Final hours to claim $500,000 Powerball prize – anonymous winner bought the ticket at a grocery store

THE clock is ticking for a lottery player to come forward and claim their six-figure prize.

They landed the life-altering payday earlier this year and must identify themselves by Thursday or forfeit the money .

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Colorado Lottery officials have desperately searched for the player for months after the March 23, 2024, Powerball Double Play drawing .

The winning numbers for the date were listed as 18, 24, 43, 46, 47, and a red Powerball of 11.

Officials confirmed that the unidentified winner matched all five white ball numbers and narrowly missed the red Powerball .

It earned them a pot of $500,000.

The winning ticket was purchased at the King Soopers grocery store in Arvada, about nine miles northwest of downtown Denver.

Officials urged players who had purchased tickets from the store to double-check that they weren’t sitting on the winning prize.

Given that the win is well over $600, the player must either mail in the subsequent forms or head to a Colorado Lottery claim center in person by the end of business hours on September 19.

The date was determined due to Colorado Lottery rules , which only provide players a 180-day window to claim prizes.

Every state differs in what they allow, with most giving a similar window or an entire year to come forward.

FORFEITED FUNDS

If the unidentified $500,000 Powerball Double Play winner fails to claim their ticket, the money will be re-distributed into state programs that benefit Colorado state parks and wildlife preservations.

“The money will go to Lottery proceeds partners, supporting our state’s parks, recreation, open space, and wildlife preservation projects,” a Colorado Lottery spokesperson told CBS News .

“Players can check unclaimed prizes anytime on the Lottery website.”

Assuming the winner from March 23 does make it in time, they’ll be faced with the most crucial decision in the lottery winning process — how to collect the funds.

States With 6-Month Lottery Claim Windows

Some states have differing deadlines for when lottery players can claim prizes. Most allow a 180-day or one-year window before tickets expire and the money is forfeited. Below are the 180-day states:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• District of Columbia
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• North Carolina
• North Dakota
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming

Credit: Jackpocket

PAY UP

Lottery winners can obtain their prize money through a one-time lump sum distribution or split through annuity payments over several years.

Many choose the lump sum option, as they get all the cash up front — but it’s heavily taxed.

The federal government always imposes a 24% tax on lottery wins above $5,000.

States determine their rates, or if they have one at all, and Colorado’s is set at 4%.

The March 23 winner would then have about $140,000 taken out in total, leaving them with $360,000 in take-home cash.

Several tickets worth varying amounts remain unclaimed in other states.

A $1 million ticket bought at a gas station in Arkansas still has yet to be claimed, with the window to come forward expiring soon.

Another Powerball ticket worth just $50,000 is still without an identified winner after being bought at a New York convenience store.

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 .