Latest news with #IrishNationalLottery
Extra.ie
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
FILM REVIEW OF THE WEEK: Beat The Lotto
Beat the Lotto , the latest offering from director Ross Whitaker, is a charming and light documentary that spins the tale of a group of amateur gamblers, hustlers, and dreamers who, in 1992, decided they could outsmart the Irish National Lottery. What unfolds is part caper, part cultural time capsule, and part portrait of the particularly Irish love of cheekily bending the rules and rooting for the underdog though who the underdog in this story is less obvious than it seems. With his trademark curiosity and affection for character-driven stories, Whitaker introduces us to Stefan Klincewicz, a moustachioed accountant with a head for numbers and a twinkle in his eye, who assembled a ragtag syndicate determined to buy every possible ticket combination and win the jackpot. Their plan was bold, audacious, and grounded in cold, hard mathematics, and the documentary walks viewers through the scheme with enough clarity and humour to keep even the most math-averse of us engaged. The true joy of Beat the Lotto is in its cast of real-life characters, many of whom are interviewed on screen. These men, older but no less spirited, bring a warmth and wit that lights up the film, and their mix of nostalgia, mischief, and sheer cheekiness is deeply endearing. Theres a sense that what they were really after wasnt just money, but fun, adventure, and the thrill of beating the odds or at least of giving it a good go. (Its interesting to note that no women appear to be in the syndicate though there was rumoured to be one woman involved, and members mention not telling their wives what they were up to, so there is like many films about finance a deeply embedded boys club mentality throughout.) Whitaker makes full use of grainy 90s TV clips, old chat show appearances, and golden-hued footage from the era, which gives the film a kind of dusty, familiar texture, and viewers who remember the early years of the Lotto will find much here to delight in. The clothes, the graphics, the music, the very tone of that time in Ireland its all there, and it makes for oddly comforting viewing, even when the subject is a potential multi-million pound scheme that was legal, but felt unfair to the average punter hoping their weekly lotto ticket could change their life. A testy interview between Pat Kenny and Stefan Klincewicz is spicily entertaining, and clips of Lotto representative Ray Bates are fantastic, as he passionately argues for fairness and equality in the Lotto. News cameras following syndicate members trying to offload hundreds of tickets in local shops feel like a wildly entertaining live episode of Crimecall , and watching the syndicate deftly turn the media narrative in another direction is a fun lesson in P.R. In this David V. Goliath story, the roles constantly change – and of course, for those unfamiliar with the story, the suspense of whether the scheme will pay off and pay out is well built. That said, the film isnt without its flaws. The pacing occasionally drags, with some interviews returning to the same points a few too many time. The dramatic reenactments dont feel necessary, and there are moments when you wish the film would stretch further beyond the mechanics of the plan and explore the broader political and cultural context of the time. It hints at a wider national mood one shaped by emigration, economic precarity and a desire to believe in something better but never quite digs in. A deeper exploration of what it meant for Irish people to put their faith in a government-backed game of chance, or how that faith sat alongside growing disillusionment in other state institutions, would have made the film deeper and stronger. Still, Beat the Lotto succeeds where it counts. It tells an Irish story that is funny, weird, and true, and does so with a lightness of touch. Ultimately, this is a film about belief in luck, in numbers, in collective effort, and in a system that might, just might, be beatable. Its about risk and reward, trust and trickery, and the uniquely Irish art of taking the craic seriously. In cinemas now. Watch the trailer below:
Scotsman
21-06-2025
- General
- Scotsman
Unclaimed lottery prizes: latest unclaimed UK tickets news
