Latest news with #Hobdell
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.
7NEWS
21-07-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Oldest unclaimed $671K jackpot set to expire as mystery winner remains missing after seven years
Australia's oldest unclaimed jackpot of more than $671,000 is about to slip away unless the winner comes forward. The winning Saturday Gold Lotto ticket, bought on the Gold Coast and drawn on August 11, 2018, is worth $671,513.12. Seven years on, the prize remains unclaimed, and with the deadline approaching, the mystery winner has until 11 August to come forward before the prize expires. If the prize isn't claimed by then, the money will either go to the state government or be used for promotional lottery draws. The unclaimed Division One winning entry from Lotto draw 3867, one of six nationally, was bought from Golden Lucky News at 1-29 Millaroo Dr in Helensvale. The shop owner, Melanie Zhi, said the winner could be a local or a tourist. 'While most of our customers are locals, we do get plenty of visitors from various places, especially from NSW,' Zhi said. '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! '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.' The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell urged players in the area to check their tickets. 'Time is running out for this mystery winner to claim their exciting prize,' Hobdell said. '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.' Hobdell added this is a timely reminder for 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,' she said. '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, with supplementary numbers 11 and 18. Queensland has the longest time to claim lotto prizes, while players in NSW and the ACT have up to six years, according to Oz Lotteries. Prizes in Victoria do not expire, but after six months unclaimed winnings are transferred to the state revenue office, from which winners can still claim their money.
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
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Half of Australia to buy ticket for $100m
Powerball has jackpotted to an astounding $100m on Thursday night, the biggest prize of the year, following a $70m Oz Lotto prize that went off last week Half of all Australian adults are expected to buy a ticket to the megadraw after more than 10 million people bought tickets to the last $100m prize in November last year. At the peak 6,415 tickets were sold in a single minute to the draw – at 5.47pm. The odds of winning the grand prize are slim, coming in at a margin of one in 134 million. Only six Australians have won a Powerball prize of $100m or more. The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell said winning the major prize could happen to 'anyone' and would start the 'next chapter' of their life. 'Australia's biggest lottery winner was an ordinary Adelaide man who scored $150m in 2024,' Ms Hobdell said. 'All our $100 million Powerball winners all had varied plans for their prizes, but there are some beautiful common themes – taking long-overdue holidays across Australia and the globe, heartfelt generosity toward loved ones and causes close to their hearts and a renewed sense of joy and purpose. 'The $100m club is growing, and maybe we'll welcome a new member this Thursday.' A previous winner, who split a $200m grand prize with another lucky Australian, said she moved to Hawthorne in Brisbane after winning but she continued to live her life as normally as possible. 'On a day-to-day basis, not a huge amount has changed. I still get up for the 6am gym session and the dog still needs to be walked and fed. The longer-term vision we have for our life is slowly coming together,' the winner said. 'We have purchased a place near the ocean on the coast and continue to create lifelong memories with our beautiful family and friends.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
Perth Now
12-06-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Half of Australia to buy ticket for $100m
Powerball has jackpotted to an astounding $100m on Thursday night, the biggest prize of the year, following a $70m Oz Lotto prize that went off last week Half of all Australian adults are expected to buy a ticket to the megadraw after more than 10 million people bought tickets to the last $100m prize in November last year. At the peak 6,415 tickets were sold in a single minute to the draw – at 5.47pm. The odds of winning the grand prize are slim, coming in at a margin of one in 134 million. Only six Australians have won a Powerball prize of $100m or more. The Lott spokesperson Anna Hobdell said winning the major prize could happen to 'anyone' and would start the 'next chapter' of their life. 'Australia's biggest lottery winner was an ordinary Adelaide man who scored $150m in 2024,' Ms Hobdell said. 'All our $100 million Powerball winners all had varied plans for their prizes, but there are some beautiful common themes – taking long-overdue holidays across Australia and the globe, heartfelt generosity toward loved ones and causes close to their hearts and a renewed sense of joy and purpose. 'The $100m club is growing, and maybe we'll welcome a new member this Thursday.' Powerball has jackpotted to $100m, the biggest prize of the year. NewsWire/ David Crosling Credit: News Corp Australia A previous winner, who split a $200m grand prize with another lucky Australian, said she moved to Hawthorne in Brisbane after winning but she continued to live her life as normally as possible. 'On a day-to-day basis, not a huge amount has changed. I still get up for the 6am gym session and the dog still needs to be walked and fed. The longer-term vision we have for our life is slowly coming together,' the winner said. 'We have purchased a place near the ocean on the coast and continue to create lifelong memories with our beautiful family and friends.'
