Powerball, Mega Millions Jackpot: What do you know if you win?
Here’s what you need to know in case you win a Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot.
Just a FAQ, USA TODAY
One of Colorado’s extremely lucky Powerball players might miss millions of dollars if they don’t move forward right away.
Those who purchase a victory ticket from the December 16th, 2024 Powerball Drawing must claim until June 14th the $2 million won in Power Play, a multiplier applied to prizes won from the jackpot. Colorado lottery players usually spend 180 days to claim the prize they win tickets.
Anyone who matches five numbers without a Powerball, regardless of which PowerPlay Number is chosen, will receive a prize of two times between $1 million and $2 million. According to the Colorado Lottery, the winning ticket purchased a grocery gas station in Aurora, a suburb of Denver on December 16, 2024.
“Colorado has thousands of claim awards each year,” the Colorado Lottery wrote on its website. “Most of these are prizes like $1 or $2. If you have a lot of prizes about to expire, we hope you will warn the media and post them on your social media page to find a legitimate winner.”
Neither the Colorado Lottery nor Powerball responded to USA Today’s request for comment immediately.
How many awards do winners need to claim?
The time slots for claiming prizes vary from state to state, but in Colorado players usually have 180 days to claim prizes on their winning tickets. (For tickets to the jackpot game, the 180-day clock starts the drawing date.)
According to the Colorado Lottery, unclaimed prizes will be sent to the “beneficiaries of our revenues” fund.
Players can check the unclaimed prize archives on the Colorado Lottery website to see if they had unredacted victory jackpot tickets in their area or if they are frequent retailers. The Colorado Lottery encourages players to “wait and check tickets immediately after purchase.”
Similarly to this case, winners over $600 can claim money in three ways.
- Please bring your winning ticket and valid government photo ID to one of the four billing centres during business hours
- Submit an online request and request the award
- Completed Colorado Lottery Award Request Form and Signed Tickets to the Colorado Lottery, Pox7, Pueblo, CO 81002 (FedEx and UPS users should mail them to 225 N Main St, Pueblo, Co 81003). After a week or two will be processed, the check will be mailed. An incomplete form can be delayed.
Colorado lottery players are encouraged to contact Lottery 1-800-999-2959 if they have any questions or concerns.
Where can I buy the lottery ticket?
Tickets can be purchased directly at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online Jack Pocket, the official digital lottery delivery company of the USA Today Networkthese US and territories include Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Maine, Maine, Maine, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington, DC, and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app lets you select lottery games and numbers, order, look at tickets, and collect all your winnings using your mobile phone or home computer.
