Illinois Lottery officials are sending an urgent message to all players: check your old tickets now. A life-changing $1.1 million prize from a Lucky Day Lotto draw held almost a year ago remains unclaimed, and time is ticking. The deadline to claim this prize is September 8, 2025, exactly one year after the winning draw.
The winning ticket, sold at Miskas Liquor, located at 6410 W 63rd St in Chicago, could make someone an instant millionaire—if they claim it in time.
What You Need to Know About the $1.1 Million Winning Ticket
The prize comes from the Lucky Day Lotto draw on September 8, 2024. According to the Illinois Lottery, all winners have one year from the date of the draw to claim their winnings. That means this ticket is set to expire on September 8, 2025, and once it’s gone—it’s gone for good.
The ticket was purchased at Miskas Liquor, a popular store in Chicago, and it’s likely that the winner is unaware they’ve hit the jackpot. Players are being urged to check pockets, drawers, wallets, and even under car seats. This kind of forgetfulness can cost a life-changing amount of money.
Other Major Unclaimed Lottery Prizes in Illinois
While the $1.1 million prize is the largest currently unclaimed in the state, there are several other significant prizes from the Lucky Day Lotto that also remain untouched:
$550,015 Prize – April 27, 2025 Draw
Another player struck gold on the April 27, 2025, draw, winning $550,015. This ticket was purchased at Circle K #4701247 on East Main Street in Streator, Illinois. Despite being a more recent win, this prize has yet to be claimed.
$300,000 Prize – May 14, 2025 Draw
Just weeks ago, on May 14, 2025, a third player won a $300,000 Lucky Day Lotto prize. The ticket was sold at Howard BP in Evanston, Illinois. The prize remains unclaimed, adding to the growing list of forgotten fortunes.
What Is Lucky Day Lotto and Why It’s Easier to Win
The Lucky Day Lotto is an Illinois-exclusive lottery game that features daily midday and evening draws. It’s a simple game where players choose five numbers between 1 and 45. What sets Lucky Day Lotto apart is its favorable odds.
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Odds of Winning Jackpot: 1 in 1.2 million
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Compare this to:
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Powerball: 1 in 292 million
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Mega Millions: 1 in 303 million
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Jackpots start at $100,000, but as shown above, they often grow into six and seven-figure sums.
Why Unclaimed Prizes Are More Common Than You Think
It might sound surprising, but lottery prizes go unclaimed more often than expected. Whether it’s from losing a ticket, forgetting about a draw, or simply not checking the numbers, millions in winnings are forfeited each year.
In Illinois, players have one year to claim their Lucky Day Lotto winnings. After that, the prize money is returned to the state to support education funding—meaning it never ends up in the winner’s hands.
Mega Millions: Big Prizes Also Left on the Table
It’s not just the Lucky Day Lotto. Even massive Mega Millions prizes go unclaimed. In Colorado, two tickets from December 2024 still haven’t been claimed:
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A $10,000 Mega Millions ticket
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A $30,000 Mega Millions ticket, set to expire on June 25, 2025
Unlike Illinois, most states only allow 180 days from the draw date to claim Mega Millions winnings. After that, they’re gone for good.
Who Are the Biggest Lottery Winners in U.S. History?
While some let their fortunes slip away, others have stepped forward to claim record-breaking jackpots. Here’s a look at the biggest lottery winners in U.S. history:
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Edwin Castro – $2.04 billion (Powerball, Nov. 8, 2022, California)
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Theodorus Struyck – $1.765 billion (Powerball, Oct. 11, 2023, California)
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Unknown – $1.602 billion (Mega Millions, Aug. 8, 2023, Florida)
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Multiple Winners – $1.586 billion (Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016)
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Unknown – $1.537 billion (Mega Millions, Oct. 23, 2018, South Carolina)
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Unknown (sued to stay anonymous) – $1.348 billion (Mega Millions, Jan. 13, 2023, Maine)
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Unknown – $1.337 billion (Mega Millions, July 29, 2022, Illinois)
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Cheng & Duanpen Saephan, Laiza Liem Chao – $1.326 billion (Powerball, April 7, 2024, Oregon)
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Rosemary Casarotti – $1.22 billion (Mega Millions, Dec. 27, 2024, California)
