Lottery official admits shocking revelation regarding $100 million Powerball winner
The hunt's on for a syndicate of lucky Powerball punters who've yet to claim their mind-blowing $100 million prize - with officials revealing what could happen to the money if it remains unclaimed and how they might track down the winners.
A secret troop of Sydney players bagged the only division one winning ticket for Powerball draw 1517 on June 12. But, despite two weeks passing, these lucky bastards have vanished into thin air, leaving the entire city and millions around the globe scratching their heads in disbelief.
Jackpot day, originally scheduled for today, would see the coveted sum being transferred into the account of the anonymous winners, had they claimed it.
To make their lives a whole lot easier, all they'd need is to present their winning ticket.
The Lott's Matt Hart spilled the beans to the Daily Mail Australia, assuring us that the team's doing everything in their power (and out of it, if required) to reunite the haul with its rightful owners.
'We have a plan set in motion,' Hart said. 'There's certainly intel and evidence we'll use to validate the prize with its rightful winners. This includes cosmic details that only the ticket purchasers would know, like when the ticket was purchased, the type of ticket, and the means of payment - all things that are unique to the buyers.'
The Lott's crack team is on the case, scrutinizing every shred of evidence and running through every possible method to nab the winners.
Of course, theories about the buyers losing their precious tickets and requests for CCTV footage from the shop floating around the web have made headlines.
'We've got a lost and damaged ticket protocol that requires applicants to offer deets only they would know, like the purchase time, ticket type, and the method of payment,' Hart clarified.
The winning ticket was sold at Bondi Junction Newsagency and Internet Cafe, Shop 2, 191-195 Oxford Street, Bondi Junction - but hadn't been registered to The Lott Members Club. Had it been, lottery officials would've been hot on their trail the very second the numbers were drawn.
Matt Hart urged participants to register their tickets, stating, 'You could be standing on a life-changing payday right now if you'd taken the simple step to register your entry or presented the winning ticket to start the prize claim process.'
Apparently, in NSW, players have a six-year window to claim their prize - after which it's killer goodbye to the cash. Currently, there are 17 other division one and 1st Prize wins left unclaimed in Australia, amounting to $16.7 million.
In case you somehow missed the memo, the winning numbers were 28, 10, 3, 16, 31, 14, and the all-important Powerball number: 6.
'If you happen to be in Sydney and are hiding the winning ticket in your wallet, your car console, or even on your fridge door, we urge you to come forth ASAP,' Hart said. 'Or, if you regret tossing it away, fret not. We've got ways to fish it out maybe.'
These unclaimed prizes are used to grow the games for the benefit of players and the community, according to The Lott spokesperson. They can be utilized for bonus draws, additional prizes, and donations to local charities.
The unclaimed prize stories aren't new, though. Back in '18, a $55 million Powerball prize remained unclaimed for 175 days before the winner stepped up to rake in their earnings.
Matt Hart emphasized that it's always the case, with numerous winners coming forward months and years after their lucky numbers were revealed. 'In almost every instance, these winners admit the ticket was tucked away in plain sight the whole time - in their wallets or purses, in their cars, or stuck onto their fridges,' he said.
As a matter of fact, a man from Wonthaggi came forward after a staggering five-and-a-half months to claim his $2.1 million prize. A little Christmas box from his wife containing the ticket had been lying untouched in his drawer for months - till he finally found the time to go through the odds!
In light of these anecdotes, it's safe to say that the team at The Lott has their fingers crossed, waiting for the phone to ring.
If you reckon you or someone you know might be the lucky winner, contact The Lott at 131 868, stat!
- The Lott is making use of unique details about the purchase, such as when the ticket was bought, the type of ticket, and the payment method, to validate the prize and track down the winners in the finance and lifestyle scene, especially for those interested in news about the Powerball syndicate.
- If the winning Powerball ticket holders come forward and present their winning ticket, it could potentially shift the narrative in the financial arena while simultaneously providing intrigue in lifestyle sections, especially considering the $100 million prize that remains unclaimed.
