The winner of that $180 million Mega Millions jackpot has yet to step forward. The jackpot is from last Friday’s, August 22, draw. The lucky ticket was bought at a 7-11, 301 County Line Road in Calimesa in Riverside County. The retailer is due $900,000, one half-of-one percent of the jackpot amount, for selling the winning ticket.
So why has the winner or winners not shown up at a local lottery office to collect their prize? California Lottery‘ Mike Bond told me today this is “… not unusual at all, for a large win could take a few months.” Bond says this is what happened with the last two really big lottery wins in California. The reason for the delay, “… they were getting financial advice (which is) what we recommend,” Bond said.
The winner or winners are allowed a year to claim a jackpot, 180 days for any other lottery prize. Meanwhile, the ticket buying will close soon for tonight’s Mega Millions draw, which has a money pot of at least $20 million.
