What would you do if you won a $77 million lottery jackpot? What would you do if you didn't discover that you had the winning ticket until AFTER the deadline for claiming the prize?
That's the scenario that could play out next week, because the 180-day window for the Georgia Lottery player who won the June 29 Powerball jackpot to come forward slams shut on Monday.
That winning ticket, with the numbers 24, 30, 45, 57, and 59, with Powerball number 26, was sold at the Pilot Travel Center truck stop along I-20 just inside the state from Alabama, and so far, no one has come forward to stake a claim to the huge jackpot.
Since players have just 180 days to claim any prize from online games, next Tuesday will be too late to claim the money, according to Georgia Lottery spokeswoman Tandi Reddick.
"Unclaimed Powerball jackpot prize funds are returned proportionately to each participating state based on that state's sales for the particular drawing," Reddick said.
She said that in Georgia, unclaimed prize money goes back into the prize pool for future games and for special prize promotions, and is ultimately paid out to players.
Multimillion-dollar jackpots would normally need to be claimed at Georgia Lottery headquarters in downtown Atlanta or one of the seven district lottery offices around the state, but if you happen to find that $77 million jackpot-winning ticket after Thursday, don't go to one of those offices, because they will be closed Friday through Monday for Christmas.
"The winner can claim at the Georgia Lottery kiosks at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, located in the baggage claim areas of the North and South terminals," Reddick said.
Those kiosks will be open from 7 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Monday, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.
Sadly, that ticket is probably resting peacefully in a landfill, or was forgotten in an overstuffed draw of hodgepodge. Good-by 77 Million dollars, it was nice knowing you for the last 6 months!
Why do these people play the lottery ................
May this winner never know they won....if they don't find the ticket before the deadline!
Can you imagine the anguish you would go through?
what a waste of good money. I have lots of bills that need to be paid.
Probably the same idiot that bought the Hot Lotto ticket in Iowa that expires at the end of the month.
Hopefully it was a well laid plan...
Maybe it's under the tree right now just waiting to make someone's Christmas Merry and Bright.
If the prize isn't claimed, does the money go back into the pool and give a boost to the current jackpot?
This will make it the largest unclaimed ticket in lottery history. What a shame someone didn't cash it in.-weshar75
Hi There,
Nope.
180 days is too short a time for the state to gladly pocket the money. A year is more sensible, I think.
Maybe imposing heavy fines for those who collect past the deadline is more sensible than the state
just keeping all the money. I dont understand the rationale for denying a tardy winner his or her jackpot.
What do you guys think?
Just inside the Alabama line? Ain't no tellin' where that ticket is. Alabama peoples is crazy. Lotta fun though. I knowed some good ol' boys down there, Mississippi too. We used to tear it up down there, lawd have mersay, whole lotta shakin' goin' on. We'd be sippin' on shine til our heads got swole. 90 miles an hour down a dead end road, slinging gravel ever which a way, shotguns blastin' the dadgum roadsigns, yeeee haaaa!
Hmmmm, sounds like the winning ticket has been lost.
The person who won could also have died thereby not telling anyone.
I am unhappy to say I'm very familiar with that truck stop... Unfortunately that is a truck stop along the I-20 interstate which is a major travel stop along a busy travel route extending from texas to south carloina. the location of that store is actually on the stretch of interstate leading into and out of atlanta about 3 miles east of the border with alabama. that ticket, if not in the trash, is in some truck traveling the country.
they should put tracking GPS devices on each ticket sold. like lo jack. this way if someone loses it, they know where it is.
i just want to say the winner was me but i didnt want all the publicity that comes with winning a large jackpot so i threw my ticket away, so dont feel bad for me im perfectly happy with my decision
lol
I support your wise decision
You never know where this person may be,could be in the War,passed away,in a crazy hospital,or just simply forgot they bought it.I have that problem sometimes,CRS is what I have daily at my old age.I just hope they claim it.I'm going to Georgia first thing in the morning,I hope to Powerball or Mega Millions.There is a lady that works at Jack in the box,she has been without a car for a year now,she gets a new one.My daughter and grandbaby will hurt for nothing ever again,there is a single father in this city that gets my home.My father raised us 4 by his self,so I pick a man to get my home.and the list goes on and on.........I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and God Bless.
You have a good heart, TT, God Bless you and have a Merry Christmas.
I hope one of your presents is a big win in the MM or PB!
Thank you Ridge same to you.
This shows that player registration or playing by subscription is a good idea. If you loose your ticket, you can prove it is your ticket.
Actually, people in this country don't like to... nah, I ain't gettin into that again, lol.
Have a Merry Christmas, myturn.
Amen to that!
I take winning VERY SERIOUSLY
So this ticket is now officially invalid? Incredibly sad. Even after taxes, $77 million is enough to change many lives.
guess so...since we haven't heard any updates on this
it's prolly best for the ticket holder to never find the ticket now
Read the opening paragraphs regarding what the lottery commission does with the money that wont be paid out.....
"HOWEVER" AND I MEAN HOWEVER, I really think its a load of bs.
The freakin money should go right back into the pot for the next draw but it doesnt.
This isnt the way the lottery is supposed to be run.
This is just proof yet again that the govt. loves all your free money an fair play be <snip>ed.
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