AN anonymous lottery player has won a whopping $1 million – but hasn’t yet claimed their prize.
The Mega Millions winner purchased their ticket at a Check Cash Depot in Brooklyn Park, Maryland on Tuesday, October 15.
But lottery officials confirmed on October 16 that the prize was still unclaimed.
The winning numbers that catapulted the player to millionaire status – assuming they claim the money in time – were 22-34-44-54-62 with a Mega Ball of 03 and a Megaplier of 3X.
The winner has 182 days from the date of the draw to claim their prize.
LUCKY LOTTO
They weren’t the only one to enjoy a stroke of lottery luck in the Mega Millions draw on Tuesday.
Another player picked up a ticket worth $10,000 from the store Briggs Chanel Deli in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Lottery officials confirmed that this prize had also not been claimed yet.
There were no jackpot winners for the Mega Millions draw, meaning the prize for next week’s draw leaps up to $185 million with an estimated cash option of $88.4 million.
The news comes as Powerball players were urged to check their numbers after a ticket worth $2 million remained unclaimed.
The ticket was purchased on October 12 at a fuel station in Windsor, Connecticut.
The same day, a lucky Powerball player scooped up a life-changing $1 million prize – with officials again urging the winner to come forward.
And in an even bigger lottery victory, a ticket worth $4 million was recently bought at a grocery store in Delaware.
MEGA CHANGES
Mega Millions has recently announced it will more than double the price of tickets next year as part of an overhaul.
Tickets will increase from $2 to $5 starting in April 2025, lottery organizers announced.
The increase will mark the second price adjustment since the lottery game launched in 2002.
Breakeven prices are also set to be scrapped in the spring.
Mega Millions said the overhauled game will result in jackpots that start larger, grow faster and are bigger more frequently, as well as better odds of winning the jackpot.
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.
Joshua Johnston, lead director of the Mega Millions Consortium said: “We are creating a game that both our existing players and people new to Mega Millions will love and get excited about playing.
“We expect more billion-dollar jackpots than ever before, meaning creating more billionaires and many more millionaires as the jackpots climb, plus this game will continue the important legacy of supporting great causes everywhere Mega Millions is played.”
WINNING BIG
An expert recently told the Sun his top tips for winning big in the lottery.
Ashok Singh, a Professor of Mathematics at the University of Nevada and a gaming statistician, urged players to simply purchase as many tickets as they could afford.
A higher number of tickets increases the likelihood of choosing the right combination of numbers.
However, Ashok warned lottery hopefuls that the sheer volume of different numerical combinations still makes a win very unlikely.
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
If you or someone you know is struggling with gambling addiction, call the National Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700 or visit the National Council on Problem Gambling online.
