National Lottery bigwig reveals key first step after bagging winning jackpot

When you win the EuroMillions lottery, a well-orchestrated process begins immediately to help you manage your life-changing windfall.

Andy Carter, who has spent 13 years as a Senior Winner’s Advisor at Camelot, shared some of the key steps winners must take on their journey to newfound wealth.

“If you were to win the EuroMillions tomorrow night, you would check the ticket, ring the number on the back of the ticket and that would put you through to a lottery line. They would then get a member of my team to call you back,” Carter told Metro.

From that moment onwards, winners are supported by a dedicated team of National Lottery ‘Winner’s Advisors’ who guide them through every step of the process.

Their role is to ensure winners can begin to enjoy their life-changing win with proper support and guidance.

After the initial contact, a Winner’s Advisor will arrange a personal visit to the winner’s home, ideally the next day.

During this crucial home visit, the advisory team conducts thorough verification checks of both the winning ticket and the winner’s identity.

“Within half an hour I can tell if someone has won the money,” Carter explained.

These meetings can be extensive, with winners often having numerous questions about their newfound fortune.

“Sometimes we get to people’s houses and we don’t even open the computer for an hour because we just sit there and answer people’s questions,” said Carter. “This could sometimes last all day.”

The verification process is thorough but efficient, designed to ensure winners can access their winnings as quickly as possible while maintaining security.

Once the winning ticket is verified, the National Lottery can process the payment that same day.

Winners must have their prize deposited into a single bank account – there’s no option for cash payments or alternative arrangements.

While winners can choose their preferred bank, a new account is typically set up with a private banking division that specialises in handling large sums.

The money takes approximately two days to clear once deposited, meaning winners usually wait around three days from discovery to accessing their windfall.

“You have to remember that plans will change over time, which is why we urge people not to do anything too quickly,” Carter advised.

The bank account can remain open as long as needed, and winners are free to move their money to other accounts once it has cleared.

“All winners are anonymous,” Carter confirmed. “This is the default position for all lottery winners.”

The decision to go public with a win is entirely personal, with no pressure from the National Lottery team.

Winners receive comprehensive support through an aftercare programme that provides access to legal and financial advice.

“Often the rule of thumb tends to be the higher the amount of money the more likely the winner will be to take publicity,” Carter noted.

For those choosing anonymity, the Winner’s Advisory team becomes their sole confidants.

“It’s often the case that when a winner decides to remain anonymous, we are the only people that know about their win so we keep in touch with them for as long as they want to,” Carter explained.

Regarding tax implications, Carter explained that while the lottery win itself is tax-free, any interest earned from the winnings will be subject to normal income tax.

Despite occasional stories of winners spending their fortune quickly, Carter insists this is extremely rare.

“The people who spend the money too quickly are a very, very small percentage,” he said.

Most winners take a conservative approach to managing their newfound wealth.

“The vast majority of winners are very conservative – they have been blessed with a huge amount of money and they want to protect it,” Carter noted.

For winners of £1million or more, the National Lottery arranges meetings with financial and legal advisors within two to three weeks of receiving their money.

These sessions provide free professional guidance on how to best manage their wealth to achieve their goals.