National Lottery Ends Tonight: Last Chance to Buy Tickets or Claim Prizes
The National Lottery will undergo significant upgrades tonight, requiring a 24-hour service interruption. This means a final opportunity for Lotto players to purchase tickets or check prizes before the temporary shutdown.
Service Downtime Details
The official National Lottery app and website will become unavailable starting at 11 PM on Saturday, January 24, and will remain offline until Sunday evening. Players are encouraged to log in and complete their transactions before the outage.
- Outage Start Time: 11 PM, January 24
- Expected End Time: End of January 25
- Retail Purchases: Tickets can still be bought at various retailers nationwide.
Draws and Results Availability
Despite the online service disruption, Lotto and Thunderball draws will occur as scheduled at 8 PM tonight. Lottery results and prize details will remain accessible through YouTube and a network of 43,500 retail locations.
Changes Coming After the Upgrade
Allwyn, the operator, indicated that new features will enhance user experience post-upgrade. Some of the expected changes include:
- A revamped payment screen.
- Simplified processes for checking results, playing games, and claiming prizes.
- Introduction of mandatory deposit and spending limits for new players.
- Automatic logouts after 60 minutes of inactivity, with a 10-minute timeout period.
- Regular “reality checks” every 20 minutes.
These enhancements aim to provide a more player-focused approach, ensuring easier navigation and engagement with the National Lottery services.
Official Statements on the Upgrade
Andria Vidler, chief executive of Allwyn, emphasized that the upgrades are an essential step towards improving the overall experience for players. The changes are designed to introduce new games, increase the number of winners, and enhance support for good causes.
In July 2025, the National Lottery had a similar pause in service for approximately 36 hours to facilitate a major technology upgrade, marking a significant milestone in the lottery’s history.
Players have limited time left to participate before the National Lottery service goes offline. Be sure to buy tickets or check your existing ones before the upgrade starts.
