Thunderball Draw Delivers Over 145,000 Winners
Saturday, May 17, 2025, brought another anticipated night for National Lottery players as both the Thunderball and Lotto draws played out under the watchful eyes of independent adjudicators. If you spent the evening clutching a ticket and hoping for good fortune, here’s what unfolded.
The Thunderball winning numbers drawn were 15, 17, 24, 28, and 32, with the Thunderball itself landing on 11. Those lucky enough to match all five numbers plus the Thunderball landed the game’s top prize of £500,000. But you didn't need the full house to see a return; the Thunderball draw handed out prizes right down to those matching just the Thunderball, worth £3.
Across all prize levels, the Thunderball draw dished out a total of £871,162 to an impressive 145,401 winners. That covers everything from the top prize to the smallest payout, underlining just how popular and far-reaching this weekly draw remains. There’s always a buzz on Saturday nights as players up and down the UK and Isle of Man check their numbers, and for many, even a smaller prize means a little boost to the weekend.
Lotto Jackpot Rolls Over Yet Again
The night’s Lotto draw may not have made any brand-new millionaires, but it sure kept hopes alive. The numbers drawn were 18, 24, 34, 35, 47, and 51, with a bonus ball of 26. The jackpot, a hefty £11,343,776, remained untouched since no ticket-holder matched all six numbers. That’s a sizable sum rolling forward, which only adds more excitement — and anticipation — for the next draw.
Lotto’s draw used the trusty Lancelot machine with ball set 7, a detail that regular players and statistics fans love to track. And while the jackpot slipped through everyone’s fingers this time, plenty of players across the UK picked up smaller prizes for matching some of the main numbers or the coveted bonus ball.
Winners aren’t just handed their prizes on a silver platter though. All players are urged to check and double-check their tickets, whether online, via the official app, or even at their local shop. The National Lottery makes it straightforward with multiple ways to verify those life-changing numbers.
You have to be over 18 and living in the UK or the Isle of Man to play either game, as the lottery enforces strict rules around age and location. There’s also a big focus on keeping play fun and under control; the National Lottery provides spending limits and reminders to help players manage how much they’re staking on every draw night.
An unclaimed jackpot always generates chatter, especially when the prize is north of £11 million. But alongside the big headlines, there’s real impact every week for hundreds of thousands of winners — from small change to life-changing lump sums.