Anonymous Powerball winner still holding on to unclaimed $50k ticket – and the slip was bought at gas station 

POWERBALL players have been urged to check their numbers as a $50,000 prize still has not been claimed.

Lotto bosses in Louisiana have warned the gambler only has weeks to come forward or they will lose the chance to claim the money.

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A Powerball prize worth $50,000 remains up for grabs[/caption]

The slip dates back to the July 13 draw and was bought by a player at a Racetrac gas station in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as reported by the NBC affiliate WVLA-TV.

They came agonizingly close to winning the jackpot – matching four numbers and the Powerball.

But the gambler must come forward by January 9.

And lotto chiefs have shared tips for the gambler before they come forward.

“The ticket should be treated as cash,” Rose Hudson, the Louisiana lottery president, warned.

She encouraged the player to sign the back of their slip.

The player defied the odds of one in around 913,129 to win the $50,000 prize.

The overall odds of winning any prize on the game of chance are one in 24.87.

Prizes on the game of luck range from $4 to the jackpot.

But gamblers must defy the odds of one in around 292.2 million if they want to win the top prize.

And that is what a ticket holder in New York managed to achieve last weekend.

One player bought a ticket from a Queens Asian supermarket and hit the $256 million jackpot.

It was the ninth time that a Powerball jackpot had been won.

The jackpot winner will face a choice on their hands.

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.

They can either claim their prize as a lump sum or receive checks in annual installments, known as the annuity.

The $256 million pot has an estimated cash value of $123.5 million, meaning more than $100 million will be wiped.

And that amount is before taxes.

Lotto players who win over $5,000 must pay a 24% federal tax on their winnings.

New Yorkers will have to pay a state tax rate of 10.9% on their winnings.

But there were no consecutive jackpot wins.

The jackpot was reset, and no player scooped the $30 million pot.

It had a cash value of around $14.5 million.

The next Powerball draw takes place on Wednesday.

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.

• 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.