Ayrshire family left 'devastated' after daughter throws out winning lottery ticket

A Kilmarnock family lost out on a £1,750 Lottery prize after their seven-year-old daughter threw away the winning ticket.

An Ayrshire family has been left devastated after their seven-year-old daughter accidentally threw away a winning lottery ticket.

The Hayes family from Kilmarnock had bought a Lotto ticket from their local shop ahead of the draw on Wednesday, April 9, and "couldn't believe their luck" when they checked the results the following day.

Joy quickly turned to heartbreak however when dad Mark, 41, and mum Laura, 38, couldn't find the ticket after turning the house upside down.

Matching five of the six main numbers would have meant a prize of £1,750. But the ticket, which had been left on the kitchen counter, had been thrown out by their seven-year-old daughter Isla during a tidy-up.

Unfortunately for the family, it was bin day and their rubbish had already been uplifted leaving them with no chance of recovering the lost ticket.

A gutted Laura said: “It was such a shock - we were just staring at the screen.

“We’d matched five numbers. We were jumping up and down. Then we went to get the ticket and it was gone.”

They contacted the lottery operator, who confirmed that without the physical ticket or a photo proving ownership the prize could not be paid.

The mother added: “It’s such a gut-punch. It would have helped massively with bills and day-to-day stuff. But we’ve learned the hard way.”

Laura and Mark live with their two children, Ethan, 11, and Isla, seven.

Mark said: “She meant well. She’d been helping clear the kitchen and was so pleased with herself. Then we realised she’d binned the ticket, and the bin had already been taken.”

Play Casino, who reached out after hearing about the family's situation, contacted them to offer support and conducted an exclusive interview to help raise awareness of how easily a moment of carelessness can turn into financial heartbreak.

Pointing out three ways to avoid something similar happening, they said: “Take a photo immediately. As soon as you buy the ticket, take a photo of both sides. This creates a vital digital backup in case it goes missing.

“Keep it in a safe spot. Have a dedicated drawer, folder or wallet where all lottery tickets are stored well away from general household clutter.

“Don’t delay checking or claiming. The longer the ticket sits unused, the greater the risk of it getting lost. Check promptly and claim quickly.”

A spokesperson added: “When we heard about this family’s story, we reached out straight away and conducted the interview because it's the kind of heartbreaking situation that could happen to anyone.

“£1,750 is a significant loss - especially when it comes down to something so innocent. We’re urging all players: treat your ticket like it’s already won. Take a photo, store it safely, and don’t wait around to check it. It could save you thousands.”

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