LOTTERY bosses are urging a lucky Powerball winner to step forward and collect their whopping $1million prize.
The mystery player is yet to step forward – and authorities are urging all players to check their tickets so the prize doesn’t go to waste.
The winning ticket was purchased in a liquor store in Chicago[/caption]
It was drawn on July 9, and the winning ticket was purchased in Illinois.
Specifically, the player hit the jackpot after buying the slip in Youmax Food and Liquor store on 2222 W Devon Avenue, Chicago.
They have just under a year to cash in their winnings.
On the Powerball website it explains the table displaying all the previous unclaimed jackpots.
It also details what happens if the rewards are never cashed in.
The site reads: “The table above shows the major unclaimed Powerball prizes, and it has happened in the past that jackpots have not been paid out because the winners have not come forward in time.
“If a grand prize goes unclaimed, the money is returned to each participating state in line with how much they generated during that particular jackpot run.”
The site continues: “Unclaimed Powerball prizes in other categories are kept by the relevant lottery jurisdiction, and redistributed according to state rules.
“In many states, this money is used to support good causes.”
It comes as lottery bosses also called for the winner of a huge $50,000 cash prize to step forward.
The anonymous player won the huge sum in February this year – and nearly half a year on, the winner has still not been found.
The lucky ticket was purchased at a King Soopers store in Colorado.
The punter has less than a month to claim the eyewatering sum of cash.
There is also a $250,000 ticket waiting to be claimed, which could turn to dust in just a few months.
The jaw-dropping prize was won by a lucky punter after the draw earlier this month on July 7.
Their prize level is Match 4 plus Powerball – and the ticket was bought with Power Play.
Recently, The Sun US reported that a Powerball winner who scored a multi-million dollar prize had spent three decades in and out of jail.
James Shannon Farthing, 50, won Kentucky’s largest lottery jackpot, walking away with a prize of $167.3 million, just before he was arrested in Florida.
Farthing has spent 30 years living behind bars at 25 different correctional facilities, The Smoking Gun reported.
The convicted criminal won the jackpot after purchasing a $2 lottery ticket at a convenience store near his home, which he shares with his 77-year-old mother, Linda Grizzle.
Days after the big win, Farthing decided to travel to Florida with his girlfriend; however, he failed to check if the trip was okay with his parole officer.
Only one day into the vacation, Farthing allegedly got into an altercation with another guest at the TradeWinds Resort in St. Pete Beach.
During the altercation, the guest accused Farthing of punching them in the face.
When a cop tried to break the fight up, the lottery winner allegedly kicked the officer in the face.
Deputy Nicholas Areostatico wrote that Farthing “attempted to flee on foot out of the hotel.”
Areostatico, whom Farthing allegedly kicked, described facial pain and swelling under his eye.
Following the encounter, Farthing was booked for battery on a law enforcement officer, a felony, and misdemeanor counts of resisting police and battery.
A fugitive warrant was also issued for the individual, as he had violated his parole without obtaining travel permission.
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.
