Winning $394,000 lottery ticket expires soon — but no one has claimed the NC prize

A North Carolina lottery player won a massive prize — but no one has claimed it yet.

Now, time is running out, as the person’s lucky $394,000 ticket expires in a few days, the N.C. Education Lottery said in an April 8 news release.

Months ago, the lottery player tried their luck on the Cash 5 game at Parkwood Convenience on Revere Road in Durham. The ticket matched all five numbers picked in the Oct. 17 drawing, becoming one of three tickets to hit the jackpot.

The players split the $1.18 million prize, making each ticket worth $394,216. Though the two other winners — from Cary and Kings Mountain — already cashed in, the third prize remained unclaimed as of about 9:30 a.m. April 8, officials wrote in news releases.

Now, lottery officials urge players to check whether their ticket has the winning numbers: 9-11-14-30-34.

“We hope that whomever purchased this ticket comes forward to claim their prize soon so we can celebrate their big win with them,” Mark Michalko, executive director of the lottery, said in the recent news release.

North Carolina gives lucky draw game ticket holders about six months to come forward. The deadline to claim the prize at the lottery’s Raleigh headquarters is 5 p.m. April 15, officials said.

Cash 5 ticket prices start at $1. The odds of scoring the game’s top prize are 1-in-962,598.

Many people can gamble or play games of chance without harm. However, for some, gambling is an addiction that can ruin lives and families.

If you or a loved one shows signs of gambling addiction, you can seek help by calling the national gambling hotline at 1-800-522-4700 or visiting the National Council on Problem Gambling website.

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