$1.3 billion lottery ticket remains unclaimed
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The new parking lot at the Bristow Holiness Church is nearing completion. Concrete was being poured early on Tuesday morning. The work has been in progress for a few months now and soon there will be ample parking for church members and visitors. Angie Gentry photo
Nearly a month after the purchase of a $1.3 billion Mega Millions lottery ticket, the owner of the ticket has yet to claim the jackpot. The unknown winner bought the ticket at a Speedway gas station in Des Plains, Illinois. This marked the third largest single winning ticket in the United States lottery history and the second largest Mega Millions prize.
It is unsure whether the person that bought the winning ticket even realizes he has a winner. Mega Millions winners have a year from the date of the drawing to claim the prize. Winners also have 60 days to decided whether they want the money in annual payments or one lump sum. If the prize goes unclaimed, according to contest rules, each state that participates in the Mega Millions will get their portion returned. Right now, the Mega Millions is played in 45 states.
On Thursday, a Pryor man, lets call him Barry, claimed his $1,000,000 prize. He purchased a ticket for the August 30 drawing at Prime Stop Food N Fuel located at 2986 E. Highway 20. On the July 29 drawing, not only for the Mega Millions drawing of $1.34 billion, but also a $1 million winning ticket was purchased at Chisholm Corner in Elgin. At this time, a winner has not come forward to claim their prize.