Latest news with #AnnaHobdell
Perth Now
09-08-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Two day deadline to claim fortune
An oblivious winner has just two days left to claim a 'life-enhancing' lottery prize before the money is returned to players and the community. The Saturday Gold Lotto player won just over $670,000 almost seven years ago with a ticket picked up at a newsagent in Helensvale, Queensland. In Queensland, winners have a seven-year deadline to claim their prize before the money is returned to players through community donations, bonus draws or player promotions. According to The Lott, the winning ticket is the oldest unclaimed lottery prize in Australia. The seemingly-unaware winner was one of six division 1 winners in the Saturday Gold Lotto draw 3867 on August 11, 2018. The winning numbers were 1, 23, 8, 15, 44, 20, while the supplementary numbers were 11 and 18. Punters have been urged to search every pocket, wallet and drawer for old tickets. Supplied/ The Lott Credit: Supplied The Lott spokeswoman Anna Hobdell said the clock was ticking for the mystery punter. 'We're making one final call to all lottery players: now is the time to search every pocket, wallet and drawer,' she said. 'Imagine discovering after seven years that you're the mystery division one winner we're searching for. 'We urge everyone to double-check any old tickets as soon as possible.' The entry was purchased at Golden Lucky News on Millaroo Dr in Helensvale, with owner Melanie Zhi noting the area attracts its fair share of tourists. 'While most of our customers are locals, we do get plenty of visitors from various places, especially from New South Wales. Honestly, the winner could be anyone,' she said. The prize must be claimed by Monday August 11.
7NEWS
06-08-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Unclaimed lotto ticket: winner still unknown seven years on
A mystery punter has yet to claim more than $670,000 they won nearly seven years ago. One lucky entry scored the Division One win in Saturday Gold Lotto draw 3867 on August 11, 2018, but the prize has never been claimed. Now, with just days to go before the deadline, The Lott is making a final plea to players to check their tickets before it is too late. 'This is Australia's oldest unclaimed lottery prize and time is almost up,' The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell said. The winning ticket, which was not registered, was purchased at Golden Lucky News in Westfield Helensvale shopping centre on the Gold Coast, Queensland. The elusive winner matched all six numbers to win $671,513.12. Had the winner claimed their prize back in August 2018 and invested in Gold Coast real estate, it could be worth more than $1.2 million today. Even tucked safely in a bank, it might have grown to about $850,000 to $900,000, making the forgotten ticket even more heartbreaking. Now, under Queensland rules, the clock is officially ticking. If no one claims the windfall by this Sunday, August 11, the money will be redistributed into player promotions and community programs. Golden Lucky News owner Melanie Zhi said she's holding out hope for a fairytale ending. 'It's hard to believe the division one winner still hasn't come forward after all these years,' she said. 'We're really hoping someone checks their old ticket — what a moment that would be.' While many of the shop's regulars are locals, Zhi said Helensvale's location means the winner could be from anywhere — including over the border in NSW. Tickets hide in all sorts of places From car consoles to bedside drawers, Hobdell said past winners have found tickets in the most unlikely places. 'Our major prize winners have told us that they have found their old lottery tickets in all sorts of places, so be sure to check your car console, your old shopping bags, or even your bedside drawers because you never know that winning ticket might just be there,' she said. The winning numbers that night were: 1, 23, 8, 15, 44 and 20. Supplementary numbers: 11 and 18. The Lott is reminding players to always register their tickets to a Members Club account. 'Had this ticket been registered, we'd have paid the prize out seven years ago,' Hobdell said. 'Even if you lose your ticket, we can still unite you with your prize if it's in your name.' If you believe you're the mystery millionaire or know someone who might be, contact The Lott immediately on 131 868.
