Posted by 
TWO Powerball players won prizes over Labor Day Weekend but have yet to claim them.
Maybe the lottery players partied too hard over the holiday weekend and forgot their prizes.
Two lottery players in Arkansas have yet to claim their Powerball prizes[/caption]
Powerball deadlines vary from state to state[/caption]
Both Arkansas winners paid an extra $1 for the Power Play feature, which multiplies prizes by two, three, four, five, or ten times.
The first player bought their lottery ticket at a Kum & Go gas station in Jonesboro, about two hours north of Little Rock.
They matched their numbers from the August 31 drawing, which were 4, 34, 35, 38, and 69, and the Powerball was 19.
The anonymous winner matched four of the five numbers to earn $50,000, but the Power Play multiplier boosted that to $100,000.
Days later, on September 2, another player won $150,000.
Someone in Conway, just 30 minutes from Little Rock, bought the winning tickets at a Doublebees convenience store.
The winning numbers were 8, 42, 46, 48, and 53, and the Powerball was 22.
This player matched only four of five numbers, but the Power Play multiplier tripled their prize to $150,000.
Powerball is a national game, but how long people have to collect their prizes varies by state.
In Arkansas, lottery players have only 180 days to claim their cash.
MYSTERY MILLIONS
There are several other Powerball prizes up for grabs around the country, but one from California is at the top of everyone’s mind.
The $2,462,356 prize comes from a March drawing. The winning ticket was bought at a 7-Eleven in Sun Valley, just north of Los Angeles.
The winning numbers were 6, 23, 25, 34, and 51, and the Powerball was 3.
Carolyn Becker, deputy director of public affairs and communications for the California Lottery, exclusively told The U.S. Sun that no claims have been filed to collect the cash.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?
Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?
The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.
Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.
Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.
Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.
Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you’ll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity.
“The person with it has until Sept 19 to come forward,” she said.
Time is running out for a Pennsylvania player to collect their $1 million Powerball prize from last year.
Last year, on October 4, someone in the state bought the winning ticket at the United Food Market in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania gives lottery players a full year to collect their prize, meaning this one expires in less than a month.
A Powerball player recently came forward to collect their massive $10 million prize but lost $3.5 million instantly.
See the $1 million Mega Millions prize that’s up for grabs.
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry, or depressed
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling online.
