THE ESSENTIALS
How to check your lottery ticket safely
Find the right draw, compare the right numbers and keep your ticket safe from mistakes and scams.
Find the right draw
Check the game name and date on your ticket before comparing any numbers. A correct set of numbers from a different date isn’t a win. If your ticket covers more than one draw, check each date separately. Our latest results show the date on every draw.
Got a Health Lottery ticket? That’s a different lottery with its own draws, so you won’t find it in National Lottery results. Our guide to The Health Lottery explains how to check it.
Bought a Spanish Christmas Lottery décimo? Those results come from Spain, not The National Lottery. Our guide to El Gordo explains when it’s drawn and how to check your number.
Compare the numbers carefully
Compare your main numbers against the main numbers in the result. Check extra balls such as the Bonus Ball, Lucky Stars, Thunderball or Powerball in their own category. Go slowly and tick off each match once.
Lotto now has two rounds on every draw night. Check your line against Round 1 and then against Round 2. Don’t mix numbers from the two rounds. Our Lotto results page shows the two rounds side by side.
Keep your ticket safe
- Keep a paper ticket flat, dry and undamaged.
- Don’t share photos of the ticket or its barcode online.
- Sign the back if there’s space, so nobody else can claim it.
- Lost it? Here’s what to do with a lost ticket. You only have 30 days to report it.
Spot a fake win message
- A message saying you’ve won a lottery you didn’t enter is a scam.
- You never pay a fee to release a prize.
- Never give your ticket details, password or bank security codes to someone who contacts you.
- Only use the phone numbers and website you find yourself, not ones in a message.
Confirm with the official operator
Use the official website, app or a National Lottery shop to confirm a win. If anything is unclear, keep your ticket and ask the operator for help. Then follow our guide to claiming a prize.
Questions people ask
How do I check my Lotto ticket?
Check the draw date, then compare your line with Round 1 and Round 2 separately. Match 2 or more numbers in either round to win a prize.
Can a shop check my ticket for me?
Yes. Any National Lottery shop can scan it, and if it won’t scan they can type in the serial number.
Is a text saying I’ve won the lottery real?
Treat it as a scam unless you can confirm it through the official website or app yourself. Genuine prizes never need a fee.
Sources
We check every guide against the operators’ own pages. Rules and prizes can change, so the official operator always has the final word.