‘Lost’ passport produces $1 million surprise
Never throw out that lottery ticket until you’ve checked it. Here’s why.
Prize claim times
The time frame for claiming lottery winnings varies by state. Here are some general guidelines:
Queensland: Prizes must be claimed within seven years after the draw date.
New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory: Prizes must be claimed within six years after the draw date.
Victoria: Prizes must be claimed within 12 months of the final draw date.
Tasmania: Prizes must be claimed within 12 months of the final draw date.
Northern Territory: Prizes must be claimed within three years.
Western Australia: Prizes must be claimed within 12 months.
South Australia: Prizes must be claimed within 12 months.
For specific claims, it’s best to check the regulations in your state or territory.
Please gamble responsibly and only spend what you can afford to lose. If you feel your gambling is becoming a problem, seek help immediately. For free, confidential support and information, contact Gambling Helpline or call 1800 858 858.
A Melbourne man found a lot more than his “lost” passport when he also discovered a lottery ticket he’d forgotten about gathering dust in a storage unit.
Thankfully, for the man, he hadn’t thrown away the ticket. It somehow got mixed up with stuff he’d put in storage – only to be found 244 days after he bought it.
The man was looking for his passport when he found several lottery tickets, including an entry for the Weekday Windfall drawn on 27 December last year that was worth $1 million.
“I had no idea until I went through my storage unit and found some old tickets,” he said.
“I was actually looking for my passport but stumbled across them and just thought I’d give them a scan and see what’s there. That's when the $1 million popped up.
“I’m just glad I didn't throw them out!”
Lottery corporation, The Lott, had no way of contacting the man about his winnings because he had not registered with its members’ club.
Not surprisingly, The Lott encourages players to register – so, if you forget to check your ticket or it gets lost, you can still receive your prize.
The lucky winner said he is still deciding how to use his million-dollar win.
“I don’t know yet. At the end of the day, it’s money and that doesn’t equal happiness,” he said.
He did say he would like to support his mum and did notice one thing that needed sorting out when he found the winning ticket.
"But I am very excited. I did notice my passport has expired. I can definitely get a new one now.”
Indeed, some may say we will all soon need to “win the lottery” to afford increasingly costly passports.
Currently, the cost of an Australian passport for adults aged 16 and over starts at $412. For children under 16 and seniors over 75, the cost is $208. If applying from overseas, there is an additional surcharge of $184 for adults and seniors, and $90 for children.
By the way, the man bought the tickets from Coburg Hub Lotto & The Deli in Melbourne. Shop manager, Prokafh Kundu, said he was thrilled the mystery millionaire had come forward to claim the prize.
“Wow! It definitely feels better to hear they’ve found their ticket,” he said.
Related reading: 9News, Mirage News
Disclaimer: Gambling involves risk and can lead to financial loss, debt, and other serious harms. Please gamble responsibly and only spend what you can afford to lose. If you feel your gambling is becoming a problem, seek help immediately. For free, confidential support and information, contact Gambling Helpline or call 1800 858 858.
