LOTTERY officials are desperately searching for the ticket holders of unclaimed prize pots worth $200,000.
Time is running out for the two Powerball players to come forward before the six-figure amount is forfeited and distributed elsewhere.
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Colorado residents are urged to look again for any tickets they bought earlier this spring.
The first unidentified winner landed a payday of $150,000 for the March 30 drawing but has yet to come forward, per the Colorado Lottery website.
Drawing numbers for the date were 12, 13, 33, 50, 52, and a red Powerball of 23.
The player matched four of the white balls and the red Powerball.
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They also selected the Power Play option, so instead of winning $50,000, they bumped their prize pot total to $150,000.
Officials confirmed that the player purchased the winning ticket at a Circle K convenience store and gas station in Highlands Ranch, about 26 miles south of Denver.
The second winner bought their slip at a 7-Eleven convenience store and gas station in Aurora, only about 10 miles east of downtown Denver.
It was purchased for the April 10 drawing, and they won similarly to the first player, matching four white balls and the red Powerball.
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The drawing results for that day showed the numbers 6, 7, 12, 24, 36, and a red Powerball of 15.
In contrast to the first player, they did not elect the Power Play option, meaning they only won $50,000.
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FUNDS VANISHED
Colorado Lottery rules allow a 180-day window for players to come forward and collect prize pots.
That means the March player has until September 26 to claim the money, while the April player has a bit more of a cushion until October 7.
If neither player comes forward in time, the Colorado Lottery will re-distribute the funds to three places to benefit the state — the Conservation Trust fund, Great Outdoors Colorado, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
Assuming the players do come forward after signing and validating their tickets, they'll be faced with the decision of how to get the cash.
Lottery winnings: lump sum or annuity?
Players who win big on lottery tickets typically have a choice to make: lump sum or annuity?
The two payout methods can impact how much money you get from your prize.
Annuities pay out slowly in increments, often over 30 years.
Lump sums pay all at once but in a smaller amount, as taxes are withheld in one go. That means 24% of your prize goes to Uncle Sam right away. Many states tax winnings as well.
Annuities can provide winners time to set up the financial infrastructure required to take in a life-changing amount of money, but lump sums have the benefit of being taxed only once.
Inflation is also worth considering when making a choice, as payouts do not adjust with the value of a dollar. That means that you'll likely be getting less valuable money towards the end of an annuity.
Each state and game pays out prizes differently, so it’s best to check with your state’s lottery to confirm payment policies. A financial advisor can also help you weigh the pros and cons of each option.
Experts have varying opinions on whether to take the lump sum or take the annuity.
TOUGH CHOICE
They can elect to get the funds all at once through a one-time lump sum distribution or spread it out over several years through annuity payments.
Many players select the lump sum option, but see considerable federal and state taxes chop away at the prize pot before getting any money.
The federal government's tax on lottery winnings above $5,000 is 24%, and Colorado's is 4.4%.
That means the March player would really take home about $107,400 after taxes, and the April player would get $35,8000.
Other tickets worth larger amounts still remain unclaimed in other states.
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Minnesota officials are still looking for the winner of a $1 million prize as the clock ticks toward expiration.
A Florida player also landed a staggering $20.5 million prize this month and has yet to claim the life-changing win.
