Winners

How and where do I claim a prize?

Don't forget to sign the back of the ticket before you claim your prize. Unless the ticket has been lost, stolen or destroyed or has failed to be produced by a checkout - see below - the winning ticket must be presented when the prize is claimed.

• Up to £100 can be claimed in cash from your local retailer. All retailers have the discretion to pay prizes from £100 to £500 in cash.
• Most main lottery Post Offices are able to pay up to £50,000 by cheque. Winners have the option of receiving the first £500 in cash.
• All prizes over £50,000 must be claimed in person.
• For tickets that cannot be processed by the retailer, and all prizes over £50,000, please contact the National Lottery Line on 0845 9 100 000 who will advise you how to claim your prize.

If your prize is over £500, you will need to complete a Prize Claim Form, and present identification when claiming your prize. (Telephone the National Lottery Line on 0845 9 100 000 to find out how to obtain a Prize Claim Form.) Providing your ticket is successfully validated and meets Camelot's validation requirements, prizes over £50,000 can be paid in one of the two following ways.

1. by cheque
2. by Direct Credit (CHAPS) into a current bank account - the payment will be submitted for payment by 2pm on the second working day following posting of documentation on Camelot systems

Alternatively, for prizes up to the value of £50,000, you can send your ticket with a completed Prize Claim Form to The National Lottery, PO Box 287, Watford, Herts WD18 9TT. Unless there is a query about the ticket, your prize will be paid by cheque within five working days of receipt and validation of the ticket. Tickets and claims are sent at your own risk, so it's highly recommended you use 'Special Delivery' or another insured postal service, though you should check the maximum compensation available to you for the delivery service you choose.

Prizes for winning with a National Lottery Fast Pay ticket may be claimed in exactly the same way as prizes in respect of tickets produced by National Lottery terminals. Prizes cannot be claimed at National Lottery Fast Pay checkouts.

Advisory services for winners of large prizes

Camelot will provide winners of prizes over £50,000 with free basic advice, in the form of a booklet, on relevant financial and legal matters. Prize winners over £500,000 will be offered the chance to meet a panel comprising a legal adviser and a financial adviser. Camelot will also offer to maintain contact with winners of larger prizes over a longer period.

Confidentiality

Camelot will only reveal your identity if you give written consent to publicity or if we become legally obliged to do so. Whether or not your win is publicised is entirely your choice. If you win a major prize, you are advised immediately to call the National Lottery Line on 0845 9 100 000 to receive further advice.

How long do I have to claim a prize?

Draw-based games

You must claim your prize by producing the winning ticket within the claim period of 180 days of the relevant draw date. As an exception to this rule, you can also claim by presenting your ticket, proof of identity and any relevant completed Prize Claim Form at a Regional Centre within seven days after the end of the 180-day claim period. To claim in this way you must previously have telephoned the National Lottery Line within the 180 day claim period, giving notice of your intention to claim within the further seven days and your name, address and ticket details. If you then fail to claim within the seven days the prize will be forfeited.

Claims in circumstances where the ticket has been lost, destroyed or stolen, or has failed to be produced by the checkout, must be made in writing and received by Camelot by 5pm on the 30th day after the "winning" draw - see section entitled "What if my draw-based game ticket has not been produced at all, or has been partly produced by a checkout? Or it has been lost, stolen or destroyed?"

Scratchcards

You must claim your prize by the 180th day after the announced closure of the game. For information on dates of game closure, either ask your retailer, or call the National Lottery Line on 0845 9 100 000 or visit www.national-lottery.co.uk.

Any prizes for either draw-based games or Scratchcard games remaining unclaimed after these time periods have expired are given to the Good Causes.