Winning Mega Millions ticket expires soon — but no one has claimed South Carolina prize

A Mega Millions player won a prize worth celebrating — but hasn’t claimed it yet.

Now time is running out, as the lucky lottery ticket expires in a few days , the South Carolina Education Lottery wrote in a July 24 news release.

Months ago, the player bought a Mega Millions ticket that matched all but one number picked in the Jan. 30 drawing. Since the person spent an extra dollar on the Megaplier option, the prize quadrupled from $10,000 to $40,000, according to game rules.

The winning numbers: white balls 3-5-16-58-59, with gold Megaball 11.

The ticket was sold at the Hickory Point gas station in Blacksburg , a roughly 60-mile drive northeast from Greenville. The ticket, which matched four of the white balls and the gold ball, was one number from the estimated jackpot prize of $311 million, according to drawing results and The State newspaper.

“Check your tickets,” South Carolina lottery officials wrote. “The winning ticket must be claimed at the Columbia Claims Center before 4 p.m. on Friday, July 26, or if mailed, the envelope must be postmarked by Saturday, July 27.”

The state gives Mega Millions winners about six months to cash in . But as of 2 p.m. July 24, no one had come forward, lottery spokesperson Holli Armstrong told McClatchy News in an email.

“If the prize is not claimed, the $40,000 winnings will be deposited in the Education Lottery account to support educational programs in South Carolina,” officials said.

What to know about Mega Millions

To score the jackpot in the Mega Millions , a player must match all five white balls and the gold Mega Ball.

The odds of scoring a jackpot prize are 1 in 302,575,350.

Tickets cost $2 and can be bought on the day of the drawing, but sales times vary by state.

Drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at 11 p.m. ET and can be streamed online .

Mega Millions is played in 45 states, Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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