A LOTTERY ticket worth nearly $8 million is still unclaimed – and a major deadline is rapidly approaching.
The lottery winner has just 60 days to make what could be the most important decision of their life.
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The winning ticket was sold at a grocery store chain called Bashas’.
Headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, Bashas’ has locations in Arizona and New Mexico.
One lucky player secured the jackpot prize at a Bashas’ in Mesa, located in Highlands Village at the intersection of Ellsworth and Brown Roads.
The winning ticket was sold on September 7.
The winning numbers were 4, 8, 15, 17, 31, and 41.
In addition to one lucky player scoring the main jackpot, 12 players each scored a $2,000 prize, while over 750 players won $50.
Over 11,280 players managed to win $3 – not too shabby for a $1 entry.
The $7.8 million jackpot prize was for The Pick, Arizona’s very own jackpot game.
Drawings occur on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
The Pick’s jackpot starts at $1 million and keeps growing until someone – like one lucky player on Saturday – wins the grand prize.
Playing The Pick is simple.
Tickets cost $1 per game and can be purchased at more than 3,000 Arizona Lottery Retailers, including gas stations, convenience stores, and grocery chains like Bashas’.
Players can choose six numbers, or choose Quick Pick and allow a computer to randomly generate six numbers between one and 44.
Players also have the chance to play Extra! for $1 or $2 more for a chance to win up to $250 or $500 instantly.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?
Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?
The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.
Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.
Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.
Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.
Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you’ll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity.
Extra! is a separate game that can be added to The Pick ticket.
To start, players receive six Extra! numbers on their ticket.
If any of them match the numbers for The Pick, they will win the prize amount shown next to the matched Extra! number.
While The Pick’s winner has until March 6, 2025 to claim their jackpot prize, there’s one other major deadline that they must keep on their mind.
The jackpot winner has just 60 days from the date of the drawing – September 7 – to decide whether they’ll receive the winnings in one lump sum cash payment, or yearly annuity payments spread out over 30 years.
Lump sums tend to be the more popular choice, as they pay out the winnings all at once.
However, the actual winnings a player will receive are much smaller, as taxes – typically about 24% of the prize – are withheld in one go.
Many states, including Arizona, also tax winnings.
If the winner chooses the lump sum option in this case, for example, their $7.8 million prize would be taxed at 24% (federal tax) and 4.8% (Arizona state tax) in one fell swoop.
Winners who miss the 60-day deadline will automatically receive a lump sum of cash –as long as they claim their prize before it expires.
The winner of the $7.8 million jackpot can redeem their prize by completing a Winner’s Claim Form.
The form can be mailed or brought to the Phoenix or Tucson Arizona Lottery office.
Top lottery winners in the US
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
- Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
- Unknown winner – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Unknown winner – he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown winner – $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Yanira Alvarez – $1.08 billion Powerball, July 19, 2023 in California.
- Wolverine FLL Lottery Club – $1.05 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 22, 2021, from Michigan.
- Unknown winner – $842.4 million Powerball, Jan. 1, 2024, from Michigan.
LUCK OF THE DRAW
There are hundreds – if not thousands – of lottery winners every day in the US.
Prizes range from one dollar to tens of millions in major jackpot drawings.
One lucky winner from Massachusetts managed to scoop up a $10 million prize after buying a winning ticket from a sandwich shop.
Another lottery winner – who has yet to come forward – recently scored a $2 million prize after buying a winning ticket from an Ohio convenience store.
