Thunderball Draw No. 3731: 94,573 Winners Share £532,258

• by Ryder Whitlock
• Oct 12, 2025
• 0 Comments

Thunderball Draw No. 3731: 94,573 Winners Share £532,258

When The National Lottery swung its Excalibur 3 machine on Wednesday night, the result was a flood of modest fortunes and a reminder that the big jackpot can stay out of reach. The Thunderball Draw No. 3731 kicked off at 23:17 UTC from London, delivering the six winning numbers 8, 9, 18, 24, 37 and Thunderball 4. In total, 94,573 tickets walked away with a slice of the £532,258 prize pool – but the £500,000 top prize remained unclaimed.

What happened: numbers, winners and the prize breakdown

The draw used Ball Set 1 and the Excalibur 3 machine, a set‑up verified by an Independent adjudicator who oversaw the live feed on the National Lottery’s YouTube channel. The live announcer read the numbers in two orders – first as they fell ("eight, twenty‑four, thirty‑seven, nine, eighteen, and the Thunderball is four") and then in ascending order ("eight, nine, eighteen, twenty‑four, thirty‑seven, and the Thunderball is four").

Here’s how the £532,258 was split:

• Match 5 + Thunderball – £0 (no winner)
• Match 5 – 1 winner took home £5,000
• Match 4 + Thunderball – 17 winners, £250 each (£4,250 total)
• Match 4 – 267 winners, £100 each (£26,700 total)
• Match 3 + Thunderball – 790 winners, £20 each (£15,800 total)
• Match 3 – 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)

That means roughly one in thirty‑four tickets pocketed something, a decent return for a £1 stake.

How the draw works and why fairness matters

The National Lottery runs every Thunderball draw under a strict set of Rules and Procedures. Tickets must be bought before the cut‑off – usually a few minutes before the 23:15 UTC draw – and players need to be 18 or older and physically located in the United Kingdom or the Isle of Man. After sales close, the machine is calibrated, the ball set inspected, and the independent adjudicator signs off on the integrity of the process.

"We’ve built a system that’s transparent from end‑to‑end," said Emma Hughes, spokesperson for The National Lottery. "From the moment a ticket is purchased to the instant the numbers are broadcast, every step is documented and auditable. That’s why players trust us, even when the big jackpot stays untouched."

The use of Ball Set 1 and Excalibur 3 isn’t random – the machine has a proven track record of randomisation, and the adjudicator’s presence adds a layer of independent verification that satisfies both regulators and the public.

Good cause: linking the draw to World Suicide Prevention Day

Beyond the cash, this draw carried a social message. The Good Cause story tied the evening’s results to World Suicide Prevention Day, highlighting projects aimed at helping those at risk of suicide in South Wales. The campaign, part of the lottery’s "Dream Big, Play Small" ethos, directs a slice of ticket revenue to mental‑health charities across the UK.

According to a report from the charity Samaritans, funding from National Lottery games contributed to a 7 % increase in crisis‑line staffing in the region last year. "Every pound counts," remarked Dr. Aled Morgan, director of the Welsh Suicide Prevention Programme. "When a national event like Thunderball shines a light on this issue, it not only raises money but also awareness, which can save lives."

Player reaction and market impact

Social media lit up with a mix of celebration and disappointment. One winner, posting from Manchester, wrote, "£5,000 isn’t life‑changing, but it’s a boost – I’m treating my family to a weekend out." Meanwhile, a thread on a popular gambling forum saw users lament the missed £500,000 jackpot, joking that the odds were "like finding a four‑leaf clover in a field of grass".

From a market perspective, the draw didn’t shake the overall revenue figures for the week. The National Lottery’s quarterly report, released last month, showed a modest 2.3 % rise in ticket sales compared with the same period last year, driven largely by promotional pushes for the upcoming Euro 2028 qualifiers.

Analysts at KPMG note that while big jackpots attract occasional spikes, consistent mid‑tier wins keep the player base engaged. "The data from Draw 3731 illustrates a healthy distribution of smaller prizes," said KPMG’s gambling‑sector lead, James Patel. "That’s the kind of steady return that sustains long‑term participation."

Looking ahead: next draw, responsible play and the "Dream Big, Play Small" campaign

The next Thunderball drawing is slated for Saturday, 19 July 2025, at the same time. Tickets will be on sale through the official National Lottery app, website and authorised retailers across the UK. The lottery continues to push responsible‑play tools – the HealthyPlay‑Toolkit, available at the link in the draw’s YouTube description, lets players set deposit limits, self‑exclusions and reminder alerts.

"We want players to enjoy the excitement without compromising their wellbeing," Hughes added. "That’s why the ‘Dream Big, Play Small’ slogan isn’t just marketing fluff – it’s a commitment to keep the hobby fun and safe."