TWO Powerball players are yet to claim their $50,000 prizes as the deadline quickly approaches.
The lucky lottery winners are from two popular Louisiana cities.
The first player got it right in the March 18 draw. The winning numbers were 10, 17, 20, 39, 44 and the Powerball was 16.
The winner purchased their ticket at Brothers Food Mart in Metairie.
Another player won $50,000 in the April 6 drawing just 13 minutes away at the Lakeview Discount store in New Orleans.
The numbers for this draw were 22, 27, 44, 52, 69 and the Powerball was 9.
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The Metairie winner has until September 14th to claim their prize, while the New Orleans player has until October 3rd.
If players are unable to receive the money before the deadline, it will be transferred to the lottery’s unclaimed prize fund.
The fund returns that money to other players through larger payouts on instant-win tickets, second-chance drawings and other games.
Two other $50,000 Powerball prizes are also up for grabs in Louisiana, but the deadline to claim is not until 2025.
One prize comes from the July 13th Powerball drawing and the other from the July 29th.
The deadlines for complaints are January 9th and January 25th, respectively.
LAST MINUTE LUCK
It may be difficult to imagine winning the lottery and not immediately rushing to claim the money, but it happens all too often.
An anonymous Powerball winner received his prize through an administrator three weeks before it expired.
Trustee Elizabeth Caruso accepted the $1 million prize at the Massachusetts State Lottery headquarters in Dorchester, the Fox affiliate reported WFXT.
The winner purchased their ticket on August 21, 2023, at a Metro Mini Mart on Main Street in Watertown, about 10 miles from Boston.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annual fee?
Players who win big on lottery tickets often have a choice to make: lump sum or annual fee?
Both payment methods can affect how much money you receive from your prize.
Annuities are paid slowly in increments, usually over 30 years.
Lump sums are paid all at once, but in smaller amounts since taxes are withheld all at once. This means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam immediately. Many states also tax earnings.
Annuities can give winners time to establish the financial infrastructure necessary to receive a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the advantage of being taxed only once.
It’s also worth considering inflation when making a choice, as payments don’t adjust to the value of a dollar. This means you will likely receive less valuable money at the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays 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 differing opinions on the possibility of take the fixed amount or take the annual fee.
The store will receive a $10,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket under state lottery rules.
In nearby Salem, resident Francisca Uceta De Placencio won a $1 million prize in the $4,000,000 Monopoly Doubler ticket game.
She chose to receive her prize in one lump sum, leaving her with $650,000 before taxes.
In Massachusetts, both Powerball and Mega Millions saw a nearly 4% increase in total sales last year.
The state had a record $848.3 million in lottery ticket sales.
Another winner got a number wrong but still took home the $1 million prize thanks to a Powerball rule.
Two Powerball tickets worth $1.05 million remain unclaimed in Arizona.
Responsible gaming
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible player is someone who:
- Set time and monetary limits before playing
- Only games with money they can lose
- Never chase your losses
- Don’t play if you are upset, irritated or depressed
- National Problem Gaming Council – https://www.ncpgambling.org/
- Game 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
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
