Lottery warning to check Mega Millions tickets for $90,000 in unclaimed prizes – and they’re all from convenience stores

EIGHT Mega Millions winners from across the country have yet to claim their prizes.

Despite coming from opposite sides of the country, all the lottery winners bought their tickets at convenience stores.

Some Mega Millions winners have just a few days to collect the cash before the prize expires.

Since deadline laws vary by state, some players only have three months to claim their prize, while others have a year.

The earliest winner came from last year on October 3.

Someone in Rhode Island took home $10,000, and has until October 3 this year to claim it.

Then, on January 19, a Delaware resident won the same prize. They also have a full year to claim the cash.

A few months later, a Colorado player won $10,000 from the March 12 drawing, which expires September 8.

Then, on March 15, a player in Arizona won another $10,000. The deadline for them to collect is September 11.

A few days later, on March 26, an Iowa player earned $20,000.

They paid for the Megaplier option, which doubled what would've been a $10,000 prize. The deadline to claim the prize is September 23.

Months later, on July 26, a second Arizona winner took home $10,00.

The deadline to claim is January 22.

On August 20, a Kansas lottery player won $10,000, and has a full year to claim the cash.

Most recently, someone in Iowa won $10,000 on August 23. That player only has until February 19 to claim it.

LUCKY NUMBERS

Lottery officials are urging Mega Millions players to check their tickets as $1,016,356 remains unclaimed.

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.

The lucky Southern California resident bought the winning ticket at Pavilions Place supermarket located at 21181 Newport Coast Drive in Newport Beach.

The winning numbers were 22, 38, 48, 51, and 61, and the Megaball number was 5 with a Megaplier of 3X.

In the state, winners only have 180 days to claim their prize.

A $4 million Mega Millions winner has yet to come forward in Delaware.

One player who did collect their $1 million prize immediately lost $350,000 because of a critical rule.