Perth Now
21-07-2025
- General
- Perth Now
Lotto winner could miss $670,000 payout
One lotto winner has been unwittingly sitting on a $670,000 ticket for almost seven years, but could miss collecting the winnings when it finally expires for good in three weeks. On Saturday 11 August 2018, the mystery player scored a total prize of $671,513.12, holding one of the six division one winning entries nationally in Saturday Gold Lotto Draw 3867. Since then the ticket has remained unclaimed likely meaning the owner is unaware of the ticket's value. The ticket is unregistered meaning its owner's details are unknown and the ticket is currently the oldest unclaimed lottery prize in Australia. In Queensland, winners have up to seven years from the draw date to claim their prize; that deadline is Monday 11 August 2025. The winning entry was purchased at Golden Lucky News in Helensvale on the Gold Coast. The winner likely has no idea their ticket is worth $670,000. Supplied Credit: Supplied Golden Lucky News owner Melanie Zhi said she hoped the mystery division one winner would check their ticket and come forward before the deadline to claim the prize. 'It's hard to believe the division one winner still hasn't come forward after all these years. We're really hoping they'll check their ticket and finally claim their prize,' she said. 'While most of our customers are locals, we do get plenty of visitors from various places, especially from NSW. Honestly, the winner could be anyone. 'I took over the outlet late last year, and it would be incredible if the mystery winner came forward. What a moment that would be.' With less than one month left to claim the exciting prize, The Lott spokeswoman Anna Hobdell urged all players in the area to check their tickets. Golden Lucky News in Helensvale Gold Coast is where the ticket was purchased. Supplied Credit: Supplied 'It's highly likely our mystery winner has been going about the past seven years as normal with no idea they've been sitting on a winning ticket worth $670,000,' she said. 'We know other big winners have stashed their winning tickets in all sorts of places – from the fridge door to the car console – so it's worth searching all nooks and crannies for unchecked tickets. 'This is a great reminder to all players to register their tickets to a player card or online account. 'If this player had registered their ticket to The Lott Members Club, they would have already been united with their good fortune seven years ago. 'For lost lottery tickets not registered to The Lott Members Club, a lost or damaged ticket search form will need to be completed. 'If you discover you are holding the winning ticket, contact The Lott on 131 868 immediately to begin the process of claiming your prize.' The winning numbers in Saturday Gold Lotto draw 3867 on 11 August 2018 were 1, 23, 8, 15, 44, 20, while the supplementary numbers were 11 and 18.
Yahoo
20-07-2025
- Yahoo
Lotto winner just weeks away from losing $670,000 prize after 7-year search
A mystery ticket holder has just over a month left to come forward and accept their incredible lottery win in Queensland before it officially slips through their fingers, with state's seven-year window for claiming prizes just weeks away from closing forever for one unwitting player. Back in 2018, a person who purchased a ticket from the Gold Coast won a cool $670,000 on August 11. But, no trace of the recipient has ever been found, and in fact, the winning entry currently represents the oldest unclaimed lottery prize in the entire country. Officials know the winning ticket was purchased at Golden Lucky News, located at 1-29 Millaroo Drive in Helensvale, but little else about the person's identity because they were unregistered. The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell spoke to Yahoo on Monday and said eventually, unclaimed prize money will have to be "returned to the community in some shape or form" if the winner isn't found. Meanwhile, she said officials will go to great lengths to track down the winner, but there's only so much that can be done. "We certainly collate all available evidence, including ticket purchase details — ticket type, when purchased, how it was paid for — and any CCTV footage," she had earlier told Yahoo News Australia. "We would be unable to release any CCTV footage as this would breach the winner's privacy. However, this evidence can assist any lost and damaged ticket claims a player may make." In Queensland, there's less than one month left to claim the 2018 sum. "We know other big winners have stashed their winning tickets in all sorts of places — from the fridge door to the car console — so it's worth searching all nooks and crannies for unchecked tickets," Anna urged. "This is a great reminder to all players to register their tickets to a player card or online account. If this player had registered their ticket to The Lott Members Club, they would have already been united with their good fortune seven years ago. "If you discover you are holding the winning ticket, contact The Lott on 131 868 immediately to begin the process of claiming your prize." Powerball $100 million winner still a mystery