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. Check your pockets, emails and old receipts — your big win might already be waiting 🎟️ Sign up to the weekly Cost Of Living newsletter. Saving tips, deals and money hacks. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Millions of pounds in National Lottery prizes go unclaimed every year Forgotten tickets may be sitting in coat pockets, inboxes or under sofas Winners have 180 days from the draw date to claim their prize Several £1m+ prizes are currently unclaimed across the UK Joining a lottery syndicate can boost your chances of winning Every year, millions of pounds in National Lottery prizes go unclaimed — not because the money vanishes, but because winners have no idea they've won. Tickets are forgotten in coat pockets, slip behind sofa cushions, or sit unopened in inboxes — all while holding life-changing potential. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Right now, someone out there is unknowingly sitting on a fortune — and it could be you. With several major prizes still up for grabs, it's well worth checking the list below. That forgotten ticket might just change everything. A single ticket-holder from Ireland has won the 250 million euro EuroMillions jackpot, the Irish National Lottery said. How long do National Lottery winners have to claim their prize? Winning lottery ticket holders have 180 days (approximately six months) from the draw date to claim the prize. If no valid claim is made within the deadline, the prize money - along with any interest it accrues - goes towards funding National Lottery Projects across the UK. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad How can National Lottery winnings be claimed? Prize winnings of £500 and under can be claimed in store from a National Lottery retailer - that is, an authorised store or outlet where you can purchase lottery tickets, like newsagents, supermarkets, and petrol stations. Prizes over £500 and up to and including £50,000 can be claimed online. For prizes over £50,000, and monthly prize winnings (Set For Life), winning ticket holders should call the National Lottery on 0333 234 50 50 to confirm and arrange the winning claim. If your ticket has been damaged or destroyed, you still may be able to make a valid claim, however, an appeal should be filed within 30 days of the draw date. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Details on the information you would need to provide can be found on the National Lottery website. How to increase your chances of winning the lottery Let's be honest: hitting the jackpot isn't easy. The odds are slim, but there are ways to improve your chances and spend less money while pursuing that life-changing prize. Lottery syndicates have been popular for as long as the draws themselves - and for good reason. By pooling resources with others, you can boost your odds of winning. Sure, you'll have to share the prize, but when it's a £100 million EuroMillions jackpot, does that really matter? Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This is the clever ethos behind Lotto Social, an online syndicate anyone can join in. Not everyone will have a syndicate at work, or in a pub, or a sports club, so this opens the opportunities up to the wider public. With its simple online platform, Lotto Social unlocks far more opportunities for wins, whether they are big wins or small wins, by increasing the number of entries you're getting. It's completely free to join, so you're in control of how much you're spending, and you choose the syndicates you join, and the prizes you're hoping for. You can even opt in to international lotteries to increase your chances of a win even further. Current unclaimed National Lottery prizes EuroMillions - £1m A millionaire is yet to come forward. The draw in question took place on December 27, and the lucky ticket holder has until June 25, 2025 to come forward. The ticket was bought in Wiltshire. EuroMillions - £106,738.50 Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A second EuroMillions ticket remains unclaimed following the draw on January 14. The lucky winner has until July 13, 2025, to claim their prize. The ticket was purchased in the London Borough of Barnet. EuroMillions - £1m A third EuroMillions ticket remains unclaimed. The draw in question took place on February 14, and the lucky ticket holder has until August 13, 2025 to come forward. The ticket was bought in Liverpool. Lotto - £1m A millionaire has been made from the May 10 Lotto draw, with the numbers 13, 14, 15, 27, 33, 36 (Bonus 18), but has yet to come forward to claim their prize. The holder of the ticket - which was bought in St Albans - has until November 6 to claim. EuroMillions - £1m A fifth EuroMillions ticket (from the May 23 draw remains unclaimed. The fortunate winner has until November 19, 2025, to claim their prize. The ticket was purchased in Stevenage. Lotto - £1m Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Someone became a millionaire in the May 24 Lotto draw with the numbers 9, 12, 13, 26, 38, 40, (Bonus 4) — but they haven't come forward yet. The winning ticket was bought in Birmingham, and the prize must be claimed by November 20.
