A Colorado lottery winner has just days left to claim a $500,000 prize before the deadline expires on Thursday, September 19.The unclaimed ticket was from the Powerball Double Play drawing held on March 23, 2024. The winning numbers were 18, 24, 43, 46, 47, and the red Powerball number 11. The lucky ticket matched all five white ball numbers, just missing the Powerball, which would have secured the jackpot.
The ticket was purchased at a King Soopers grocery store in Arvada, a city located about nine miles northwest of Denver.
Since March, Colorado Lottery officials have urged players to check their tickets, especially those bought at the Arvada store. Any prize over $600 must be claimed in person or by mail with the proper forms. Under state rules, lottery prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing.
If no one comes forward by Thursday’s deadline, the prize money will go back to the state. A lottery spokesperson told CBS News that unclaimed funds help support parks, open spaces, and wildlife projects in Colorado.
If the winner does step forward, they will need to choose how to receive their prize — either as a lump sum or through annuity payments. Most winners opt for the lump sum, even though it comes with significant tax deductions.
For this $500,000 prize, the federal government would take 24%, and Colorado would claim an additional 4%. That leaves the winner with approximately $360,000 after taxes.
Colorado isn’t alone in having unclaimed lottery prizes. A $1 million ticket purchased at a gas station in Arkansas remains unclaimed, as does a $50,000 Powerball ticket bought at a New York convenience store. Players are encouraged to check their old tickets before time runs out.
