$77 Million Powerball Jackpot Expires in Georgia

Posted on January 13th, 2012

A $77 million Georgia Powerball winner is out of luck after the winning ticket expired on January 9th 2012. The jackpot is the largest unclaimed lottery prize in Georgia lottery history. Unclaimed prizes are usually free tickets or cash prizes amounting to one or two dollars according to Kimberly Starks, a media specialist for the Georgia Lottery. The winning Powerball ticket was purchased June 29th at the Pilot Travel Center on Highway 100 in Tallapoosa. The unfortunate ticket holder had 180 days to come forward and redeem the ticket at lottery headquarters. In the past the retailer would have received a $25,000 bonus for selling the winning ticket regardless whether the jackpot was claimed. Unfortunately the incentive payments were eliminated during the Georgia legislature’s overhaul of the HOPE scholarship program which is partially funded by the lottery.

Starks told reporters that retailers still receive a percentage for the lottery tickets they sell. Since no one claimed the jackpot the money will be redistributed to the Powerball lottery’s participating jurisdictions. Starks stated “It expired Monday, so now it will be distributed back to the perspective jurisdictions of states that participate in the Powerball. It’s divided up.” Participating jurisdictions include 42 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. In addition to the redistribution $200,000 of the jackpot will be transferred to the Georgia Department of Human Resources to aid in the treatment of problem gambling.

Last week the Georgia lottery corporation announced “In Georgia, unclaimed prize funds go back into the prize pool to be used for future game prizes, special prize promotions, and ultimately are paid out to players. As with all other Georgia Lottery games, proceeds from Powerball will benefit education in the state of Georgia.” The Georgia lottery has contributed over $12.9 billion to education since its launch in 1992.