The Lotto Matrix: Huge Powerball Win Goes Unclaimed, $5 Million Buys A Lot Of Reubens

Welcome to this week’s “Lotto Matrix,” a weekly Friday compilation of the lottery industry’s most significant, interesting, or absurd happenings.

$138M Powerball ticket in Ohio now worth $0

A Powerball jackpot worth $138 million went unclaimed in Ohio. The winning ticket was purchased at a Walmart in Huber Heights for the July 3, 2024, drawing … and that’s all we know about that ticket.

Ohio Lottery regulations stipulate a 180-day claim period, which set the deadline at Dec 30 — this past Monday. Because no one came forward, the winning ticket expired and can no longer be claimed.

Some of the prize money will revert to the state lottery fund, which will then be used to support education programs. The Ohio Lottery explained that approximately $1.9 million will be directed to the state.

$5 million and a delicious sandwich

Sarah Nellis, a mother of seven from Waterloo, Ontario, is celebrating the holiday season with a sandwich after winning the $5 million top prize in the Instant Mega lottery game. (Hey, let her celebrate how she wants to celebrate, OK?)

Nellis described the moment as a “Christmas miracle” and shared her plans for both simple pleasures and life-changing decisions.

Nellis said the win provides a sense of relief during a time when financial security is paramount. She expressed gratitude for the unexpected windfall, which has given her the opportunity to dream big.

Among her plans are purchasing a new accessible home for her family and … enjoying a Reuben sandwich from The Daily Grill in Waterloo. She can afford as many of those as she wants now.

As for her future lottery endeavors, Nellis said she plans to keep buying more Mega tickets.

Minnesota million goes to waste

While that huge Ohio Powerball loss is massive, a similar situation — albeit for a lot less money — recently unfolded in Minnesota. A $1 million prize from the Jan. 1, 2024, Minnesota Millionaire Raffle has gone unclaimed.

The winning ticket — one of two — was sold at a grocery store in Delano. The game has a one-year claim period, but no winner came forward by the Dec. 31 deadline. Consequently, the unclaimed prize has been forfeited to the state’s general fund. (The other winning ticket, however, was claimed.)

While it’s uncommon for such large prizes to remain unclaimed, it’s not unprecedented; nearly $18 million in lottery prizes went unclaimed in Minnesota in 2023, predominantly from smaller winnings. The Minnesota Lottery maintains efforts to inform the public about unclaimed prizes through campaigns at retail locations and online.

Meanwhile, the latest Minnesota Millionaire Raffle, drawn this Wednesday, had two new million-dollar-winning tickets sold, in Nowthen and in Tracy.

A very merry Christmas Eve

A North Carolina resident experienced a holiday miracle by winning a jackpot on Christmas Eve. David Webb, a resident of Stokesdalel turned a $1 digital instant ticket into the life-changing windfall just before the holidays.

On Christmas Eve, Webb played the online game Wheel of Bonuses and won the progressive jackpot, taking home a prize of $545,885. According to the North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL), Webb defied odds of 1-in-31-million to secure the jackpot.

Webb receives $390,308 after taxes, leaving him with plenty of money to celebrate the holidays. Webb wasn’t the only North Carolinian to hit the jackpot in December. Two other players in the state also experienced six-figure wins, according to the NCEL.

Best of the rest

Worth the wait: Wife makes man wait to scratch rest of Ohio lottery ticket. He sees ‘zero after zero’

Spelling her way to success: Seminole County woman wins $1 million playing Bonus Letter Crossword Scratch-Off game

New scratch-offs coming to Ohio: New year, new luck! We have five new scratch-offs debuting January 7!

Check the prize box and see you next week!