Three lottery tickets worth $50,000 each go unclaimed in Virginia

Jul 13, 2016, 6:53 pm (14 comments)

Powerball

No one came forward to claim three separate Virginia lottery tickets that were each worth $50,000, so the money now goes to a state fund for educational uses.

The deadline to claim the prize money was Tuesday at 5 p.m., but no one came forward with the winning tickets, according to officials with the Virginia Lottery.

(See Deadline approaching for three unclaimed $50,000 lottery tickets in Virginia, Lottery Post, Jul. 8, 2016.)

The tickets were sold as part of the $1.58 billion Powerball jackpot drawing held Jan. 13. More than 700,000 tickets were bought in Virginia for that historic jackpot, and there were dozens of tickets that won smaller amounts, ranging from $50,000 to $1 million.

The holders of the three tickets that had gone unclaimed had a deadline, 180 days after the drawing, to claim their prizes. The only exception to that deadline is the absence of the winner on military duty.

"We have absolutely idea where these tickets are, and now there's a good chance we never will," said John Hagerty, a spokesman for the Virginia Lottery. "We have no idea where those tickets are."

The three winning tickets that were never claimed were bought at a 7-Eleven store in Lorton, La Bodega Supermarket in Falls Church and Fas Mart in Coeburn.

Hagerty said that in lotteries, prizes go unclaimed "more often than you think" — including about $10 million a year in prize money in Virginia.

Typically smaller amounts go unclaimed, not for prizes as big as these.

There are several theories as to why the tickets went unclaimed. Somebody threw it away, Hagerty said. Or put it through a washing machine.

Also, he said, there were a lot of people who were playing for the big January jackpot who do not normally play, so they weren't used to checking their tickets.

"It is entirely possible that people didn't realize that you could win prizes that are smaller even if you didn't win the big jackpot," Hagerty said.

It was not known whether the winners were in the military, according to lottery officials. If any were, the 180-day deadline would be waived.

The winning numbers from the Jan. 13 Powerball game were 4-8-19-27-34, and the Powerball number was 10.

Officials said the unclaimed money will go to the state's Literary Fund, which is used for things such as upgrading technology at schools and funding retirement for teachers.

Washington Post

Comments

music*'s avatarmusic*

Todd, Thank You for this update. $50,000.00 would improve my life immensely!No Pity!

Bleudog101

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Jul 13, 2016

Todd, Thank You for this update. $50,000.00 would improve my life immensely!No Pity!

Me too.  Imagine the feeling if one found an expired winning lottery ticket...makes me shudder.  Was guilty of this (sort of).  Found an old ticket and it would  not scan.  It was over a year old!

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

So what happens if the winners were in the military and they come forward months from now ?

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by Bleudog101 on Jul 13, 2016

Me too.  Imagine the feeling if one found an expired winning lottery ticket...makes me shudder.  Was guilty of this (sort of).  Found an old ticket and it would  not scan.  It was over a year old!

I once found an old ticket in a kitchen drawer...threw it in the trash...didn't want to know !

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by haymaker on Jul 13, 2016

So what happens if the winners were in the military and they come forward months from now ?

 They do not know if any of the winners were military. But if they are then the 180 day deadline would be waived. According to the Lottery Official.  This was part of the story about 2/3rds down the page.Patriot

haymaker's avatarhaymaker

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Jul 13, 2016

 They do not know if any of the winners were military. But if they are then the 180 day deadline would be waived. According to the Lottery Official.  This was part of the story about 2/3rds down the page.Patriot

Yea, that's what prompted my ?

is the waiver meaningless if a military winner comes forward after the deadline ?

if so, then what good is the waiver ?

 

It says the money will go to the state education fund.

If a military winner comes forward later what will they do, take the $ back from the ed. fund ?

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by haymaker on Jul 13, 2016

Yea, that's what prompted my ?

is the waiver meaningless if a military winner comes forward after the deadline ?

if so, then what good is the waiver ?

 

It says the money will go to the state education fund.

If a military winner comes forward later what will they do, take the $ back from the ed. fund ?

 You do have a good question,"If a military winner comes forward later what will they do, take the $ back from the ed. fund"?

 I guess that the lottery has enough money on hand to cover the winner's ticket.

TheMeatman2005's avatarTheMeatman2005

I think we all came up with a bunch more theories than... 

Somebody threw it away, or put it through a washing machine.

Also, he said, there were a lot of people who were playing for the big January jackpot who do not normally play, so they weren't used to checking their tickets.

jjtheprince

What dummies these winners are lol

American Indian's avatarAmerican Indian

Quote: Originally posted by jjtheprince on Jul 14, 2016

What dummies these winners are lol

I don't think if or when these winners find their $50k ticket they will be LOL! DUH!! What I don't get is with this being the BIGGEST PB in history why or how would you not keep up with your ticket/tickets and check them? What if anyone of those had been 1  of the 3 BIG winners!!! It's been Well known for awhile these tickets were out there unclaimed!

Elliptic7

Unless there is an exception the tickets have been terminated. Hasta La Vista! Cool

music*'s avatarmusic*

Quote: Originally posted by American Indian on Jul 14, 2016

I don't think if or when these winners find their $50k ticket they will be LOL! DUH!! What I don't get is with this being the BIGGEST PB in history why or how would you not keep up with your ticket/tickets and check them? What if anyone of those had been 1  of the 3 BIG winners!!! It's been Well known for awhile these tickets were out there unclaimed!

 The winning ticket in Chino Hills, California has not been cashed in yet. It is a one-third claim on the Jackpot.

 The other two winners have claimed their share of the record jackpot. Won on Wednesday night 1/13/2016.

 One ticket was owned by John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee.

 The second ticket was purchased in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It has been claimed. Use the Lottery Post Search box for more details. I can't remember that nice couple's name at this moment.

Wink

American Indian's avatarAmerican Indian

Quote: Originally posted by music* on Jul 15, 2016

 The winning ticket in Chino Hills, California has not been cashed in yet. It is a one-third claim on the Jackpot.

 The other two winners have claimed their share of the record jackpot. Won on Wednesday night 1/13/2016.

 One ticket was owned by John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee.

 The second ticket was purchased in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It has been claimed. Use the Lottery Post Search box for more details. I can't remember that nice couple's name at this moment.

Wink

Have a question for you, Is CA  a 1yr to claim or 180 day State? AZ is like VA It's a 180 day State, I wouldn't buy a ticket in CA you don't get the amount you would if you purchased in another State, CA goes by how many total winner's, the amount's that were pd out of that Jackpot then you get the rest! How the H is that fair??? You know how many people in CA that play especially with a Jackpot that's as HUGE as it was, whoever has/had that ticket may only receive a Million or even a few Million! That totally Sucks! I do remember where someone in CA won Big and only was PD around a Million! I would be one PISSED OFF MF!!!!

ressuccess's avatarressuccess

Congratulations to these unclaimed tickets. They go to education now.

End of comments
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