Indiana lottery officials are urging Powerball players to check their tickets after a $50,000 prize from Saturday night’s drawing has gone unclaimed.
The winning ticket, purchased at Tobacco Road in Indianapolis, matched enough numbers to win the substantial prize—just one number shy of hitting the jackpot. The odds of winning $50,000 in Powerball are about 1 in 913,000.
The Hoosier Lottery is asking all players to store their tickets safely and consult with financial advisors if they believe they’ve won. Anyone holding the winning ticket must schedule an appointment to claim the prize, as is required for all prizes over $50,000 in Indiana.
Winners in Indiana have 180 days from the draw date to claim their prizes. In addition to the 24% federal tax on winnings over $5,000, Indiana applies a 3.23% state income tax.
Saturday’s draw also produced a massive $527 million jackpot winner in Anaheim, California. The winning ticket was sold at a 7-Eleven store, which will receive a $1 million bonus for selling the lucky slip.
The California winner, whose identity remains unknown, will have the choice between a lump sum payment or annual installments. The lump sum would reduce the jackpot to around $243.8 million before taxes.
While the federal tax rate applies, California does not tax lottery winnings. Other states like Florida and Texas offer the same benefit, but winners in New York and New Jersey face higher tax burdens. New York taxes winnings at over 10%, and New Jersey imposes an 8% state tax on prizes over $500,000.
Lottery officials continue to encourage players across the country to double-check their tickets and secure them properly.
