A Mega Millions ticket worth $40,000 remains unclaimed in Louisiana, and time is running out for the winner to come forward.
The winning ticket was purchased at Singh Brothers Two in Lacombe for the drawing held on December 17, 2024. The player boosted their winnings using the Megaplier, a popular add-on that multiplies non-jackpot prizes for an extra $1 per play.
The Megaplier draws before every Mega Millions game on Tuesday and Friday nights. It uses a pool of 15 balls, which include five marked with 2X, six with 3X, three with 4X, and one with 5X. This gives players the chance to significantly increase their winnings.
Lottery officials warn that the deadline to claim the prize is June 15, 2025—180 days from the date of the draw. After that, the ticket will expire, and the money will be forfeited.
Anyone who believes they may have the winning ticket is urged to check and come forward as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, changes to the Mega Millions game that took effect on April 5 have stirred controversy. The cost of a ticket rose from $2 to $5—the second price increase in the game’s history.
Some players expressed frustration online. One Reddit user wrote, “That is too high. A $1 or $2 purchase can be justified every so often. At $5, it is going to stop a lot of people from buying.” Another commented, “Who’s gonna wanna throw $5 away for 1 ticket?”
Despite the price hike, officials say the odds of winning have improved. The chance of winning any prize increased from 1 in 24 to 1 in 23. The odds of hitting the jackpot improved slightly, from 1 in 302.6 million to 1 in 290.5 million.
Additionally, break-even prizes have been removed, so any win will now be worth more than the cost of a ticket.
As the unclaimed $40,000 prize deadline approaches, lottery officials hope the ticket-holder will step forward and change their life with a single call.
