A EuroMillions jackpot of €162,256,512, one of the largest prizes ever awarded in Spain, will remain unclaimed after the deadline to collect it expired on Saturday (January 4th, 2025). The winning ticket, purchased on October 4th, 2024, at a lottery office in Derio, a small town in the Basque Country, was never presented by its owner.
The prize money has now reverted to the Spanish Treasury, in accordance with the regulations of Loterías y Apuestas del Estado.
The ticket, which matched the winning numbers of 4, 8, 16, 17, and 20, along with the Lucky Stars 1 and 6, represents the second-largest EuroMillions prize ever won in Spain. It is only surpassed by the record-breaking €190 million jackpot claimed in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in 2017.
This lottery office, known locally as Amancio Gozokiak, is celebrated for its lucky streak, having sold several winning tickets in the past. Despite its reputation, this time, the holder of the winning ticket failed to step forward, leaving the community puzzled.
Speculation has been rife in Derio, with residents wondering about the identity of the elusive winner who has seemingly let a life-changing fortune slip away.
The case echoes a similar incident in the UK in 2022, when a €230 million EuroMillions jackpot went unclaimed, marking the largest unclaimed prize in the game’s history. At the time, Andy Carter, a winner's advisor for Camelot, remarked on the remarkable night for the ticket holder, who ultimately never came forward to claim their winnings.
Rules and Consequences
According to EuroMillions regulations, winners have 90 days from the date of the draw to claim their prizes. If the deadline passes without the ticket being presented, the prize money is forfeited and redirected to public funds. In this instance, the €162 million jackpot will now be used to bolster state resources.
The disappearance of the prize has sparked curiosity and amazement, leaving many to reflect on the missed opportunity. Whether the ticket was lost, forgotten, or intentionally left unclaimed, the story adds another chapter to the intriguing history of lottery mysteries.
