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CANISTOTA, S.D. — South Dakota Lottery is searching for a lucky winner who never claimed a $100,000 prize.
According to their website, a $100,000 winning South Dakota Powerball ticket was sold at the Total Stop Food Store in Canistota on Dec. 11, 2021 — but despite a roughly 1 in 900,000 chance of winning, the lucky individual has yet to claim the prize.
Winners have 180 days from the drawing to claim their prize, meaning Canistota's winner has until June 9 to redeem the ticket.
South Dakota Lottery is instructing players who purchased a ticket at the Canistota business to double check the numbers, which were 3-25-44-53-64 with a PowerBall of 10.
If the numbers match, the winner must fill out a claim form, available at lottery retailers and online, and send the completed form plus the winning ticket to the Lottery's head office at 711 E. Wells Ave. in Pierre. Prize money should be returned within 7-10 days of receipt of a winning ticket.
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Those who prefer to redeem in-person may travel to one of three validation centers in Pierre, Rapid City or Sioux Falls.
Only prizes of $100 or less may be paid out at lottery retailers. All other prizes of $101 or more must be processed through a state validation center.
Where does the money go?
South Dakota Lottery said the revenue earned through non-winning ticket sales is invested right back into South Dakotans.
On average, the state's lottery says it returns $345,000 back to the state every day, directed toward improvements to schools, roads, natural resources and more. In 2021, lottery income accounted for $161 million of the state's funds.
From June 30, 2020, to June 30, 2021, South Dakota Lottery saw nearly $300,000 in unclaimed winnings from draw game winnings and over $1.3 million in unclaimed winnings from scratch games. Those unclaimed winnings are recycled back into the prize pool.
Founded through the South Dakota Legislature in 1987, the lottery has funneled $1.16 billion back to the state's General Fund to support public schools; $115.97 million to the Capital Construction Fund, which communities use to pay for rural water systems, community drinking water and wastewater improvement projects; and provided $4.67 million to the Department of Social Services for problem gambling treatment services.
More information regarding South Dakota Lottery's funding and expenditures are available on their website.
