A Sydney resident or visitor is sitting on a life-changing $20 million jackpot without even knowing it. The catch? They made one critical mistake that has lottery officials unable to track them down.
The winning ticket from Tuesday’s Oz Lotto draw 1655 on 4 November 2025 was purchased at Broadway Newsagency in Broadway Shopping Centre. It’s the only division one entry nationally, meaning someone has the entire $20 million prize waiting for them.
But there’s a problem. The ticket wasn’t registered to The Lott Members Club.
The Mistake That Changed Everything
This seemingly small oversight has turned what should be a celebration into a frantic search. Without registration details, lottery officials have no way to contact the winner. They’re completely in the dark about who holds the golden ticket.
Khat McIntyre, spokesperson for The Lott, expressed hope that the winner would check their ticket soon. The prize represents a windfall that could change someone’s life overnight, but only if they realise they’ve won.
This isn’t an isolated incident. Right now, Australia has multiple unclaimed lottery prizes worth millions sitting uncollected because winners either don’t know they’ve won or can’t prove ownership.
Where Was the Winning Ticket Purchased?
The mystery winner bought their ticket at:
- Location: Broadway Newsagency, Shop G2
- Address: Broadway Shopping Centre, 1 Bay Street, Broadway
- Draw Date: Tuesday, 4 November 2025
- Prize Amount: $20 million
Anyone who purchased an Oz Lotto ticket from this location should check their numbers immediately.
Broadway Shopping Centre where the $20 million winning ticket was purchased.
What Happens to Unclaimed Prizes in NSW?
New South Wales players have six months to claim prizes directly from The Lott. After that window closes, the money transfers to the state’s unclaimed money register. Winners can still claim through government channels, but the process becomes more complicated.
The clock started ticking on 4 November. If nobody comes forward with the winning ticket before the deadline, the $20 million could eventually go to the NSW Government for community funding initiatives.
Compare this to Queensland, where winners get seven years to claim. Victoria doesn’t set expiry dates on unclaimed prizes, though they transfer to state revenue after six months. South Australia gives winners just 12 months.
Australia’s Growing Unclaimed Prize Problem
This Broadway winner joins a concerning trend. Currently, 21 unclaimed major lottery prizes sit waiting across Australia, worth almost $16.14 million combined.
The breakdown by state reveals:
- New South Wales: 9 unclaimed prizes
- Queensland: 8 unclaimed prizes
- Australian Capital Territory: 2 unclaimed prizes
- Victoria: 2 unclaimed prizes
Just last month, a $15 million Oz Lotto prize from Maitland’s Greenhills Newsagency remained unclaimed for days. That winner eventually came forward, but many don’t.
The biggest unclaimed win currently sits in the ACT. A $4.8 million Set for Life prize from April 2021 would pay $20,000 monthly for 20 years. That winner has never stepped forward.
How Winners Lose Out
Lottery officials have heard every excuse imaginable for lost tickets:
- Thrown in the bin by mistake
- Went through the washing machine
- The dog ate it (yes, really)
- Blew out the car window
- Left in a shopping bag that got tossed
These stories might sound far-fetched, but they’re genuine reasons given by people who realised too late they’d won.
Sydney has seen its share of lottery drama, including a woman who won $100 million in February 2025 while watching Married at First Sight. She initially thought the late-night call from The Lott was a prank.
The Simple Solution Nobody Used
Registering a lottery ticket takes less than two minutes. Players can do it three ways:
Option 1: Register at Purchase
- Buy tickets online through The Lott website or app
- Tickets automatically register to your account
- Instant notification of any wins
Option 2: Scan After Purchase
- Use The Lott mobile app to scan physical tickets
- Links ticket to your membership account
- Keeps digital record even if ticket gets lost
Option 3: Manual Registration
- Enter ticket numbers on The Lott website
- Provide contact details
- Receive confirmation of registration
Registration is free. The benefits are massive. Registered players receive immediate phone calls or emails when they win division one prizes. They don’t need to check results manually or worry about lost tickets.
Yet thousands of Australians still buy unregistered tickets at newsagencies and convenience stores, then forget to check them.
Recent Lottery Wins Show Pattern
Australia’s lottery landscape has been particularly active in 2025. The year has already seen multiple major wins, including a tragic case where a young winner’s life spiralled after winning $22 million.
More recently, 15 Queenslanders shared a $70 million Oz Lotto jackpot in April. Each syndicate member walked away with $4.7 million. Their tickets were registered, making notification straightforward.
The division one winning tally has reached 326 so far in 2025, with 92 won by NSW Lotteries customers. That’s a substantial number of winners, yet unclaimed prizes continue to pile up.
Expert Advice on Protecting Your Ticket
Lottery experts recommend several precautions beyond registration:
Physical Ticket Protection:
- Photograph both sides immediately after purchase
- Store in a safe, dry location
- Keep separate from wallet or purse (common loss points)
- Consider a dedicated “lottery ticket” envelope
Digital Security:
- Take screenshots of registration confirmation
- Save confirmation emails
- Enable notifications on The Lott app
- Check accounts regularly even without notifications
After a Win:
- Sign the back of physical tickets immediately
- Don’t share win information publicly before claiming
- Seek financial advice before making major decisions
- Consider privacy implications of public announcement
The Broadway winner’s story serves as a cautionary tale. Somewhere in Sydney, someone might be carrying a $20 million ticket in their pocket, glovebox, or handbag without realising its value.
The Search Continues
Lottery officials remain optimistic the winner will come forward. Broadway Shopping Centre sees thousands of visitors daily, meaning the ticket holder could be anyone from a local resident to an interstate visitor.
The winning ticket might be pinned to a fridge, tucked in a book, or sitting in a pile of receipts. It could be anywhere.
What’s certain is this: until someone checks their ticket and comes forward, $20 million sits in limbo. The prize is real, verified, and waiting. It just needs someone to claim it.
For everyone else, this serves as a powerful reminder. Those few minutes spent registering a ticket could mean the difference between financial freedom and never knowing you were a multi-millionaire.
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FAQs
Q: How long do I have to claim an Oz Lotto prize in NSW?
A: Winners have six months to claim prizes directly from The Lott. After that, prizes transfer to NSW’s unclaimed money register where they can still be claimed through government processes.
Q: Can I claim a prize if I lost my physical ticket?
A: Not usually. Physical tickets are required to claim prizes unless you registered the ticket to a Members Club account before losing it.
Q: What happens if a $20 million prize goes unclaimed?
A: After the claiming period expires, unclaimed prizes in NSW go to the state government and are typically used for community funding purposes.
Q: How do I register a lottery ticket?
A: You can register tickets by buying online, scanning physical tickets with The Lott app, or manually entering ticket numbers on The Lott website with your membership details.
Q: Will I be notified automatically if I win?
A: Only if your ticket is registered to The Lott Members Club. Unregistered tickets require manual checking of results.