Meanwhile, in New South Wales, June's incredible $100 Powerball winner remains unaccounted for. A Bondi Junction newsagent, in Sydney's east, was responsible for selling the winning ticket, but that's so far that's all officials have to work with. Several theories have come to light, including that the winner could even be a tourist. However, with no registered player details linked to the ticket, The Lott still has no way of contacting them, and can only wait and hope that someone soon realises they've become one of the country's richest individuals. In the state, calls mounted for a redraw, but it's not exactly how these scenarios play out. When it comes to unclaimed lottery prizes, rules in Australia vary from state to state, Anna explained. What happens to unclaimed lottery wins in Australia? Anna said that as a general rule across Australia, "unclaimed prize money must be returned to the community" to support public services or initiatives that benefit the wider community. In NSW, unclaimed lottery winnings must be claimed within six years from the date of the draw. If the prize is not claimed within that timeframe, the money is handed over to the NSW Government, specifically to Revenue NSW, and becomes part of general state revenue. From that point on, it is largely absorbed into the state's finances and used as the government sees fit, often alongside other forms of unclaimed money. ✈️ One thing a $100m Powerball win could buy you that's better than holidays, homes, and cars 💰 $100 million Powerball winner reveals how her life has changed 😴 Dad claims $60m Powerball jackpot after 'vivid' dream about winning In Queensland, the process is slightly different. Winners have seven years to claim their lottery prizes. During that time, the lottery operator may apply for permission to use unclaimed prize funds for promotional draws or other lottery-related activities. If the prize remains unclaimed after the seven-year window, it is transferred to the Queensland Government. While this money also ultimately becomes government revenue, there's more flexibility in how it can be applied. In some cases, the government may channel it into community programs or public benefit initiatives, although it doesn't automatically go to charity. While both states eventually absorb unclaimed winnings into government funds, Queensland allows for a broader range of potential uses, including promotional or public programs, whereas NSW simply treats the money as part of its general budget. In 2018, a $55 million Powerball prize remained unclaimed for 175 days until a Melbourne player eventually came forward. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
9 News
30-06-2025
- Business
- 9 News
Lottery winners reveal exactly how they spent their fortune
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here Many Australian lottery winners aren't splurging their cash on big-ticket items like cars or houses after taking home their winnings , according to a new report. The Lott surveyed division one winners from 2024 – who won a combined $1.56 billion – on how they spent their millions, and most said they either invested in the future or lavished family and friends with gifts. More than half of the winners said they set themselves up for the future with investments, while 38 per cent said they helped out loved ones with their shock windfall. The Lott surveyed division one winners from 2024 on how they spent their winnings. (The Lott) The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell said these results aren't surprising for division one winners, who take home life-changing amounts of money. "Winners often tell us their bodies go into overdrive the moment they hear the life-changing news, with hearts racing, hands trembling, and even a wave of nausea setting in," Hobdell said. "But once the news sinks in, most winners can't wait to share the joy with people in the know. "After the initial shock wears off, many winners are quick to tell their partners, family, or closest mates. "Only about eight per cent keep it completely under wraps and tell absolutely no one." Plenty of lucky winners decided to buy some unique items, including a pair of hand-crafted leather shoes, a set of watches for their family, a hair transplant in Turkey, and some electric mountain bikes. Another 33 per cent of winners said they bought a new car, but only 19 per cent reported buying a new house. Some said they decided to travel the world with their newfound fortune, flying to destinations such as Thailand, Bali, Phuket, the Gold Coast and Alaska. Plenty of winners said they travelled the world with their newfound fortune. (The Lott) And 17 per cent of the surveyed winners said they used their prize to donate to charity. One newly deep-pocketed Aussie simply updated their old washing machine. Reflecting on the life-changing injection into their bank account, a few winners also shared their advice for future lottery recipients. "Treat your win as an opportunity to improve your circumstances, so don't waste it," one said. "Tell very few people and write down who you told," another warned. lottery lotto money Australia national CONTACT US