Yahoo
20-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
€250m EuroMillions ticket shop revealed
The winning ticket in a €250m (£213m) EuroMillions jackpot was sold at a shop in Cork city in the Republic of Ireland, the Irish National Lottery has announced. The winner, who has already contacted the company but has not been identified, bought the ticket at Clifford's Centra store in Shandon Street. The shop owner, Ted Clifford, told Irish broadcaster RTÉ there was a "great buzz". He added he had "no idea" about the identity of the winning ticket holder. He also revealed his shop sold a €100,000 (£85,000) winning ticket on New Year's Eve. "I think this is when our luck started for the winning streak", he said. "I send my warmest congratulations to the winner and their family, and hopefully they'll have good fortune with their money." He added that staff at the shop were planning "a big celebration". €250m EuroMillions winning ticket holder comes forward €250m EuroMillions winning ticket sold in Munster
BBC News
20-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Cork: €250m EuroMillions ticket shop revealed
The winning ticket in a €250m (£213m) EuroMillions jackpot was sold at a shop in Cork city in the Republic of Ireland, the Irish National Lottery has winner, who has already contacted the company but has not been identified, bought the ticket at Clifford's Centra store in Shandon shop owner, Ted Clifford, told Irish broadcaster RTÉ there was a "great buzz".He added he had "no idea" about the identity of the winning ticket holder. He also revealed his shop sold a €100,000 (£85,000) winning ticket on New Year's Eve."I think this is when our luck started for the winning streak", he said."I send my warmest congratulations to the winner and their family, and hopefully they'll have good fortune with their money."He added that staff at the shop were planning "a big celebration".
The Herald Scotland
20-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
‘Great buzz' at Irish shop which sold EuroMillions jackpot-winning ticket
Owner Ted Clifford said the news is 'very exciting'. With sweltering temperatures across Ireland on Friday, he said: 'It is definitely going to be the hottest day of the year at Shandon Street.' Mr Clifford, who was informed of the win on Thursday evening, initially believed it was a 'wind up'. However, he said it is not the first time the shop has sold a big-prize ticket. 'It is fantastic news – this all kicked off on New Year's Eve when we sold a 100,000 euro ticket to a local person. 'That's when our luck, or winning streak, started.' 📞🤩 The moment Clifford's Centra, Shandon Street, Cork City, found out their shop sold the winning #EuroMillions ticket of €250 MILLION! #ItCouldBeYou 18+ Play Responsibly Play for Fun — The Irish National Lottery (@NationalLottery) June 20, 2025 Mr Clifford, who is the third generation owner of the store which has been operating for 95 years, said he is 'proud to be part of the community'. Speaking on RTE radio's Morning Ireland, he sent his 'warmest congratulations' to the winner and their family. Asked if he knows who that might be, he replied: 'I have no idea, it's a busy shop – there's a lot of people in and out. 'Hopefully they will have good fortune with their money.' Mr Clifford said it is a 'life-changing amount of money', but the National Lottery will support the winner. He said he will use 25,000 euro in prize money for the shop to have a 'big celebration' with the staff. He said there was a 'great buzz' and 'a lot of people around' following the announcement. The winner of the jackpot has already contacted the National Lottery. It is the 18th Irish winner and the largest ever Irish win of the EuroMillions jackpot. The winning numbers from Tuesday's draw were 13, 22, 23, 44 and 49, with lucky stars 3 and 5. Irish National Lottery chief executive Cian Murphy had urged the winner earlier in the week to 'stay calm' as the 'massive' win could come as a shock. The EuroMillions jackpot is capped once it reaches 250 million euro – or £208 million on current currency conversions. This jackpot reached the maximum amount on Friday June 6 after rolling over several times. In total, more than 92,000 players in Ireland won prizes in the EuroMillions and Plus games. The last Irish winner of the EuroMillions jackpot was in February 2022, when a person won 30.9 million euro with a quick pick ticket they purchased at a service station in Ballina, Co Tipperary.
