LOTTERY officials have urged a lucky Powerball player to claim their $50,000 prize.
Time is running out for the winner to boost their bank balance.
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They have yet to step forward and cash in their winning ticket which was purchased at a 7-Eleven in Colorado.
The draw date was months ago, on January 6, which means they have just days to claim the $50,000 – with the deadline looming on July 5, 2025.
The five white balls for January 6, 2025, were 17, 34, 46, 66 and 67. The Powerball was 14.
The ticket was bought at the 7-Eleven store at 1301 W 38th Street in Denver.
Powerball has published a list showing there are currently 14 unclaimed prizes, totaling $800,000.
The prizemoney ranges from $50,000 to $100,000, with winning players who have bought tickets in Colorado and Louisiana the slowest to cash in.
Each of those states still has four unclaimed prizes, while there are three unclaimed prizes in Arizona, followed by two in Missouri and one in Iowa.
It comes as a mystery remains over who recently won a whopping $204.5 million Powerball jackpot.
They matched all six numbers in the May 31 drawing: 1, 29, 37, 56, 68 and the Powerball 13.
It was the fourth Powerball jackpot of the year, and the second time the grand prize has been won in California.
The first was on March 29 where a total of $526.5 million went to the Golden State, said Powerball officials.
The winning ticket was bought at a 7-Eleven in Arleta, Los Angeles, according to the California Lottery.
Powerball said, “The winning ticket was sold at a 7-Eleven on Woodman Avenue in Arleta, southern CA.
“The retailer will now get $1 million for providing the lucky winning ticket.
“The winner now has to make the choice of one large cash payout of $91.6 million, or the annuity payment of $204.5 million over the next 29 years (both before tax).
“Most winners choose the cash option, presumably for immediate access to funds and more opportunities to invest.”
Powerball Unclaimed Prizes
Here are the deadline dates to claim Powerball winnings:
July 5, 2025: $50,000; draw date January 6, 2025; winning ticket bought at 7-Eleven, Colorado
August 9, 2025: $50,000; draw date February 10, 2025; winning ticket bought at King Soopers, Colorado
August 14, 2025; $50,000; draw date February 15, 2025; winning ticket bought at Marty J’s Truck Stop, Louisiana
August 23, 2025; $50,000; draw date February 24, 2025; winning ticket purchased at Wilderness Acres, Louisiana
August 28, 2025; $50,000; draw date March 1, 2025; winning ticket sold at KC Brothers, Iowa
September 6, 2025; $50,000; draw date March 10, 2025; winning ticket sold at Acquistapace’s Covington Supermarket, Los Angeles
September 8, 2025; $100,000; draw date March 12, 2025; winning ticket bought at Kum & Go, Colorado
September 18, 2025; $50,000; draw date March 22, 2025; winning ticket sold at Murphy Express, Louisiana
September 22, 2025; $50,000; draw date March 26, 2025; winning ticket sold at West County Phillips 66, Missouri
October 4, 2025; $100,000; draw date April 7, 2025; winning ticket purchased from King Soopers, Colorado
November 6, 2025; $50,000; draw date May 10, 2025; winning ticket bought in Arizona
November 20, 2025; $50,000; draw date May 24, 2025; winning ticket purchased from Red X, Missouri
December 4, 2025; $50,000; draw date June 7, 2025; winning ticket sold in Arizona
December 8, 2025; $50,000; draw date June 11, 2025; winning ticket bought in Arizona
Source: Powerball
There have been a total of 17 winners in California throughout Powerball’s history.
And the largest ever jackpot happened in 2022 when Edwin Castro scooped a staggering $2.04 billion.
His record-breaking winning ticket was sold at Joe’s Service Center in Altadena, northeast of Los Angeles.
The lottery that Castro won was the largest in U.S. history because it took so long for someone to choose the correct combination of six numbers to win the prize.
The odds of winning the jackpot are extremely small, at just one in 292.2 million, according to Lottery officials.
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.
