Louisiana Lottery Confirms $50,000 Winner Will Expire in 8 Days

In Louisiana thousands of people make a living traveling around the state or placing phone calls to Louisiana residents to remind them to pay their bills. Yeah, there is not shortage of people who are willing to ask you to pay up. However, the tables in this scenario have been flipped as far as the Louisiana Lottery is concerned. They are desperately trying to give some money away.

The amount of money the Lottery is looking to find a home for is pretty significant too. It's $50,000. That money was won on a Louisiana-sold Powerball ticket from the January 20th drawing. The ticket matched four of the five white balls and the Powerball and by rule is worth $50,000 to the ticket holder. Well, it will be worth that amount for eight more days.

Louisiana Lottery Prizes Can and Do Expire

You might not have been aware that lottery tickets sold by the Louisiana Lottery do have an expiration date on them. And that expiration date applies to winning tickets that are purchased for Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto, and Easy 5. In those games players have 180 days, roughly six months, to claim their winnings. If you do the math you can see why the Louisiana Lottery is urgently seeking the holder of that January 20th winner.

What Happens When a Louisiana Lottery Ticket Expires?

According to the Louisiana Lottery website once an unclaimed prize has surpassed its redemption date the prize winnings are then transferred back into the Louisiana Lottery system. No, the money doesn't go to the lottery staff instead it is returned to the players in the form of increased payouts on instant win tickets, second chance drawings, and other player-inspired promotions.

So ultimately this $50,000 loss for one player could be a $50,000 windfall for the rest of us who play the lottery's games. However, I think most of us would like to see the rightful owner of the ticket step forward and claim their prize.

We do know that the soon-to-be-expired Powerball ticket was purchased in Mandeville, Louisiana. It was purchased at Diaz Market on Highway 59. If you recall stopping there for gas, groceries, lottery tickets, or whatever check your winter coat pockets or the glove box in your car, maybe you bought a Powerball on a whim and just forgot about it.

The current jackpot for tonight's Powerball is an estimated $41 million. The Lotto top prize for tonight (Wednesday, July 10, 2024) is an estimated $1.575 million. The Easy 5 Game has an estimated top prize of $190,000. Again those drawings are tonight.

Please note that lottery games do require you to take a risk. In most cases that risk takes your money with little or no reward. So, play only with money you can afford to lose. If you have a gambling problem please call 1-877-770 STOP (7867). The call and the referrals to counseling are free. Good Luck.