A National Lottery ticket purchased in Hartlepool has matched a UK Millionaire Maker code from the Euromillions draw on 13 March 2026, securing a £1 million prize — but nearly five months on no claim has been made.
Deadline and next steps
The National Lottery operator has confirmed the deadline for claiming the sum is 9 September 2026, which marks 180 days from the date of the draw. If no valid claim is received by that date, the unclaimed funds will be routed into the pool of money used to support projects that benefit communities across the UK.
Lottery officials are urging anyone who played on or around the date of the draw to check their tickets carefully. A successful claimant must complete the operator's validation procedures before a payout can be made. Winners then have the option to decide whether they wish to be named publicly.
How the search for winners works
- The National Lottery may disclose the general area where an unclaimed winning ticket was bought once it has been outstanding for about two weeks.
- Exact retailer details are not released publicly, to protect the identity of the eventual claimant should they prefer anonymity.
- Claimants must follow the National Lottery’s established validation process before funds are released.
The revelation that a winning ticket was sold in Hartlepool will be of particular interest locally, as a six-figure (and in this case seven-figure) prize can have significant impact on an individual or family. The National Lottery’s approach aims to strike a balance between finding winners and protecting their privacy.
Winning codes from the 13 March draw
For reference, the 13 UK Millionaire Maker codes drawn on 13 March 2026 were:
| Code | Code | Code |
|---|---|---|
| HLDQ08867 | HLDV87527 | JKZB23069 |
| JLZC67854 | JLZG97793 | JLZK35885 |
| TLBW02597 | TLCH12618 | XKCV64479 |
| XKDB23868 | XLDS55221 | VLXX97263 |
| ZLFP22665 | ||
Anyone in Hartlepool or the surrounding area who believes they may hold a ticket bearing one of these codes should not delay checking it against their records and contacting The National Lottery to begin validation.
What residents should do now
- Locate any lottery tickets from mid-March 2026 and check the Millionaire Maker code printed on the ticket.
- If you think you have a winning code, contact The National Lottery promptly to initiate validation.
- Keep the ticket safe and intact: a valid physical ticket is required to make a claim.
With just over five weeks before the 180-day cut-off, the call from officials is straightforward: check old tickets now. If the Hartlepool winner comes forward, the payout process will begin once the ticket is validated and the claimant’s preferences on publicity are clarified.
Jack Murray
Hartlepool Civic Affairs Correspondent, InfoRadar
