National Lottery Leaflet Instructions

The following text is reproduced without permission from the How To Play (Now Twice A Week) The UK National Lottery leaflet that was made available at National Lottery retailers from Thursday 30th January 1997.

Playing The National Lottery

Choose Your Numbers
The National Lottery playslip has a number of boxes on it. These boxes are called "boards". You select your six numbers by marking them on a board. If you want to pick another six numbers, use another board. If you'd like the terminal to choose your numbers at random, mark the "Lucky Dip" box on your playslip or simply ask the retailer for a "Lucky Dip".
(Note: You should not select a set of numbers and mark the "Lucky Dip" box on the same board.)
Choose The Draw
Choose which draw you wish to enter by marking the appropriate "Which Draw ?" box on the new playslip - "Both", "Wed" or "Sat".
Ticking the "both" box makes things easier for you if you want to enter the same set of numbers for both draws. Your selection of six numbers will be automatically entered in the next Saturday and Wednesday draws, with just one playslip.
Choose The Numbers Of Week To Play
On every playslip, you'll see a section called "No. of Weeks" which lets you use the same set of numbers for up to eight weeks, starting with the next selected draw.
Here's an example of how it works. Let's suppose that you indicate in the "No. of Weeks" box that you'd like to play for the next three weeks. At the same time, you indicate that you'd like to play on Wednesdays only. When you give your playslip to the retailer, he or she will give you a ticket that will enter you into every Wednesday draw for the next three weeks. It's that simple. Here's another example. Let's say you indicate "7" in the "No. of Weeks" box and that you'd like to play in both the Saturday and the Wednesday draws. Your ticket will then be valid every Wednesday and Saturday for the next seven weeks - that's a total of 14 draws.
(Remember: every time you fill in the playslip, you must indicate which draws you wish to enter.)
Get Your Ticket
When you've paid, the retailer will enter your selections into the terminal and give you a National Lottery ticket. It will have your chosen numbers (including any Lucky Dip selections) and the draw date(s) printed on it. You must check that the numbers you have selected, the days you wish to play, the number of weeks and the draw date(s) are correct, that the barcoded serial number is clearly readable and that the "void" box on your ticket has not been marked. Then write your name and address on the back. Keep your ticket safe, you'll need it to check off your numbers in the draw. Don't lose it ! You'll need it to claim your prize, as it is the only proof that you are a winner.
Look Out For The Winning Numbers
If six numbers on one of your printed selections match the six main numbers that are drawn - in any order - you are a jackpot winner. You also win a prize by matching five, four or even three out of the six. There will also be a seventh "bonus number" drawn. If you already have five matching numbers, look out for it. The bonus number gives you the chance to win the second highest prize.
As well as the televised draw, you'll find the winning numbers in national newspapers and clearly displayed in all National Lottery retailers. The winning numbers for previous draws can also be obtained by calling The National Lottery Line on 0645 100000 (calls normally charged at the local rate) or on the Internet:
URL: "http://www.national-lottery.co.uk/".

It Could Be You

The more numbers you match, the more money you can win. Below, you'll see how the prize money will be shared out and what the odds are of winning at each level. It is estimated that there will be around a million winners every week.

Winning Selections                    Odds          Your Estimated Prize ^*
Jackpot, Match 6 main numbers      1 in 13,983,816       £2,000,000
Match 5 main numbers + the bonus   1 in 2,330,636          £100,000
Match 5 main numbers               1 in 55,492               £1,500
Match 4 main numbers               1 in 1,033                   £62
Match 3 main numbers               1 in 57                      £10
The overall odds of winning a prize are 1 in 54

^* Subject to the Rules for On-line Games and the National Lottery Games Procedures (as amended from time to time). In the event of any discrepancy between this leaflet and the Games Rules and Procedures (as amended from time to time), the Games Rules and Procedures apply.

It's worth remembering that the exact value of prizes depends on how many tickets are sold and how many people match the same quantity of numbers as you. For example, if two or more people match the six main numbers drawn, then the jackpot is split between them.

