A Lotto winner has claimed a half-million-dollar prize with just one day to spare - and only after he found the ticket by chance.
The Auckland man bought the ticket from Ponsonby's Richmond Rd Superette 12 months ago, and it would have expired at the close of business on Sunday.
The winner, who did not want to be identified, said he put the ticket in a drawer at home and forgot about it.
"It's been a stressful year and I completely forgot I had the ticket until Saturday when I opened the drawer.
"It was a bit faded but I noticed the date on it and thought I'd better get down to the shop quick just in case I'd won anything."
The ticket won him $509,937.
"As far as we're aware this is the first time a major prize has been claimed the day before its expiry date - if the winner had waited until Monday he would have unfortunately received nothing," said NZ Lotteries chief executive Todd McLeay.
Superette owner Manhar Patel said he'd been encouraging customers to check any forgotten tickets.
"I've been telling them to check their winter coats, cupboards at home because [Sunday] was the last day and they might be lucky."
The prize winner did not check his ticket at Mr Patel's dairy, but he was hoping the winner would be back.
"It would be nice to say well done."
Up to 3 per cent of all NZ Lotteries prizes go unclaimed each year.
Meanwhile, a "very excited" Lotto winner will take a few days to decide how to claim their multi-million-dollar prize.
The person, from Dunedin, called the Lotteries Commission yesterday morning, believing themselves to be the winner of nearly $11 million, said Lotteries spokeswoman Karen Jones.
"But as far as we're concerned the prize hasn't yet been officially claimed, because obviously they need to decide whether they're going to claim in their town ... or else they do have the option of coming to Wellington as well."
The prize money was made up of a first division win of $1,059,968 and a Powerball jackpot of $9,785,562.
- Staff reporter and NZPA
The last minute, $500,000 Lotto win
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.