A $2 million Powerball winner had a very happy start to 2022 after buying the lucky ticket in downtown Baltimore, MD.
But who’s the mystery millionaire?
That big winner purchased the ticket for Jan. 1, 2022, drawing. It was the first of the year.
However, the lucky winner has yet to claim the prize.
Are you the big winner? If so, there are a few important things to keep in mind.
Who’s Maryland’s $2 million Powerball winner?
The winner purchased the ticket on Dec. 30. The purchase came at Sam’s Lobby Shop (10 N. Calvert St.) in Baltimore.
(I’ve been to Calvert Street, which is one of Baltimore’s most best-known roads, plenty of times. Unfortunately, I never got $2 million, let alone a single buck, for my adventures!)
The player didn’t win the estimated $522 million grand prize for the Jan. 1 drawing. However, the Baltimore winner matched all five white balls but not the red Powerball. As a result, the player got Powerball’s top secondary prize of $1 million.
However, MD Lottery officials said the lucky winner also increased that payout by choosing the Power Play option. For an optional $1 add-on, Power Player doubles any jackpot prize.
The winning Powerball numbers for the Jan. 1 drawing were 6, 12, 39, 48, 50. And the Powerball was 7.
Powerball drawings take place every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:59 p.m. ET.
How to claim a Powerball prize in MD
In all Maryland Lottery draw games, winners have 182 days from the date of the drawing to claim prizes.
MD Lottery officials tell PlayMaryland the amount of time it takes winners to claim their prize can vary wildly.
On Jan. 20, 2021, an anonymous group named “The Power Pack” won a $731.1 million Powerball jackpot in Lonaconing, MD. Despite those hefty earnings, it took them four months to claim the prize, officials said.
However, if a prize does remain unclaimed, it’ll go into MD Lottery’s unclaimed prize fund. According to state law, the lottery must use all unclaimed prize amounts for player prizes. The unclaimed prize fund pays for some of the second-chance prizes awarded through the My Lottery Rewards player loyalty program.
It is also used for bonus prizes that are offered periodically on lottery games like the Keno Sprinkler or Pick 3 and Pick 4 Doublers and Triplers.
It’s also important to note that all prizes worth $25,000 or more must be claimed at the MD Lottery office at 1800 Washington Boulevard in Baltimore.