Match 3 prizes will always be £10 except in the extremely unlikely event that the prize fund (45% of the draw sales) is insufficient to give all winners £10 each. If it is, then the whole of the prize fund is shared equally by all prize winners.

Multi-Draw

This allows you to use the same numbers (including any Lucky Dip selections) each draw, for up to eight weeks. On the playslip, you will find a column marked "No. of Weeks". Mark the number of weeks you want your numbers to be entered into. You must pay for your required number of weeks in advance.

Roll-Overs

If no-one has chosen the six main numbers drawn, no-one wins the jackpot prize and it is rolled over to the next draw e.g. if nobody wins a Saturday draw, the jackpot rolls over to the following Wednesday. If nobody wins a Wednesday draw, the jackpot rolls over to the following Saturday. If the jackpot is not won after four consecutive draws, the final jackpot fund will be shared out between the players who have matched five of the six main numbers plus the bonus number, in the fourth draw.

Claiming Your Prize

If your prize is up to £75, you can claim it in cash from any National Lottery retailer. All you've got to do is give them your winning ticket to validate through their Lottery terminal. The terminal will then produce a validation slip which will show the value of your prize. Check this against the amount paid out and return it to the retailer. At their discretion, all retailers can pay prizes up to £200 in cash.

Some National Lottery retailers are authorised to pay prizes of up to £500. National Lottery Post Offices will pay out prizes of up to £10,000, though prizes over £500 will be paid by cheque. Anything above £10,000 must be claimed in person from a National Lottery Regional Centre and will be paid by cheque (no cash is held on these premises).

If you match all six main numbers, or five plus the bonus number, please call The National Lottery Line immediately for assistance in claiming your prize. Ring 0645 100 000 (calls normally charged at local rate in the UK).

To claim any prize above £500, you will have to complete a Claim Form and give proof of your identity. If you are claiming a large prize, additional checks on your winning ticket may be conducted. All National Lottery prizes must be claimed by 11.00pm, 180 days after the winning draw. You can also claim your winnings by post. Send your winning ticket and the completed Claim Form to this address:

The National Lottery,
Accounts Dept.,
P.O. Box 287,
Watford WD1 8TT

Remember, The National Lottery accepts no responsibility for tickets lost in the post.

Publicity

If you are a winner, The National Lottery will only reveal your identity if you give written consent to publicity. It's important if you have won a major prize to telephone The National Lottery Line immediately and certainly before you tell anyone else, so that we can advise you of your publicity options.

Fun For You, Funds For Good Causes

Don't forget, every time you play The National Lottery, you help a good cause. Around 28% of The National Lottery proceeds will, over the period of Camelot's operating licence, go to the five Good Causes - The Sports Councils, The Arts Councils, The National Lottery Charities Board, The National Heritage Memorial Fund and The Millennium Commission which has been set up to celebrate the advent of the year 2000.

If you have any questions or complaints about The National Lottery, ask your National Lottery retailer or phone The National Lottery Line on 0645 100 000 (calls normally charged at the local rate in the UK). Or you can write to this address:

The National Lottery,
P.O. Box 1010,
Liverpool. L70 1NL

For the hard of hearing, please call Minicom on 0645 100 045.

Now you know how, there's nothing to stop you playing. Remember, the next jackpot winner could be you.

Things To Remember

You must be 16 years old or over to play The National Lottery or claim a prize.
You must have purchased your National Lottery ticket by 7.30pm on the day of the relevant draw to take part in that draw.
Information about The National Lottery including the Player Code of Practice is available at all National Lottery retailers.
If you are unable to get to a National Lottery retailer, call The National Lottery Subscription Line on 0645 125 000 and ask for information on the subscription service (calls normally charged at the local rate in the UK).
Your National Lottery Regional Centres are located in:
Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter,
Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London,
Reigate, Sunderland and Watford.
Ask your National Lottery retailer for the full address.