Several Mega Millions winners across the U.S. are running out of time to claim their prizes, with over $1 million in winnings still unclaimed. Lottery officials are urging players to check their tickets before it’s too late.
Claim deadlines vary by state, ranging from 90 days to one year. The earliest expiring prize comes from Rhode Island, where a $10,000 ticket purchased on October 3, 2023, must be claimed by October 3, 2024. In Delaware, another $10,000 prize from January 19 has a full year before it expires.
A $10,000 winning ticket sold in Colorado on March 12 will expire on September 8. Meanwhile, a $10,000 winner in Arizona from March 15 has until September 11 to collect the prize.
On March 26, an Iowa player who purchased the Megaplier option won $20,000—double the base prize. They must claim their winnings by September 23. A second Arizona ticket, worth $10,000, was sold on July 26 and expires on January 22.
In Kansas, a $10,000 winning ticket from August 20 remains unclaimed, though the player has a full year to collect. Another Iowa winner, who secured $10,000 on August 23, has only until February 19 to come forward.
In California, time is even tighter. A $1,016,356 winning ticket purchased at a Pavilions Place supermarket in Newport Beach is still unclaimed. The winning numbers were 22, 38, 48, 51, 61, and Mega Ball 5, with a 3X Megaplier. In California, players have just 180 days to claim their prize.
Meanwhile, a $4 million prize in Delaware also remains unclaimed. One winner who did come forward for a $1 million prize lost $350,000 due to taxes and a critical rule—highlighting the importance of understanding payout policies.
All unclaimed prizes mentioned were won at convenience or grocery stores, from coast to coast. Lottery officials continue to remind players to check old tickets, especially as deadlines approach.
