National Lottery to shut down TONIGHT with just hours left to buy tickets or claim prizes – check exact time
THE National Lottery will go offline for 24 hours beginning tonight as a major upgrade is made.
Lotto players have just hours left to use the website and app before they pause while work is carried out.
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The UK National Lottery website and app will be out of service for a 24 hour period from tonight (stock image)
The national-lottery.co.uk site, as well as the iOS and Android apps, will be out of service between 11pm on Saturday, 24 January until the end of Sunday.
Online and app users have hours left to log in and play online, with the Lotto and Thunderball draws taking place as usual from 8pm tonight.
Players will still be able to buy tickets at retailers nationwide while the website and app are offline until tomorrow night.
Meanwhile, results and prize breakdowns will still be available on YouTube and at The National Lottery’s 43,500 retail outlets.
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And winnings on retail-bought tickets of up to £500 will be able to be claimed in-store as usual.
Operator Allwyn said players would notice “a few” changes when the website and apps go back online, including a new payment screen.
The process of checking results, playing games, and claiming prizes will be made “even simpler”, with videos and FAQs on key changes available to guide players.
App users with auto-updates enabled will receive the new version automatically, while others will be prompted to update the app.
Allwyn is also introducing mandatory personal deposit and spend limit setting for all new customers, as well as automatic logouts after 60 minutes, with a 10-minute cooling-off period, and regular 20-minute “reality checks”.
The new digital channels would offer the largest ever range of National Lottery games, improved protection tools and a refreshed look “while keeping the experience familiar for existing players”.
Allwyn chief executive Andria Vidler said: “These much-needed digital upgrades mark another milestone in our transformation to make The National Lottery more player-focused, with new games, more winners, and greater support for Good Causes.”
National Lottery sales and payouts were previously paused for around 36 hours in July 2025 to make way for the biggest technology upgrade in the game’s 31-year history.
