Overview

• In 2023, Dean Smethurst scanned his National Lottery ticket at a Tesco in Farnworth during a draw break and received a generic slip indicating a large prize.
• The validation message, printed during a live draw, led Smethurst to believe he had won £50,000 when his actual payout was just £6.
• Smethurst had planned to use the perceived winnings on his house renovations and a family holiday to Barbados before learning of the mistake.
• Allwyn took over the National Lottery in early 2025 and now offers draw results via its website, official app, the BBC Red Button and other channels.
• The new procedures aim to prevent similar misunderstandings by clearly distinguishing automated draw-break messages from confirmed high-tier prizes.