Lottery officials are urging players to check their tickets after an unclaimed $664,000 Jersey Cash 5 prize remains up for grabs in New Jersey.
The winning numbers—03, 09, 31, 33, and 39 with Xtra 03 and Bullseye 09—were sold at Krauszer’s on South Concourse in Keyport, Monmouth County, in the Tuesday night draw. If you have this winning combination, you could be holding the ticket to a life-changing sum.
New Jersey Lottery officials announced the prize on Wednesday and issued a three-step warning to the winner: claim your prize soon. Along with this jackpot, 37 other players who matched four numbers and hit the Bullseye will each receive $500, with two others winning $500 for matching four numbers with Xtra.
As the lottery continues to offer substantial payouts, the Mega Millions jackpot currently stands at $233 million, while Powerball’s prize is $320 million. Earlier this year, a Mega Millions jackpot worth $112 million was won by a player in Arizona.
In the coming weeks, however, Mega Millions will see a major change: the price of a ticket will increase from $2 to $5. This price hike has sparked controversy, with some players threatening to stop playing when the increase takes effect.
Meanwhile, in New Jersey, the state’s latest Mega Millions winner, who claimed a $1.128 billion prize in December, is facing a significant tax bill. Despite beating odds of 1 in 302.6 million, the winner will be required to pay millions in taxes. The ticket, purchased at a ShopRite in Neptune, was claimed as a lump sum, which is estimated to be worth $537.5 million before taxes. After federal and state taxes, the winner will lose an estimated $129 million, with a federal tax rate of 24%.
