R282 million lottery prize in the bin, then back in her hands
· The South African
A lottery ticket bin mistake almost cost Kath Main everything, despite playing the same five numbers for more than 20 years.
When those exact numbers finally came up, her winning ticket ended up in a bin, and it took a full month to sort out.
Visit michezonews.co.za for more information.
Here’s how it all played out.
The lottery ticket bin mistake that nearly cost her everything
Main, 46, a mum of two from Abercynon in South Wales, took her ticket into a local Londis after the 6 June draw. She wanted it checked.
The verification machine failed to flag it as a winner, and the shop assistant told her there was no prize.
The ticket was thrown away shortly after.
To make matters worse, the shop had no CCTV at the time, since it was being refurbished.
Weeks of not knowing
Weeks after the lottery ticket bin mix-up, Main spotted an unclaimed jackpot notice and recognised her own numbers;
10, 26, 30, 35 and 42.
That’s when she realised something had gone very wrong.
“I just feel sick all the time, it’s the not knowing and waiting,” she said at the time.
UK operator Allwyn launched an investigation into her claim, a process that took roughly 30 days from start to finish.
The payout that finally came through
Allwyn confirmed the full prize, worth (£12 million) R282 million , will go to Main even without the physical ticket in hand.
A spokesperson said Allwyn is the only major lottery able to pay a winner who has lost their ticket, as long as it can verify the claim within 180 days of the draw.
Main says she’d love to use some of the winnings on a trip to New Zealand for the 2029 Lions rugby tour.
Eish, this one had me on edge just reading it, hey.
Imagine knowing your numbers came up and then having to wait a whole month to find out if the money was actually still yours.
It’s not the first time a big win abroad has come with its fair share of drama either, just look at the $167 million Powerball winner whose year got messier with every headline.
Would you have coped with a month-long wait like that, or would it have driven you round the bend?
Let us know in the comments below…
