A LOTTERY player's chance at becoming a multi-millionaire vanished overnight causing fellow players to issue a warning.
In the summer, a Powerball ticket was purchased that was worth $138 million, but the winner never came to collect the winnings.
The prize has now officially expired with the ticketholder who may not have known that they had won, now having no right to the money.
The Powerball ticket was bought at a Walmart in Huber Heights, Ohio, on July 3, 2024.
After selecting an auto-pick ticket at the Supercenter, the player's slip matched all five numbers and the Powerball number at the draw.
To win the jackpot, the player beat the odds of 1 in 292,201,338.00.
With this, they scooped $138 million or could have had the cash option of $65.5 million.
But, per Powerball and state rules, winners only have a certain amount of time to claim the prize – in this case, 180 days.
With that deadline now having passed, the money will be going into a fund used for expired prizes that help support education in the state.
The loss of the life-changing fortune has left fellow lottery players shocked.
"I could not [imagine] because I am very OCD and I can produce a receipt for a shirt that I bought like 10 years ago," one player told Nexstar's WJW.
"I would never lose such a thing.
"I could not imagine losing that, that type of money and that opportunity."
While many were left baffled at how someone could make such a mistake, one Cleveland-are player was a bit more understanding and hit out at lottery officials.
"I kinda do the same thing. My girlfriend gets angry with me. She finds old tickets," the player said.
"I think they should let it go for a little longer, and let the guy claim it."
Another player warned: "Don't forget: When you buy the tickets, look at 'em."
Such advice will come in handy tonight when the next Powerball drawing is made.
Saturday's jackpot is estimated to be $200 million with a cash value of $89.5 million.
The last Powerball jackpot was won in New York on December 7 with a prize of $256 million.
Meanwhile, two lucky lottery players started the year off right by winning millions on New Year's Day.
Also, Mega Millions players have been urged to check their tickets as they risk losing a million-dollar win.
© NEWS ENTERPRISES, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP
English 
Français