Indiana Couple Claims $1 Million Powerball Prize Mere Hours Before Deadline
They found their winning ticket on Christmas morning and submitted it in the nick of time
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A couple from Kendallville, Indiana, claimed a $1 million Powerball prize just hours before the ticket was set to expire — with the unintentional delay resulting in the perfect Christmas present.
The winning ticket, purchased at a Kendallville Finish Line convenience store, matched all five white ball numbers— 26, 51, 54, 61, and 69 — in the June 29, 2024, drawing. The red Powerball number was 25, but the couple didn’t match that one to win the jackpot (which was worth an estimated $116 million at the time).
In Indiana, lottery winners have 180 days from the drawing date to claim their prizes. For this ticket, the deadline was Dec. 26, at 4:30 p.m. The couple (who have chosen to remain anonymous) arrived at the Hoosier Lottery Prize Payment Office in downtown Indianapolis with approximately five hours remaining before the expiration.
Throughout December, the Hoosier Lottery had been publicizing the unclaimed $1 million prize, urging players to check their tickets. The couple noticed news coverage and signage at their local gas station about a month prior but were uncertain if they had purchased a ticket for that specific drawing.
They conducted an initial search at home without success and assumed they hadn’t bought a ticket.
Prompted by renewed reports just before Christmas, they decided to search again. Waking up early on Christmas morning, they searched their vehicle and found the million-dollar ticket between the seats.
The office was closed on Christmas, however, so receiving their gift would have to wait. However, the next morning, they headed straight for their nearest Hoosier Lottery Prize Payment Office.
The couple’s discovery highlights the importance of checking lottery tickets promptly and storing them in safe places. Lottery officials often advise players to sign the back of their tickets immediately upon purchase to establish ownership. They also advise customers to regularly check the numbers against official results.
More unclaimed prizes out there
Unclaimed lottery prizes are not uncommon. At the end of 2024, several substantial lottery prizes across the U.S. remained unclaimed.
In Indiana, if a prize goes unclaimed, the funds are returned to the state and are used to support teacher retirement funds and police and firefighter pensions. Nationally, unclaimed lottery prizes are either returned to the participating states for various uses or added back into prize pools for future games.
In Arizona, a $1 million Mega Millions prize from the Dec. 27 drawing remains unclaimed (although, in fairness, it’s only been a week since that drawing). The ticket was purchased at a gas station in Tucson. Winners in Arizona have 180 days from the draw date to claim their prize.
In Missouri, a $1 million Mega Millions ticket from that same Dec. 27 drawing has also not yet been claimed. The ticket was bought at a supermarket in Willow Springs.
In Illinois, a Powerball ticket worth $1 million from the Dec. 21 drawing remains unclaimed. The ticket was purchased at a grocery store in Melrose Park. Winners in Illinois have one year from the draw date to claim their prizes.
From that same Dec. 21 drawing, a Powerball ticket purchased in New Jersey has won $2 million but remains unclaimed. The winner opted for the Power Play option, doubling the prize. Winners in the Garden State also have a full year to claim their prizes.
