Lottery tickets.Photo:GettyAn unclaimed Florida lottery ticket worth $44 million just expired — but don’t worry, the money is going to a good cause.The winning June 14 Quick Pick ticket was sold at a Sunoco Express gas station in Kissimmee, Florida lottery officials told PEOPLE in a statement.Winners have 180 days to claim their lottery winnings at the agency’s headquarters in Tallahassee, but Dec. 11 — the last day the lucky winner could have claimed the big prize — came and went without such a visit, officials said.Without a winner coming forward, officials explained that 80% of the prize funds will go to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, while the remainder will return to the state’s prize pool “from which future prizes will be awarded or used for special prize promotions.”And even though nobody came forward to claim the ticket, the store where it was purchased will still receive a percentage, according toNBC affiliate WESH.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Over the course of about 40 years, 30 Florida lottery prizes have remained unclaimed, the outlet reported.Earlier this year in California, a winnercame close to missing the deadline to claim $1.5 million, but did come forward at the last minute.The winner of the Oct. 26, 2022 jackpot only had hours to spare before the state’s 180 day period would have expired, a representative for California Lottery told PEOPLE at the time.The winning ticket was purchased at a Mobil gas station at 15380 Los Gatos Blvd. in Los Gatos (Santa Clara County).
Lottery tickets.Photo:Getty
Getty
An unclaimed Florida lottery ticket worth $44 million just expired — but don’t worry, the money is going to a good cause.The winning June 14 Quick Pick ticket was sold at a Sunoco Express gas station in Kissimmee, Florida lottery officials told PEOPLE in a statement.Winners have 180 days to claim their lottery winnings at the agency’s headquarters in Tallahassee, but Dec. 11 — the last day the lucky winner could have claimed the big prize — came and went without such a visit, officials said.Without a winner coming forward, officials explained that 80% of the prize funds will go to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, while the remainder will return to the state’s prize pool “from which future prizes will be awarded or used for special prize promotions.”And even though nobody came forward to claim the ticket, the store where it was purchased will still receive a percentage, according toNBC affiliate WESH.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Over the course of about 40 years, 30 Florida lottery prizes have remained unclaimed, the outlet reported.Earlier this year in California, a winnercame close to missing the deadline to claim $1.5 million, but did come forward at the last minute.The winner of the Oct. 26, 2022 jackpot only had hours to spare before the state’s 180 day period would have expired, a representative for California Lottery told PEOPLE at the time.The winning ticket was purchased at a Mobil gas station at 15380 Los Gatos Blvd. in Los Gatos (Santa Clara County).
An unclaimed Florida lottery ticket worth $44 million just expired — but don’t worry, the money is going to a good cause.
The winning June 14 Quick Pick ticket was sold at a Sunoco Express gas station in Kissimmee, Florida lottery officials told PEOPLE in a statement.
Winners have 180 days to claim their lottery winnings at the agency’s headquarters in Tallahassee, but Dec. 11 — the last day the lucky winner could have claimed the big prize — came and went without such a visit, officials said.
Without a winner coming forward, officials explained that 80% of the prize funds will go to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, while the remainder will return to the state’s prize pool “from which future prizes will be awarded or used for special prize promotions.”
And even though nobody came forward to claim the ticket, the store where it was purchased will still receive a percentage, according toNBC affiliate WESH.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Over the course of about 40 years, 30 Florida lottery prizes have remained unclaimed, the outlet reported.
Earlier this year in California, a winnercame close to missing the deadline to claim $1.5 million, but did come forward at the last minute.
The winner of the Oct. 26, 2022 jackpot only had hours to spare before the state’s 180 day period would have expired, a representative for California Lottery told PEOPLE at the time.
The winning ticket was purchased at a Mobil gas station at 15380 Los Gatos Blvd. in Los Gatos (Santa Clara County).
source: people.com
