Imagine finding a ticket with the winning numbers. A life without work, endless vacations, and fulfilled dreams would all be within reach. Yet, for an unknown Slovak, this dream has vanished.
In 2018, a lucky individual who could have claimed a 5.3 million € jackpot in the LOTO game did not come forward within the designated period, and their prize was irretrievably forfeited. This is the highest amount ever to remain unclaimed in Slovakia.
The LOTO jackpot winner had only 35 days to collect their life-changing prize of €5.3 million. Despite having sufficient time, no one appeared within the deadline, making this amount the largest forfeited prize in the history of Tipos.
The reasons for the forfeiture remain a mystery. Perhaps the lucky ticket holder lost the ticket, forgot about it, or even failed to check it. Tragically, they could have also died, with the news of their win never reaching them. We do not know the truth and can only speculate.
It is not uncommon for winners to fail to claim their prizes.
“Every year, smaller prizes also go unclaimed by winners within the designated period. During the pandemic, this period was extended to 60 days,” stated Jana Pohorelská, spokesperson for Tipos, in an interview with tvnoviny.sk.
Lotteries are very popular in Slovakia. Several times a year, the list of Slovak millionaires grows thanks to the lottery. This occurred again in early March this year when a Slovak won 4.8 million €, having spent just 2.50 € on their ticket. The winner was a man from the Košice region. According to tvnoviny.sk, this was the fifth highest win in the history of the LOTO game.
