£15 m Lotto jackpot rolls over, boosting lower‑tier prizes on Sept 13 draw

When National Lottery held its Saturday draw, the atmosphere was electric and the stakes were sky‑high. The Lotto draw number 3,102United Kingdom promised a guaranteed £15,000,000 jackpot, but no ticket matched all six main numbers. The result? A massive rolldown that sent extra cash into the hands of more than 1.4 million players, pushing the total prize pool past £20 million.

How the £15 m Lotto draw unfolded

The six winning numbers – 1, 26, 36, 49, 53, 54 – were drawn in a strict sequence, with the bonus ball (10) crowning the final mix. The draw used the Lotto 2 ball machine and ball set 2, all under the watchful eye of an independent adjudicator to guarantee fairness.

While the headline jackpot evaporated, the rolldown mechanism kicked in. That the jackpot wasn’t claimed meant the prize fund cascaded down, inflating payouts for every tier below the top prize.

Rolldown payouts boost lower‑tier winners

One fortunate player nailed five main numbers plus the bonus ball, walking away with a staggering £1,249,806 – far above the usual £1 million Match 5‑plus‑bonus prize. Forty‑eight other Match 5 winners each collected £10,423, a jump from the standard £1,750.

In the Match 4 bracket, 5,254 tickets claimed £250 each, compared with the normal £140. The Match 3 tier saw 128,276 winners pocket £85, more than double the typical £30. Even the massive Match 2 pool – 1,334,625 tickets – received a £5 cash prize plus a free ticket, instead of just the free ticket.

All together, the rolldown lifted the total prize fund to £20,640,195, a testament to how a roll‑over can turn a “no‑winner” night into a broad‑brush windfall.

Thunderball draw runs alongside

At the same time, Thunderball drawUnited Kingdom offered a £500,000 top prize for a £1 stake. The winning numbers were 1, 3, 14, 20, 26 with Thunderball 6. Like the Lotto, this draw was overseen by independent adjudicators, reinforcing the organization’s commitment to transparency.

What the money funds – Summer of Sport 2025

The draws are part of the National Lottery’s Summer of Sport 2025 campaign. Funds harvested from this and previous draws support a range of good causes, most notably women’s sport initiatives. One highlighted beneficiary is Red Roses, a collective championing greater visibility and investment in women’s athletics across the UK.

By feeding community programmes, facility upgrades, and grassroots coaching, these contributions aim to keep the momentum built by high‑profile events such as the Women’s Euro and the Commonwealth Games.

Expert take on odds and responsible play

Gambling‑behaviour researcher Dr Leah Jenkins of the University of Manchester notes that rolldowns can create a perception of “greater chance” among casual players. “When people see huge payouts across many tiers, they may assume the next draw will be equally generous,” she says. “It’s vital to keep the fun‑first mindset and use tools like the Healthy Play Toolkit.”

The National Lottery urges players to set limits, take time‑outs, or schedule reminders via its app – a built‑in safety net designed to curb problem‑gambling behaviours.

What’s next for the National Lottery?

With the £15 m jackpot rolling over, the next draw on September 20 will feature an even larger guaranteed prize, set at £20 million. That increase, announced earlier this month, reflects both the organization’s confidence in ticket sales and its commitment to funding sport and community projects.

Players can check their tickets instantly on the National Lottery app or website, and the next draw will again be conducted with an independent adjudicator to ensure integrity.