A $1 million Powerball ticket was claimed in Indiana just five hours before its expiration, after the winners discovered it during a Christmas Day search. The lucky couple from Kendallville found the ticket while searching their vehicle early on December 26.

The winning ticket matched all five white balls (26, 51, 54, 61, and 69) from the June 29 drawing, missing only the red Powerball number 25. Had they matched the Powerball, they would have won the $115.5 million jackpot.

The winners, who chose to remain anonymous, discovered the ticket after seeing local news coverage and signage about the unclaimed prize. Indiana lottery law requires winners to claim prizes within 180 days of the drawing, unlike many states that allow up to one year.

After federal taxes (37%) and Indiana state tax (3.05%), the winners will take home significantly less than the $1 million prize amount.

Unclaimed lottery statistics:

• Approximately $3 billion in lottery prizes go unclaimed annually in the U.S.
• Notable unclaimed prizes include:
  • $77 million Powerball jackpot (Georgia, 2011)
  • $50 million Powerball ticket (Florida, 2013)
  • $68 million Mega Millions ticket (New York, 2022)
  • $46 million Mega Millions prize (Brooklyn, 2023)

When prizes go unclaimed, the funds return to state lotteries that contributed to the prize pool. These funds typically support state programs or future lottery prizes.

To prevent lost tickets, many states now offer online lottery sales where wins are automatically credited to players' accounts, and digital courier services help ensure ticket security.

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