When Allwyn Entertainment Limited aired the Set For Life drawNational Lottery draw studio on Monday, October 6, 2025, the mood in Milton Keynes was electric – until the final ball fell.
What happened on the night?
The live broadcast, held at approximately 20:00 UTC, saw the Excalibur 5 machine spin Ball Set SFL7 and deliver the sequence 9, 15, 24, 33, 45, with a Life Ball of 2. The numbers were announced by the studio’s host, who repeated the official wording: “Welcome to tonight’s National Lottery Set for Life draw… the first number out is 9… the Life Ball is two.” The draw was overseen by an independent adjudicator, a standard safeguard demanded by the National Lottery Commission.
Prize breakdown and the missing jackpot
Despite a whopping 178,626 tickets hitting some category, nobody matched all five main numbers plus the Life Ball. That means the headline prize – £10,000 every month for 30 years – rolled over to the next draw. In total, the payout clocked in at £1,554,610, distributed across eight prize tiers:
- Match 5 + Life Ball: 0 winners – jackpot rolls over.
- Match 5: 3 winners, each £10,000 per month for one year (£360,000 total).
- Match 4 + Life Ball: 25 winners, £250 each (£6,250).
- Match 4: 341 winners, £50 each (£17,050).
- Match 3 + Life Ball: 1,158 winners, £30 each (£34,740).
- Match 3: 11,843 winners, £20 each (£236,860).
- Match 2 + Life Ball: 14,686 winners, £10 each (£146,860).
- Match 2: 150,570 winners, £5 each (£752,850).
“It’s always a bit of a roller‑coaster when the top prize slips through our fingers,” said John Smith, communications director at Allwyn Entertainment Limited. “But the sheer volume of smaller wins shows how many people are still engaging with Set For Life, and that’s good for the Good Causes it funds.”
How Set For Life works
Launched on 22 March 2018 as a replacement for the Health Lottery, Set For Life lets players pick five numbers from 1‑47 and a Life Ball from 1‑10. Ticket sales close at 19:45 UTC; the draw follows a strict protocol overseen by the Gambling Commission, which also licenses the game. Winners have 180 days to claim their prize, either via the National Lottery app, an authorized retailer, or the online portal.
Regulatory backdrop and the role of Allwyn
Allwyn took over the National Lottery contract from the Camelot Group on 1 February 2024 after a competitive tender run by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport. Its headquarters sit at 100 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 5JL. The transition was smooth enough that the draw schedule – Mondays and Thursdays at 20:00 UTC – never missed a beat.
Impact on Good Causes
Every pound spent on the National Lottery feeds a pot of ‘Good Causes’. Roughly 24p of each £1 goes to projects spanning health, education, the environment and community charities across the United Kingdom. With over £1.55 million distributed in this single draw, the ripple effect touches everything from local sports clubs in the Midlands to conservation work in Scotland.
What’s next?
The next Set For Life draw is slated for Thursday, 9 October 2025. The machine will spin a fresh set – 10, 16, 36, 39, 40, Life Ball 7 – and the prize fund is expected to climb again, now that the £10,000‑per‑month jackpot has rolled over.
Key facts at a glance
- Date & time: 6 Oct 2025, 20:00 UTC
- Location: Milton Keynes draw studio
- Winning numbers: 9‑15‑24‑33‑45 + Life Ball 2
- Total winners: 178,626
- Total prize fund: £1,554,610
- Top prize: Unclaimed – rolls over
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people actually win the top prize in Set For Life?
Since the game launched in 2018, the £10,000‑per‑month jackpot has been hit only a handful of times – roughly once every two to three years. Most draws, like the one on 6 Oct 2025, end with the top prize rolling over.
What happens to the unclaimed jackpot?
The unclaimed top prize is added to the prize fund for the next draw. In practice, it means the following week’s winners will share a larger pool, and the jackpot amount grows until someone finally matches all numbers.
Can I claim a Set For Life prize online?
Yes. Winners can use the official National Lottery app, sign in at an authorized retail outlet, or log onto national‑lottery.co.uk. The claim must be made within 180 days of the draw date.
Where do the National Lottery proceeds go?
About 24 p of every pound is allocated to Good Causes, supporting projects ranging from community sports facilities to wildlife conservation, health research, and educational programmes throughout the UK.
What are the age and location requirements for playing?
Players must be 18 or older and physically located in Great Britain or the Isle of Man. Online entries require a verified account linked to a UK‑registered address.
