A Maryland Mega Millions player has won a $1 million prize but has yet to claim it, lottery officials confirmed.
The winning ticket was purchased before the December 10 draw at a Wawa store in Bel Air, about 30 miles from Baltimore. Although the player narrowly missed the jackpot, they still won a significant prize.
The winner has about 180 days to come forward and claim the money. Officials urge the ticket holder to sign the back of the ticket and keep it safe. To claim the prize, the winner must appear in person and schedule an appointment at the Maryland Lottery Customer Resource Center in Baltimore.
The Wawa store that sold the ticket will also receive a $2,500 bonus for the winning sale.
However, the winner will face taxes on the prize. Federal tax is 24% on lottery winnings above $5,000. Maryland players also pay an 8.75% state tax, while out-of-state winners pay 8%. These rates are lower than states like New York, where taxes exceed 10%. Some states, including California, Texas, and Florida, do not tax lottery winnings.
The Mega Millions jackpot was not won in the recent draw and has risen to an estimated $670 million, with a cash option of $317.8 million. Two players in California matched five numbers, each winning a smaller prize. The odds of matching five numbers are 1 in 12.6 million, while the jackpot odds are 1 in 302.6 million.
Starting April 2025, Mega Millions tickets will cost $5 as part of new changes to increase players’ chances of winning the jackpot.
