymous is the winner's prerogative, and the operator can only share what the winner agrees to make public. The source notes that roughly one in 10 big lottery winners in the United Kingdom choose to reveal their identity, so the public is unlikely to learn who this player is.

The delay between the draw and the claim is not unusual. EuroMillions players have 180 days to claim a prize, and this winner would have had until April 11, 2027. Prizes that go unclaimed within that period are forfeited and the money is directed to the National Lottery's Good Causes fund.

The prize is estimated to equal about 20 years of the local salary in Thurrock, which makes it a significant payout for the area. It is not, however, the biggest EuroMillions win in the UK this year. In March, a player won a prize of about $243 million, equivalent to GBP 181,073,415.70.