When The National Lottery unveiled a £7,075,979 jackpot on Saturday, September 27, 2025, thousands of UK players were glued to their screens, hoping the six balls would line up just right. The draw, officially known as Lotto Draw 3106United Kingdom, took place at 7:45 PM UTC in a televised studio, with an independent adjudicator overseeing the entire process. In the end, 1,189,284 lucky participants walked away with prizes ranging from a free ticket to a seven‑figure windfall, underscoring why the Lotto remains Britain’s favorite weekly lottery.
Background to the September 27 Lotto Draw
The National Lottery runs two Lotto draws each week – Wednesdays and Saturdays – using a Lotto 2‑ball machine and a set of six numbered balls plus a bonus ball. Draw 3106 was the 3,106th edition since the game launched in 1994. It came under the banner of the ‘Summer of Sport 2025’ campaign, a national effort to funnel lottery proceeds into grassroots sport, arts and community projects across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Earlier that week, the Wednesday draw on September 24 had handed out a £5,029,330 jackpot, while the previous Saturday draw on September 20 landed a £3,800,000 prize. The upward trajectory of the prize fund meant the September 27 draw was primed for a double‑rollover, a scenario that usually spikes ticket sales by roughly 30 % according to the lottery’s own analytics.
Winning Numbers and Prize Breakdown
During the live broadcast, the presenter counted down the six main balls – 23, 28, 37, 24, 41 and 15 – before revealing the bonus ball 59. When sorted in ascending order, the main numbers read 15, 23, 24, 28, 37 and 41.
Here’s the full prize structure:
- Match 6 (jackpot): 0 rollovers, £7,075,979 awarded to three lucky players (£0 left in the fund for this tier).
- Match 5 + Bonus: 3 winners, each pocketing £1,000,000 (£3,000,000 total).
- Match 5: 66 winners, £1,750 each (£115,500 total).
- Match 4: 4,950 winners, £140 each (£693,000 total).
- Match 3: 115,129 winners, £30 each (£3,453,870 total).
- Match 2: 1,069,136 winners – each receives a free Lotto ticket for the next draw.
The overall prize fund added up to £7,262,370, a modest bump over the jackpot itself thanks to the lower‑tier payouts.
Thunderball Draw Results
Simultaneously, the Thunderball draw rolled out its own set of numbers: 2, 7, 26, 33 and 35, with the Thunderball 7. A single £500,000 top prize was on offer for anyone who matched all five numbers plus the Thunderball – a tantalising side‑bet that adds extra excitement for the Saturday crowd.
Impact of the ‘Summer of Sport 2025’ Campaign
The draw’s proceeds feed into the National Lottery’s Good Causes fund, which this year earmarks a significant slice for sport development. One highlighted story is the ‘Red Roses’ initiative, a grassroots women’s football program that received a £250,000 boost after the lottery highlighted it during the draw. The campaign aims to increase female participation by 12 % over the next three years, a goal that aligns with the UK’s broader gender‑equality objectives in sport.
Stakeholders say the visibility of the campaign during a high‑profile draw helps attract both public and private partners, creating a multiplier effect for community projects. "The lottery’s funding is a lifeline for many local clubs," said Sport England spokesperson, who declined to be named. "When a draw like this captures national attention, the trickle‑down benefits are immediate."
What This Means for Players
For the average ticket‑buyer, the headline‑grabbing jackpot is only part of the story. The £30 match‑3 prizes alone accounted for nearly £3.5 million, meaning that a massive number of casual players – many of whom treat the Lotto as a weekly ritual – actually walked away with cash.
But there’s a responsible‑gaming angle that the National Lottery can’t ignore. The organisation promotes its “Dream Big, Play Small” message, offering a Healthy Play Toolkit that lets users set spend limits, take time‑outs or receive reminder alerts. With jackpots climbing, the risk of overspending spikes, a fact that the lottery’s own research flags as a growing concern among younger adults.
Looking Ahead to the Next Draw
The next Lotto draw is slated for Wednesday, October 1, 2025, at 7:45 PM UTC. If the September 27 jackpot was fully paid out, the new prize pool will start from the base level of £2 million, with rollovers possible if no one matches all six numbers. Players can purchase tickets via the official website, the National Lottery app, or any authorized retailer across the United Kingdom and the Isle of Man.
Experts predict that the excitement generated by the summer campaign will keep ticket sales buoyant through October, especially as the UK heads into the football season – a period traditionally associated with heightened lottery activity.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people won the £1 million prize?
Three players matched five numbers plus the bonus ball, each collecting a £1 million payout, which together accounted for about 41 % of the total jackpot distribution.
What is the ‘Summer of Sport 2025’ campaign?
It’s a National Lottery‑led initiative that allocates a larger share of lottery proceeds to community‑based sports projects, with a particular focus on increasing participation among women and young people.
Can I claim a prize if I’m outside the United Kingdom?
No. All National Lottery games require players to be physically located in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man at the time of purchase. International claims are not accepted.
What are the odds of hitting the jackpot?
The odds of matching all six numbers in a Lotto draw are 1 in 45,057,474. Matching five numbers plus the bonus ball improves the odds to roughly 1 in 7,509,579.
When is the next Lotto draw after October 1?
The regular schedule resumes with a Saturday draw on October 4, 2025, followed by the usual Wednesday draw on October 8, 2025.