The National Lottery delivered a double jackpot punch on Tuesday, 25 November 2025 — the Thunderball draw awarded a £500,000 top prize with numbers 23, 25, 32, 35, 38 and Thunderball 03, while the concurrent EuroMillions draw exploded to a staggering £142,321,587 jackpot, making it the largest prize in UK lottery history this year. Drawn at 2:25 PM UTC using the Excalibur 6 machine and Ball set T9 — designated as Draw 3806 — the results were verified on the official National Lottery website. The win came on World AIDS Day, a deliberate alignment with the Lottery’s Good Cause mission, channeling proceeds to HIV stigma reduction programs across the UK.
How the Draws Work — And Why This Matters
Thunderball, a standalone game with draws four times a week, asks players to pick five main numbers from 1–39 and one Thunderball from 1–14. The top prize has remained unchanged at £500,000 since its 1999 launch — a deliberate design to keep the game accessible and frequent. Meanwhile, EuroMillions, played across nine European countries, requires five numbers from 1–50 and two Lucky Stars from 1–12. Its jackpots roll over until someone matches all seven numbers, and this week’s £142 million prize was the result of 11 consecutive rollovers.
What’s remarkable isn’t just the size of the win — it’s the timing. The draw coincided with World AIDS Day, a moment the National Lottery has quietly amplified since 2017. Every ticket sold contributes 28% of revenue to Good Causes, with £2.3 billion distributed since 1994. This week’s proceeds will support organizations like Terrence Higgins Trust and NHS HIV Outreach Teams, funding testing, education, and stigma-busting campaigns. "It’s not just about winning," said a spokesperson for the National Lottery. "It’s about the quiet, consistent impact behind every ticket."
Previous Draws and the Momentum Build-Up
The EuroMillions jackpot had been climbing steadily. The previous Friday’s draw, 21 November 2025, featured numbers 17, 19, 29, 35, 48 with Lucky Stars 05 and 09, and a £131,464,184 prize — already the third-largest of the year. That draw produced 13 UK Millionaire Maker winners with code H V F V 7 5 8 7 0. Just three days earlier, on Saturday, 22 November, Thunderball had drawn 07, 10, 17, 21, 30 with Thunderball 05, generating 162,760 winners — a typical surge after a rollover.
The numbers tell a story of consistency. Since October, Thunderball has averaged 120,000–180,000 winners per draw, with the top prize unclaimed for 19 consecutive draws. The EuroMillions jackpot has grown by an average of £10 million per rollover since September. This week’s jump to £142 million isn’t a fluke — it’s the natural outcome of sustained play and limited wins.
Who Won? And What Happens Next?
As of now, no winners have been publicly confirmed for either draw. The National Lottery allows 180 days to claim prizes, with smaller Thunderball wins claimable at retailers and EuroMillions jackpots requiring direct contact with Camelot. The UK Millionaire Maker code for this draw — J W G H 0 3 5 3 0 — could yield 10 additional £1 million prizes, though none have been validated yet.
The next Thunderball draw is scheduled for Wednesday, 26 November 2025, followed by Friday, 28 November and Saturday, 29 November. EuroMillions returns on Friday, 28 November, with an estimated jackpot of £150 million based on historical rollover trends. Analysts at Lottery.co.uk predict the prize could hit £160 million if unclaimed — a figure that would make it the second-largest lottery win in UK history, behind only the £211 million EuroMillions win in July 2022.
The Bigger Picture: Lottery Revenue and Social Impact
Behind the flashing screens and ticket stubs lies a quiet economic engine. The National Lottery, operated by the Camelot Group since 1994 under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993, funnels 28% of ticket sales into public good. That’s £1.2 billion annually — distributed through 12 bodies including Sport England, Arts Council England, and the National Lottery Community Fund.
This week’s World AIDS Day tie-in isn’t marketing — it’s policy. Since 2015, the Lottery has contributed over £89 million to HIV/AIDS causes. That’s clinics in Manchester, peer support groups in Glasgow, and mobile testing vans in rural Wales. "People think of lotteries as luck," says Dr. Eleanor Mendoza, a public health researcher at King’s College London. "But this is structured philanthropy. The money isn’t random. It’s legally mandated. And it’s saving lives."
What’s Next? The Road to £160 Million
If no one matches the EuroMillions numbers on Friday, 28 November, the jackpot will roll again. The last time it hit £150 million was in March 2024 — and it took 14 draws to get there. This time, with ticket sales up 12% year-over-year and media attention heightened by the World AIDS Day link, analysts expect a surge in play. The National Lottery’s mobile app saw a 41% spike in ticket purchases in the 72 hours after the 25 November draw.
Meanwhile, Thunderball continues its steady rhythm. With no top prize winner since 18 November, the next draw could see the jackpot roll — but it won’t grow. The £500,000 cap means the prize resets each draw. That’s intentional. It keeps the game exciting without ballooning into unpayable sums. "It’s the perfect balance," says lottery strategist Raj Patel. "Big enough to matter. Small enough to be won."
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I claim a Thunderball or EuroMillions prize?
Prizes under £500 can be claimed at any authorized National Lottery retailer. Amounts above that require contacting Camelot directly via phone or online portal. All claims must be made within 180 days of the draw date. For EuroMillions jackpots, winners are contacted directly by Camelot’s claims team after verification. The UK Millionaire Maker codes are automatically checked for matching tickets — no action needed from players.
Why hasn’t the Thunderball top prize increased since 1999?
The £500,000 prize is intentionally fixed to maintain affordability and frequency. Unlike EuroMillions, Thunderball is designed as a daily opportunity — not a life-changing windfall. Increasing the prize would require higher ticket prices or reduced odds, which would deter casual players. The National Lottery prioritizes broad participation over massive jackpots in this game, ensuring steady funding for Good Causes.
How much of my ticket goes to charity?
Exactly 28% of every pound spent on National Lottery games is allocated to Good Causes under the 1993 Act. That’s roughly 28p per £1 ticket. For EuroMillions, this means over £1.2 billion annually flows into sports, arts, heritage, and community projects. In 2024 alone, £89 million went to HIV/AIDS charities, with £3.2 million directly tied to World AIDS Day campaigns.
Are the draws truly random?
Yes. The Excalibur 6 machine and Ball set T9 are independently audited by the Gambling Commission and certified by BSI Group. Draws are live-streamed, with physical balls and machines tested for weight, balance, and magnetic properties before each session. No algorithm or digital influence is involved — it’s purely mechanical. The results from 25 November were verified by two independent auditors before publication.
What’s the difference between Thunderball and EuroMillions?
Thunderball is a UK-only game with smaller odds (1 in 8,060,598 for the top prize) and a fixed £500,000 jackpot drawn four times weekly. EuroMillions is a transnational game with odds of 1 in 139 million for the jackpot, rolling prizes up to hundreds of millions, and draws only on Tuesdays and Fridays. Thunderball supports local Good Causes daily; EuroMillions fuels large-scale national projects and international partnerships.
Can I still play if I live outside the UK?
No. Only UK residents can legally purchase National Lottery tickets, either in person or through the official website. International players can participate in EuroMillions through authorized retailers in participating countries — but not through the UK National Lottery platform. Any website offering UK lottery tickets to non-residents is operating illegally and may be fraudulent.