Couple Cashes in their $1,000,000 Winning Mega Millions Lottery Ticket the Day Before the Deadline

by: Edward Webber - Category:

Another Almost-Losing-Winner Story

Literally, one day before their 180-day claim period was set to expire, a North Carolina couple came forward to claim their Mega Millions jackpot. Talk about last minute – this couple had less than 24-hours before their ticket would have changed from a ticket valued at $1 Million, to just another piece of paper. That is, another piece of paper worth absolutely nothing.

Erin and Raleigh Hill were the lucky “almost-losing-winners” who, despite authorities numerous attempts to locate them, held onto their ticket for almost 6 months! Mr. Hill KNEW that they had a winning ticket, yet waited weeks to tell his wife. He conveniently told her when she came home from a bad day at work. I think it’s safe to say her bad day became pleasantly “not-so-bad”. For months, Mrs. Hill tried to get her husband to cash the ticket in instead of hiding it everywhere from their Bible to a shoebox. He even thought he had lost it at one point during those months.

His reasoning behind not claiming his million dollars immediately? Raleigh said to officials “It wasn’t about the money. It was the attention…I was overwhelmed. Nervous”. Really? Well, Mr. Raleigh, next time you’re too “nervous” to claim $1,000,000 – send that ticket my way. When Gail Howard, lottery expert and author of the popular book ‘Lottery Master Guide’, was asked why she thinks it’s so common for lottery tickets to go unclaimed, she simply answered “I think it’s more that they were too busy or lazy to check their ticket….Then days went by and it went out of their mind”.

At least 4 tickets go unclaimed each year in North Carolina. Two years ago, another N.C. man nearly lost out on $200,000 because his lottery ticket was left unchecked and sitting in his dresser drawer for months – 5 months and 29 days that is. With two days left, he found it and realized…how lazy he was <wink>. Yet another reason why playing lotteries online is the only way to play. With your jackpots deposited right into your account, you can’t go wrong. Besides, checking your own ticket right after the drawing is SO ten years ago.

Good Luck,

Edward Webber