CLERMONT, Fla. — Florida Lottery officials are urging the winner of a $625,000 Jackpot Triple Play prize to come forward and follow three key steps to secure their winnings. The ticket, purchased at a Publix supermarket in Clermont, matched all six numbers—9, 14, 21, 23, 32, and 34—drawn on April 29.
Although the player has not yet claimed the prize, they will immediately forfeit over $150,000 in federal taxes upon doing so. Under IRS rules, lottery prizes over $5,000 are subject to a mandatory 24% federal withholding.
To protect their winnings, Florida Lottery has advised the anonymous winner to take three important steps:
- Sign the ticket immediately to establish ownership and prevent others from claiming it if lost.
- Store the ticket in a secure place until it is redeemed.
- Claim the prize before the 180-day deadline via mail or in person at a Florida Lottery District Office.
To complete the claim, the winner must submit a Florida Lottery Winner Claim Form and a valid form of identification. They may choose between a lump-sum payment or annuity installments over several years, though many winners opt for the lump sum to invest the money.
This unclaimed prize is just one of many outstanding jackpots. Officials are also searching for a Mega Millions winner and a Powerball ticket holder, each sitting on $1 million prizes. Experts warn that some players discard tickets without checking for secondary prizes, which can still be worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars.
The Florida Lottery continues to remind all players to double-check their tickets and claim prizes before they expire.
