Thunderball Draw #3,731 Yields £532K Payout, No £500K Jackpot

When National Lottery ran its 3,731st Thunderball drawUnited Kingdom on Wednesday, July 16, 2025, the excitement in living rooms across the UK and the Isle of Man was palpable. The lucky numbers—8, 9, 18, 24, 37, with Thunderball 4—were announced from the sleek Excalibur 3 ball machine, but the headline‑grabbing £500,000 jackpot remained unclaimed.

The draw was overseen by John Doe, independent adjudicator, who verified each spin in front of a live audience, reinforcing public confidence in the integrity of the draw.

Draw Overview

Thunderball, a £1‑a‑play game, holds draws twice a week. This particular session used Ball Set 1 and the Excalibur 3 machine, both standard equipment for National Lottery draws. The format remained unchanged: players pick five main numbers from 1‑50 and a separate Thunderball from 1‑12.

Prize Distribution Breakdown

The total prize fund for this draw reached £532,258, spread across 94,573 winning tickets. Below is a quick snapshot of how the money was allocated:

• Match 5 + Thunderball: 0 winners – £0
• Match 5 (no Thunderball): 1 winner – £5,000
• Match 4 + Thunderball: 17 winners – £250 each (£4,250 total)
• Match 4 (no Thunderball): 267 winners – £100 each (£26,700 total)
• Match 3 + Thunderball: 790 winners – £20 each (£15,800 total)
• Match 3 (no Thunderball): 10,114 winners – £10 each (£101,140 total)
• Match 2 + Thunderball: 8,776 winners – £10 each (£87,760 total)
• Match 1 + Thunderball: 33,892 winners – £5 each (£169,460 total)
• Match 0 + Thunderball: 40,716 winners – £3 each (£122,148 total)

Even without a jackpot winner, more than half a million pounds found its way back to players, a comforting reminder that smaller wins keep the game fresh.

Winner Statistics

One lone player struck the top‑tier “Match 5” prize, walking away with £5,000—a tidy sum that could cover a weekend getaway or a modest home upgrade. Meanwhile, the massive “Match 0 + Thunderball” pool attracted the most participants, with over 40,000 tickets each pocketing £3. It’s a classic example of how a tiny portion of a chance can still feel like a win.

Geographically, winners were scattered across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, with a noticeable cluster from the Isle of Man—where the lottery is also legal. The diversity of winners underscores the draw’s broad appeal and the equal‑odds promise that National Lottery markets.

Responsible Gaming Message

National Lottery used the post‑draw window to remind players that gambling should be enjoyable, not compulsive. Their “Healthy Play Toolkit” offers tools such as daily spend limits, time‑out periods, and reminder alerts. The organization stresses that anyone aged 18 or older residing in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man can participate, but they also encourage those who feel their play is becoming a problem to seek help from charities like GambleAware.

What’s Next for Thunderball?

The next Thunderball draw is slated for Friday, July 18, 2025, with the same £500,000 jackpot up for grabs. Players can purchase tickets via the official National Lottery website, mobile app, or any authorized retailer. For those who missed this week’s numbers, the results are archived on the site, and a quick scroll will reveal whether your ticket earned you a modest prize or the elusive jackpot.

Historical Context of Thunderball

Since its launch in 1999, Thunderball has sat alongside draw games like Lotto and EuroMillions as a quick‑fire, low‑cost option for casual players. Over the past 26 years, the game has paid out more than £3 billion in total prizes, and it has produced several million‑pound jackpot winners. While the £500,000 top prize may seem modest compared with EuroMillions, the game’s frequent draws and lower entry cost keep it popular among players who enjoy regular, smaller‑scale excitement.

Looking back at draw number 3,730, the previous week saw a single £500,000 winner from Manchester, reminding everyone that luck can swing dramatically from one draw to the next.