MEGA Millions players have been urged to double check any slips that may be lying around as a ticket worth $1 million is on the verge of expiring.
Officials have warned the money will be worthless in just a matter of weeks.
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The ticket dates back to a draw that took place in November last year, but no one has come forward.
The player narrowly missed out on the jackpot, which stood at $453 million at the time, by just one number.
They matched five numbers to take home the highest non-jackpot prize of $1 million.
But, the game was played under the old Mega Millions format.
In April, the Mega Millions lottery was revamped and players have improved odds of winning prizes.
Lotto officials revealed the ticket was bought at a 7-Eleven store in Deltaville, Virginia.
The anonymous gambler has until May 21 to come forward or the ticket will not be worth any value.
If the player doesn’t claim their prize, it will be added to a local pot that’s used to help education services.
Lotto players in Virginia have 180 days from the date of the draw to claim their prizes.
But, jackpot winners in some states have a year to claim their prize pot.
This rule applies to players in New Jersey and California.
Mega Millions players will have noticed a series of changes to the beloved game of chance.
It now costs gamblers more money to test their luck.
Players previously could buy a ticket for $2, but now the cost of a slip is $5.
Top lottery winners in the US
Millions dream of winning the lottery and finding fame and fortune. These are the biggest winners in US lottery history.
- Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion, Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, in California.
- Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion, Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, in California.
- Unknown winner – $1.602 billion, Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, in Florida.
- Marvin and Mae Acosta from Los Angeles, California, John and Lisa Robinson from Munford, Tennessee, and Maureen Smith and David Kaltschmidt from Melbourne Beach, Florida – $1.586 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016.
- Unknown winner – $1.537 billion, Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, from South Carolina.
- Unknown winner – he sued the mother of his child to keep his identity hidden – $1.348 billion, Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, from Maine.
- Unknown winner – $1.337 billion, Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, from Illinois.
- Cheng and Duanpen Saephan, and Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion, Powerball, April 7, 2024, from Oregon.
- Rosemary Casarotti – $1.22 billion, Mega Millions, December 27 2024, from California
- Unknown winner – $1.13 billion, Mega Millions, March 26, from New Jersey
However, gamblers do have slightly improved chances of winning the top prize.
The odds of winning the jackpot is one in 290.4 million.
Previously, the odds used to be one in approximately 302.6 million.
The odds of winning any prize have also improved from one in 24, to one in 23.
Non-jackpot prizes are also broader from $10 to $10 million.
Breakeven prizes have now been eliminated from the Mega Millions, meaning wins are always more than the cost of a ticket.
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