$77M Lottery Ticket Remains 'Missing,' Winner Set to Lose Prize Money
A $77 million lottery winner will lose the massive prize if they do not come forward to claim it by Monday.
The deadline for a winner to step forward expires on Monday, and if the winner is not found by that time the winning millions will be distributed proportionately to each participating state based on their sales for that particular lottery draw.
The lottery organizers are appealing for the winner to come forward one last time. The $77 million win came about in the June 29 lottery, with the winning Powerball ticket possessing the numbers: 24, 30, 45, 57, and 59 and the "Power Ball" of 26.
The winning ticket was sold at the Pilot Travel Center truck stop along I-20 in Georgia, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
According to lottery rules, winners have 180 days to come forward to claim their prize, after which time they will lose all entitlement to the winnings.
"Unclaimed Powerball jackpot prize funds are returned proportionately to each participating state based on that state's sales for the particular drawing," Tandi Reddick, Georgia Lottery spokeswoman, told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
The Georgia Lottery HQ is the usual stop for winners to claim their prizes, however, the office is currently closed for Christmas.