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POWERBALL lotto players have been urged to check their ticket numbers as a whopping $50,000 prize still sits unclaimed.
Lotto officials have revealed the ticket was poached at a popular supermarket in Louisville.
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Bosses revealed one player bought the lucky slip on September 30 at a Kroger location on North Hubbards Lane in St. Matthews.
Kentucky Lottery officials suggest the winning combinations from the drawing were 9-11-30-43-69 and a Powerball of 20.
The winning ticket matched four white ball numbers and the Powerball and won $50,000.
Officials have urged the winner to sign at the back of the ticket and store it in a safe place.
And that the winner has 180 days to claim the prize money from the date it was purchased.
To claim the prize, one would need to visit the Kentucky Lottery’s Headquarters at 1011 W. Main St. in downtown Louisville.
They would have to call the authorities and schedule an appointment before the visit.
Winners will need to call the lottery (1-877-789-4532) beforehand to set up an appointment to claim their prize.
Lotto players are yet to win the Powerball’s jackpot, which currently sits at around $275 million.
Meanwhile, mega million players have been urged to check their numbers as a $2 million prize has not yet been claimed.
Lotto bosses revealed the ticket was bought at a gas station in Minnesota ahead of the draw on September 27.
Bosses revealed one player bought the slip at a Holiday Stationstore in Edina – around 10 miles from Minneapolis.
The player matched five numbers but fell agonizingly short of scooping the jackpot, as reported by The Minnesota Star Tribune.
But, they forked out an extra dollar on the Megaplier option.
This meant the standard $1 million prize for matching five numbers was doubled to $2 million.
The player has time on their side as they don’t have to rush to claim their prize.
Minnesota lottery bosses have warned the prize doesn’t expire for one year.
But they must take the trip to collect their new fortune to the lotto headquarters in Roseville.
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.
Lawyer John Phillips, from the Phillips & Hunt law firm in Florida, urged players not to post pictures of the winning ticket.
“Certainly do not put a photo of it and/or its bar code anywhere,” he said.
“Bragging can come after it’s claimed.”
The person who holds the $2 million ticket will be hit with at least two taxes on their winnings.
Lotto winners have to pay a rate of 24% tax on winnings above $5,000 to the Internal Revenue Service.
Winners in Minnesota have to pay a state tax of 7.25% on prizes over $5,000.
It is one of the highest state taxes in the country, but it’s not the highest rate.
Gamblers in New York have to pay a rate of 10.9% to the state but winners in California and Florida have a reprieve.
This is because winners in those two states do not have to pay a state tax on their fortune.
The Mega Millions jackpot was not won on Tuesday night meaning the prize has rolled over to $108 million.
It has a cash option of $53.8 million.
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.
