Powerball players urged to check tickets two prizes worth $1.1 million go unclaimed – both were bought at gas stations

A LUCKY lottery player has won $1 million after purchasing a ticket in a convenience store in Massachusetts.

The ticket cost only $2 but the player has yet to come forward to cash out on the hefty prize.

Google Maps

AP

The individual bought the winning ticket at a convenience store in Newton, Massachusetts – less than a half an hour’s drive from Boston.

The ticket was purchased at a Quick Stop on Saturday, August 3, and cost $2, according to MassLive .

And this was not the only fortunate lottery player in Massachusetts over the weekend.

Another player won $150,000 on Saturday from a Powerball ticket.

They bought the winning ticket at a Cumberland Farms in Fitchburg.

In Powerball, players select five numbers between 1 and 69.

They also have to choose one Powerball number between 1 and 26.

They then pick how many drawings they want to use those numbers for.

Players who are lucky enough to match all five numbers – but not the Powerball – win $1 million.

The unidentified player who won $150,000 on Saturday matched four numbers and the Powerball.

They then multiplied their winnings through the PowerPlay (3) option.

By spending just $1 extra, they tripled their winnings.

Without this option, the ticket would have been worth just $50,000.

As of Sunday, the Powerball Jackpot now stands at $174 million.

The two unknown players were not the only people to take home a cash prize.

Almost 250 prizes worth over $600 were won or claimed on Saturday in Massachusetts.

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.

OTHER WINNINGS

This is most certainly not the first time that lottery winnings have gone unclaimed.

The winner still has time – between 90 days and a year – but players should check their tickets to see if the money is theirs.

Three unidentified players in the Delaware Lottery have yet to come forward.

Two of the players won $50,000 each and the third player won a whopping $150,000.

But one of the unknown individuals bought their ticket for the September 20, 2023 drawing.

So they now have less than a month to come forward and claim their winnings.

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 .

AFP