A LUCKY lottery winner who has won a lifetime’s supply of cash has been urged by officials to come forward to stake their claim.
The player from Kentucky won the prize of $25,000 a year for life in a draw on Tuesday, narrowly missing out on the top prize of $1,000 a day for life.
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As lotto officials search for the winner, they revealed that the winning ticket was sold at a liquor store in Mt. Washington.
Any players who visited Cut Rate Liquors at 185 Delaina Drive must check their tickets.
The winning numbers were: 2, 11, 25, 30 and 31.
While the winner correctly matched the numbers, they failed to get the lucky ball number of 7.
The unsuspecting player has scooped annual payments of $25,000 for a minimum of 20 years, but a key decision could see them lose thousands.
If the player comes forward in time to collect their winnings, they will have to make a tough decision.
While they can claim the annual prize, they can also sacrifice a chunk of the money to immediately receive a lump sum.
The cash option of $390,000 equates to 15 years of $25,000 annual payments.
Regardless of the decision they make, they do not have too long to claim their winnings.
The lottery requires winners to claim their prize within 180 days of the draw date.
This means the Kentucky winner has until August 31 to contact lottery headquarters.
Officials have advised the winner to sign the back of the winning ticket and keep it in a secure location.
For this sizeable prize, they must go to the lotto headquarters on Main St, Louisville after making an appointment with officials.
The latest winner is the third winner of the second-tier prize from lucky Kentucky in the last five months.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?
Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?
The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.
Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.
Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.
Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.
Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you’ll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity.
In January, a man from Danville started the year off right with the $25,000 a year for life win after buying the $10 ticket at Five Star.
And Billy Glenn from Lexington won the same prize after visiting a gas station and buying a ticket in November 2024.
The man from Danville who wanted to remain anonymous after the staggering win revealed he had been playing for 12 years before his win.
He told officials: “I couldn’t believe it when I saw $500,000 show up on the screen.
“I was shocked! I felt truly lucky for life.”
Despite the sizeable sum, he opted for the cash prize of $390,000 which after taxes further reduced to $280,000.
Meanwhile, lottery players in California have been issued a three-step warning for an unclaimed $30 million ticket.
