Powerball warning as $50,000 prize remains unclaimed – and ticket was bought at convenience store

A LUCKY lottery player won $50,000 after purchasing a Powerball ticket at a convenience store.

The winner, however, has yet to come forward and lottery officials have urged players to check their tickets.

The ticket was sold at a Crosby's Convenience Store in Jamestown, New York, about five hours from Albany, the Buffalo News reported.

This winning ticket was purchased for the September 9 drawing.

Powerball players have up to one year to come forward and claim their winnings from the date of drawing.

When purchasing a Powerball ticket, players must select five numbers between 1 and 69.

They must also pick one Powerball between 1 and 26.

Powerball drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.

Tickets cost just $2 and players have the option to add Power Play to their ticket for an additional $1.

If a player is lucky enough to win a non-jackpot prize with Power Play, their winnings will be multiplied by 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10.

The next Powerball drawing is on September 14 and the estimated total of the jackpot is a whopping $152 million.

The jackpot was previously won last month on August 19.

A lucky California player managed to bag the huge sum of $44 million.

They purchased the ticket at a Ralphs grocery store in Dana Point, around 50 miles south of Los Angeles.

But despite this individual's luck, they faced a difficult decision when deciding whether to claim their winnings through annuity payments or as a lump sum.

LOTTO SEARCH

Meanwhile, a lottery ticket purchased in Iowa won $1 million in the August 5 drawing but the player has yet to come forward.

The unknown winner has 180 days to claim their prize money.

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.

So they have until February 3, 2025 to pick up this large sum.

And another player who won a whopping $7.8 million has also yet to claim their winnings.

They purchased the ticket at a grocery store in Arizona earlier this month.

A third Powerball prize has gone unclaimed in Texas after a ticket purchased for the August 23 drawing won $1 million.

The player has until February 19, 2025 to collect their winnings, but officials have urged Americans to check their tickets as soon as possible.

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.