Posted by 
POWERBALL players have been urged to check their tickets as a $100,000 prize remains up for grabs.
Lotto bosses in Illinois have warned that there are only weeks remaining to come forward and collect the sum.
A Powerball ticket worth $100,000 has not yet been cashed in[/caption]
The slip was bought from a Huck’s store in Centralia, Illinois – located around 60 miles from St. Louis, Missouri – ahead of the draw on March 23 last year.
The prize expires in days.
In Illinois, Powerball players have one year from the draw date to claim their prize.
If unclaimed by March 23, the prize will be forfeited.
The player may need to claim the prize before March 23, as that date is a Sunday.
This is more generous than other states.
Most states give players six months to claim prizes.
Gamblers in states such as Arizona and Texas must adhere to the six-month claim rule.
If and when the $100,000 ticket holder comes forward, they will lose a significant chunk of their prize and will be powerless to do anything to stop the deductions.
Those who win more than $5,000 pay 24% in federal taxes.
Illinois winners also pay 4.95% state tax.
This is not the highest national rate.
New Yorkers must pay a whopping 10.9% in tax to the state.
New Jersey and Oregon have an 8% tax rate.
States With 6-Month Lottery Claim Windows
Some states have differing deadlines for when lottery players can claim prizes. Most allow a 180-day or one-year window before tickets expire and the money is forfeited. Below are the 180-day states:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Nebraska
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Credit: Jackpocket
However, some states offer reprieves to players.
In California and Florida, winners do not have to pay a state tax on their fortune.
Officials in Tennessee and Texas also don’t clobber players with a tax on the state level.
Players in New Hampshire, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming are not taxed at the state level.
So far this year, there has only been one Powerball winner.
The jackpot now stands at $398 million after no player on Saturday managed to win the prize.
But, one player in Texas did land a $2 million prize after matching five numbers and taking advantage of the Power Play.
One player in Massachusetts scored a $1 million prize, missing out on the jackpot by only one number.
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.
The player has a deadline before the prize expires (stock)[/caption]
