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THE clock is ticking for a lucky lottery player who has scooped a whopping $250,000 in a Powerball lotto game.
Purchased at a popular retailer in Michigan, the Powerball ticket is waiting to be claimed.
Powerball players have been urged to check their tickets[/caption]
The ticket was bought from the popular supermarket Kroger on March 11, 2024.
Lotto bosses have urged players to check 1-3-7-16-66.
The lucky player was able to match four white balls and the Powerball.
But the clock is ticking as the prize is set to expire on March 11, 2025.
Meanwhile, another player has scooped a $150,000 prize – but is yet to claim the money.
Pennsylvania lotto chiefs revealed the ticket was bought at a Weis Markets store in Montgomery Borough – around 170 miles from Philadelphia – before the draw on December 11, 2023.
The prize must be claimed by December 11, 2024, per the ABC affiliate WHTM-TV.
The ticket holder matched four numbers and the Powerball.
They would’ve normally won $50,000 but forked out an extra dollar on the Power Play.
Their prize tripled to $150,000 as the Power Play multiplier was three.
Lotto bosses have warned the ticket holder to submit a claim form by the deadline.
They have urged them to sign the back of the slip.
Gamblers have odds of around one in 25 when it comes to winning a prize.
Playing the game of chance costs just two dollars, and prizes range from $4 to the jackpot.
To scoop the top prize, gamblers must defy the odds of one in around 292.2 million.
The jackpot wasn’t won on Monday, meaning it has rolled over to an estimated $113 million.
If the prize is won, they face a choice on how to receive it.
Jackpot winners can either receive their prize as a lump sum, or in the form of staggered payments known as the annuity.
The annuity is issued as 30 graduated payments over 29 years.
How a jackpot winner receives their prize has sparked debate among lottery lawyers and financial experts.
Legal expert Andrew Stoltmann previously told The U.S. Sun claimed around 90% of winners choose the lump sum option.
He claimed it was one of the first mistakes lotto winners make.
Stoltmann also revealed that gamblers who win such a large fortune don’t know how to handle their newfound wealth.
Meanwhile, financial adviser Robert Pagliarini alluded to the risks of taking the lump sum.
“If you take the lump sum, you have to realize that if you start making mistakes, or bad investments, there’s no do-over,” he told The U.S. Sun.
And Jared James, the mastermind behind the lotto algorithm Lotto Edge, said players might be wise to take the annuity option.
Top lottery winners in the US
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
- Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
- Unknown winner – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Unknown winner – he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown winner – $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Yanira Alvarez – $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
- Wolverine FLL Lottery Club – $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan.
- Unknown winner – $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.
Responsible gambling
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
- National Council on Problem Gambling – https://www.ncpgambling.org/
- Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org
