How to Check Lottery Results
This is an independent, informational guide for UK readers and is not affiliated with the organisations mentioned. It is provided for general information only.
You can check UK National Lottery results on the official National Lottery website and app, where numbers are posted shortly after each draw, or by asking a retailer to scan your ticket. Results are widely published elsewhere too, but the official source is the one to rely on.
Where to check
You can check National Lottery results on the official National Lottery website and app, where draw numbers are posted shortly after each draw. Retailers can also scan your ticket to tell you instantly whether it has won.
Results are widely published in newspapers and on news sites too, though the official source is the one to rely on.
Checking a ticket safely
Match your numbers carefully against the official results for the correct draw date, and remember that the bonus ball matters for some prize tiers. Sign the back of a paper ticket so it's clearly yours.
If you play online, wins are calculated automatically and you'll be notified, with smaller prizes added to your account.
If you've won
For shop tickets, smaller prizes can be claimed in store; larger ones are claimed by post or with the operator, all within 180 days of the draw. Keep the ticket safe until you've claimed.
If a win looks large, contact the National Lottery before telling others, so they can talk you through your options.
Avoiding 'you've won' scams
Be wary of emails or messages saying you've won a lottery you never entered — the National Lottery never works that way, and it's a common scam.
Always check results through the official site or app, never via a link in an unexpected message.
Checking results is straightforward as long as you use the official site or app and ignore any unsolicited 'you've won' messages. Match carefully, mind the bonus ball, keep the ticket safe until you've claimed, and remember the 180-day window so a win never slips away unnoticed.
Where is the official place to check lottery results?
The official National Lottery website and app; retailers can also scan your ticket to check it.
Does the bonus ball matter when checking?
Yes — on Lotto, matching five main numbers plus the bonus ball is its own prize tier, so check it carefully.
How long do I have to claim after checking a win?
180 days from the draw date for draw games; keep the ticket safe until you've claimed.
I got an email saying I won a lottery I didn't enter — is it real?
No — that's a classic scam. The National Lottery never notifies wins for draws you didn't enter; check only via the official site.
Related guides: How to claim winnings, Lost a winning ticket, How the lottery works
18+ only. Gambling should be fun, not a way to make money. If you are worried about your gambling, or affected by someone else's, free and confidential help is available from the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133, from BeGambleAware.org, and through the self-exclusion scheme GAMSTOP. You must be 18 or over to gamble.