Ohio Powerball Jackpot Goes Unclaimed

Winners in Ohio have 180 days from the draw date to claim any prizes, so the ticket was only valid until December 30. The Ohio Lottery tried to raise awareness in the run-up to Christmas and made last-ditch efforts for players to check their tickets, but in the end the deadline came and went without a claim.

The winning ticket had been purchased at Walmart Supercenter on Brandt Pike in Huber Heights, and matched the numbers 2, 26, 33, 55 and 57, plus the Powerball of 22. It was revealed to be a Quick Pick.

If the winner had staked their claim by December 30, they would have been able to take the jackpot as an annuity over 30 years, or a lump sum of $66.5 million before taxes.

Instead, the money will now return to all of the state lotteries that play Powerball - distributed proportionally according to how much each state contributed in ticket sales during that particular jackpot run.

The Ohio Lottery has announced that it will retain approximately $1.9 million, which will be put towards supporting education. More than $33 billion has been raised for Ohio schools since 1974.

Don’t Forget To Check Tickets

Thankfully, most big wins do get claimed in time. Some states allow 180 days for winners to come forward, while others give a year. New Mexico is the state with the shortest claim period, of just 90 days.

However, there have been a few jackpots that have gone unclaimed, including a share of a $50 million prize won in Florida in May 2013, and a $77.1 million jackpot won in Georgia in June 2011.

It is essential to always check your tickets after a drawing to see how many numbers you have matched. You don’t need to contact your state lottery right away, but be aware of how long you have to claim before the ticket expires.

The jackpot currently stands at $220 million, with draws continuing every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday night.