Officials urge Powerball players to check tickets as time is running out on $1m prize that was bought at grocery store

TIME is running out for one lucky lottery winner who has just weeks to claim their winnings.

The lucky Pennsylvania resident won $1 million in an October 4, 2023, Powerball drawing.

Getty

Getty

According to local ABC affiliate WHTM , the winner matched five of the five white balls drawn which included 9-35-54-63-64 but missed out on matching the red Powerball 1, to win $1 million, without taxes taken out.

The winner purchased the winning ticket at United Food Market on East Walnut Lane in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The winner has until Friday, October 4, 2024, to claim their winnings.

Pennsylvania Lottery Powerball winners have one year from the drawing date to claim prizes, according to the PA Lottery website .

Some lotteries including California , Connecticut , South Carolina , and more only allow players 90 or 180 days to claim a prize

Lottery officials urge winners to immediately sign the back of tickets bought at retailers.

To claim the prize whoever has the ticket must file a prize claim with the PA Lottery, either by mail or at a Lottery Area Office.

If the prize is not claimed it will stay in the Lottery Fund and be used to support programs benefitting older Pennsylvanians.

MORE WINNINGS UP FOR GRABS

Meanwhile, this isn’t the only prize that is expiring soon in Pennsylvania.

A Powerball with Power Play winning ticket was also purchased on October 4, 2023.

It was bought in a Rite Aid on Atwood Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

The lucky Pittsburgh resident matched four of five of the white balls drawn and the red Powerball 1 to secure a $100,000 prize , without taxes taken out.

Without the $1 Power Play option, the ticket would have been worth $50,000.

Whoever has the ticket must also file a claim for their prize by October 4, 2024.

WAYS TO WIN POWERBALL

Powerball drawings happen three times a week. There are several combinations to win money.

• Match five white balls and the Powerball for the jackpot (one in 292,201,338 odds)
• Match five white balls for $1 million (one in 11,688,053.52 odds)
• Match four white balls and the Powerball for $50,000 (one in 913,129.18 odds)
• Match four white balls for $100 (one in 36,525.17 odds)
• Match three white balls and the Powerball for $100 (one in 14,494.11 odds)
• Match three white balls for $7 (one in 579.76 odds)
• Match two white balls and the Powerball for $7 (one in 701.33 odds)
• Match one white ball and the Powerball for $4 (one in 91.98 odds)
• Match only the Powerball for $4 (one in 38.32 odds)

A third winning Powerball ticket was sold in Pennsylvania just five days later and has still gone unclaimed.

The ticket was sold during the Monday, October 9, 2023, drawing at Blose’s Market in New Tripoli, Lehigh County

The winner matched four of the five white balls drawn, 16-34-46-55-67, and the red Powerball 14 to win $150,000, without taxes taken out.

Without the Power Play, the ticket would’ve been worth $50,000.

Whoever has the ticket has until October 9, 2024, to claim their prize money .

HOW TO PLAY

Powerball tickets can be purchased for just $2.

A player must select five numbers between 1 and 69 and then choose one number between 1 and 26 for the Powerball.

The Powerball jackpot grows with each drawing until it has been won.

To win the jackpot, players must match all five white balls as well as the red Powerball.

If an individual is lucky enough to win the jackpot, they can choose to receive their winning as an annuity payment or as a lump sum.

The annuity option means the winning player will receive 30 graduated payments over 29 years.

If the winner chooses the lump-sum option, their take-home cash sum will be a lot less than the jackpot.

This is because the money will be subject to federal taxes.

The U.S. Sun has also covered Mega Millions winnings that have gone unclaimed.

A Mega Millions player may be sitting on a $1 million prize that has gone unclaimed since a July 26 drawing.

Another lucky Illinois resident who won a $1 million jackpot on the Mega Millions has yet to claim their prize.

Responsible gambling

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
• National Council on Problem Gambling – https://www.ncpgambling.org/
• Gamble Aware – www.begambleaware.org

For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or go to ncpgambling.org/chat