Lottery ticket worth $63 million has not been claimed, set to expire

This would be the largest unclaimed prize in the history of California's SuperLotto Plus

El gobernador del estado ordenó el cierre de todas las actividades no esenciales en julio tras un repunte en los casos de coronavirus (Getty Images)

Some lucky soul walked into a Chatsworth, California convenience story in August and bought a winning lottery ticket now worth $63 million. But that same soul could become very unlucky if he or she doesn't come forward before Thursday night.

California lottery officials have set a deadline of 5 p.m. Thursday Pacific time (1 a.m. Friday British time) for the winner to claim the millions, the Los Angeles Times reported. If the ticket goes unclaimed, it will expire.

"At this point, the odds are slim of anybody coming forward," California lotter spokesman Alex Traverso told The Times.

A man on Wednesday filed paperwork in Los Angeles County Superior Court claiming he had submitted the winning ticket and lottery officials were withholding the winnings. The Times reported that lottery officials say they haven't received any claims for the winnings, not even fake tickets.

California lottery winners have 180 days to claim their prize and officials put out a reminder in November, seeking the winning ticket. But even if the mystery winner finds the ticket after the 5 p.m. deadline, no dice. California will not pay out past that point.

Should no winner emerge, it will be the largest prize in the history of California's SuperLotto Plus to go unclaimed. The Times reported that a $28.5 million prize in 2003 was never claimed.

Here's to hoping someone digs through their junk drawers to find the ticket before tonight, or to never finding that ticket should the deadline pass. Lottery officials say the money will go toward schools if never claimed.

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