Winning a Mega Millions jackpot takes a lot of luck, but two bettors just wasted that stroke of good fortune after they failed to step forward and claim the prize.
According to FOX Business, the Florida Lottery confirmed that the first winning lottery ticket from a Publix in Jacksonville, Florida, became invalid after the midnight deadline on Sunday passed without the claimant coming forward.
Another Florida Winning Bettor Fails to Claim Lotto Jackpot
The winning ticket tied to the now-expired Mega Millions jackpot became a winner on August 15, when Mega Millions drew the numbers 18, 39, 42, 57, and 63 for the white balls and 7 for the Mega Ball.
FOX Business reported that the ticket holder had 180 days to claim the $36 million grand prize but failed to do so. The Gainsville Sun reported that another winning Florida Lotto ticket, worth $44 million from an Orlando-area gas station, also expired six months later.
The lucky person bought the winning Florida Lotto Quick Pick ticket on June 14, 2023, from a Sunoco gas station in Kissimmee in Osceola County, and this ticket reportedly expired at midnight on December 11, 2023.
The winning numbers were 9, 13, 15, 46, 51, and 52. In total, Florida reportedly lost a whopping $80 million with these two unclaimed jackpots. The chances of winning a Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in over 302 million.
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What Happens to the Unclaimed Mega Millions Jackpot Prizes?
Under Florida law, the Florida Lottery told FOX Business that 80 percent of the unclaimed prize funds from expired lotto tickets will be transferred directly to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, which provides money for public schools, universities, and scholarships.
The lottery noted that the remaining 20 percent will be returned to the prize pool from which "future prizes are awarded or used for special prize promotions." The $36 million ticket's expiration happened as the ongoing Mega Millions jackpot inched closer to the half-billion-dollar mark.
As of Friday morning, the Mega Millions jackpot prize reached $457 million, with a one-time cash payout worth $216.8 million. Mega Millions will conduct its next drawing late Friday evening.
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