Odds of winning the Powerball and Mega Millions are NOT in your favor
Odds of hitting the jackpot in Mega Millions or Powerball are around 1-in-292 million. Here are things that you’re more likely to land than big bucks.
Two lucky lottery winners in Idaho and Virginia don’t have much time to claim their $1 million jackpot prizes, as both tickets are set to expire in less than two weeks.
Idaho and Virginia lottery officials announced that the two winning $1 million tickets for each respective state are still unclaimed. The ticket in Virginia won the state’s New Year’s Millionaire Raffle drawing on Jan. 1, 2025, while the ticket in Idaho is from last winter’s Idaho $1,000,000 Raffle.
Both winning tickets will expire on Monday, June 30, at 5 p.m. EST (Virginia) and 5 p.m. MDT (Idaho).
The winning ticket in Virginia was bought at the Food Lion at 30 Windward Drive in Fishersville, while the winning ticket in Idaho was sold from an Idaho Lottery retail location in Star, a city about 24 miles away from Boise.
What will happen if the prizes are unclaimed?
If neither ticket is claimed, then they will be deemed “worthless” as, by law, lottery officials in those states will not be able to pay the prizes.
By law, winning tickets in Virginia and Idaho expire 180 days after the drawing. Unclaimed prizes in Virginia go to the state’s literary fund, while all unclaimed prizes at the end of the fiscal year in Idaho go to the state’s lottery beneficiaries, including its public schools. Idaho lottery officials added that each year, about $5 million in winning lottery tickets in the state go unclaimed.
The $1 million winning raffle ticket in Virginia was one of five $1 million winners in the state’s annual drawing. The other four have been claimed, according to Virginia lottery officials. The unclaimed ticket is #229618.
If no one comes forward with the winning ticket in Idaho, this will become only the third $1 million winning draw ticket in the state’s lottery history to go unclaimed and the first in more than a decade, officials said.
What should the unclaimed winning lottery ticket holders do?
Lottery officials in Idaho and Virginia advise the two individuals with the unclaimed winning tickets to contact their state lottery officials immediately.
Virginia has eight customer service centers across the state where the ticket can be redeemed, while the winner in Idaho would have to go to the state’s lottery office in Boise to claim their prize.
Where can you buy lottery tickets?
Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.
You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.
Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800- GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.
