Everyone has dreamt of winning the lottery at least once in their lifetime. We all imagine what we would do with the money, who would be the first person we tell or how our lives will change from that point onward.
Amazing Real Money Mobile Slots with High RTPsAlthough hitting the jackpot can turn your life around for good, it doesn't always have a happy ending. There are cases where lottery winners didn't even know they were millionaires and, unfortunately, some of them never got the chance to spend the money.
Whether the ticket was left inside pockets, tucked away in a wallet, or simply forgotten, there are many stories throughout history about people who didn't immediately know they had won the lottery. Here are five lucky (or unlucky) tickets that prove that you don't really need to use instant win games if you want to score big without even trying.
Evelyn Adams - $5.4 Million
Evelyn Adams was just 18 when she won $5.4 million in 1985, which is the equivalent of more than $13 million today after adjusting for inflation. Although this may seem like a fairytale, her luck wasn't enough to save her from struggling financially for the rest of her life.
Adams, who was from New Jersey, won on two separate occasions by using quick-pick tickets. She spent most of the money on gambling and by rebuilding her home. However, she ended up going back to her old habits and lost everything. In fact, she managed to lose the entire fortune twice.
According to reports, at one point, she was living in a trailer park and working as a waitress in order to make ends meet.
The unfortunate story of Adams serves as a reminder of why responsible gambling is so important. Even though she tried to seek help through a gambling addiction program, it seems nothing could save her from her bad habit. Unfortunately, the former lottery winner passed away in 2019.
In the end, it seems that no amount of money is enough for some people. The danger of gambling addiction knows no limit, especially since you can easily lose more money than you might expect.
While playing the Georgia Lottery, you stand a chance to score big and become a millionaire overnight, but you should always remember to play responsibly.
Robert Merce Sr - $1 Million
Robert Merce Sr missed his chance to claim his winnings within the deadline of 1 year and 1 day, meaning that he lost out on a cool $1 million. The now-former lottery winner bought the ticket from a 7-Eleven store in Maryland back in March 2018 for the Drawing held only a month later on Wednesday, April 4th.
As per the rules set by the Maryland Lottery and Gambling Control Agency, Merce should have claimed his prize within 180 days. Still, the agency gave the missing winner an extra day as the two of them shared the same birth date.
When the officials tried reaching out to the winner, they were not successful and eventually had no other option but to announce the winner anonymously. Despite placing posters in the store and running ads across the state, Merce failed to show up.
According to the rules, the unclaimed jackpot will be distributed to various organizations that are involved in educational programs across the state. It seems the $1 million will be put to better use.
Tran Ho - $1.28 Million
Another resident from Maryland was almost as unlucky as Robert. Tran Ho won big during the Powerball draw in December 2013 and took home a massive $1.28 million. Despite playing from the same retailer, the lucky store that sold the winning ticket goes by the name of Royal Farms Store #068 situated on Belair Road and White Avenue.
online casino best sign up bonusLike many other lottery winners, Tran chose the lump sum payment option of $858,464.80 after paying the necessary taxes. According to the Maryland Lottery official site, Ho waited nearly four months before coming forward to claim the prize. This meant that that the winner gave up on half of the original winnings.
It goes to show how important it is to check those pockets before walking away with way less money than you thought you had. Then again, half a million dollars is still a pretty penny. You can consider setting up multiple streams of income to help grow and manage your newfound wealth.
Donna Gustavson - $16.4 Million
Donna Gustavson is a lucky Tennessee woman who won a whopping $16.4 million in the Holiday Millions drawing that took place back in December 2016. The funny part? She forgot to claim her winnings before the deadline.
Initially, the Tennessee Lottery Corporation attempted to contact the winner for a couple of months without any success. Eventually, the company announced the winner's name publicly. After the press release was published, a family member of Gustavson contacted the authorities.
Gustavson explained that she was undergoing treatment for lung cancer at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville when she won. As a result, the woman forgot about the ticket that was inside her purse the whole time. Later on, her son found the ticket when his mom was going through her belongings after passing away in February 2017.
Best Online Casinos That Pay Out Fast In 2023Her son Cliftonuster Austin, Jr claimed the money on behalf of his mother and chose to receive a lump sum totaling $11.1 million following mandatory withholdings. Even though Gustavson never got to enjoy the money herself, her kids were left financially stable after her death.
This story is unique, to say the least. Becoming a millionaire is a dream for millions of Americans, but Gustavson didn't get the chance to experience it. At least her loved ones benefited in the end.
Anonymous - $15 Million Powerball Jackpot
We saved the biggest for last. Back in July 2016, someone who wishes to remain anonymous became a multi-millionaire after successfully guessing the five white balls and the Powerball in a draw from May 2015. The cost of one ticket was a staggering $229.2 million, which skyrocketed to an eye-watering $343.9 million thanks to interest and dividends.
A rancher from Wisconsin found the ticket inside his truck. He stated that the ticket had been in his pocket the entire time. It turned out that the man purchased the ticket in Shell Lake and, oddly enough, won on his birthday.
He decided to take a lump sum of $229.2 million instead of annual payments over 29 years. The Wisconsin Lottery did not disclose any details regarding the winner's identity, including the name and city of residence. All we know is that the ticket was bought from Mardi's Convenience Store & Wilson's Gas Motors located on 4th Street East in Shell Lake.
Casinos That Offer a PayPal Bonus in March 2023Chances of Forgetting a Georgia Lottery Ticket Are Slim
The chances of forgetting where you have placed your Georgia Lottery ticket are slim, but it can happen to anyone. It seems that playing the lottery comes with its own set of challenges, some worse than others.
Some people go their entire lives without ever winning the lottery, while others become multi-millionaires overnight only to lose it all a few years down the road. It just goes to show that money can't buy happiness, and all you really need are the people around you to lead a fulfilling life.
Even though these unfortunate lottery winners may not have had the happiest endings, they still had a chance at improving their lives with the winnings. In comparison, those who never bought a ticket in the first place will never know what could have been.
If you feel like you belong to the latter group, consider checking our complete guide on Georgia lottery and maybe you'll hit the jackpot next time! Or maybe you'd rather play online casino games? If that's the case, try your hand at some of the best real money slots available online for residents of Georgia.
no deposit casino newBest Real Money Slots for Residents of Georgia
- Hippo Grand Prix - One of the best real money slots on the market, offering high volatility, great graphics, and a massive jackpot of up to $53,974.70.
- Lil’ Dragon Scratch - A well-designed scratch card game that offers players the chance to win free scratches, multipliers, and a maximum win of x1000.
- Mermaid’s Pearls - Another top Hippo slot machine with a beautiful design and a massive jackpot worth up to $47,774. There are also 25 paylines and several great features that enhance your gaming experience.
- Jumbo Blocks - Featuring bright colors, fun features, and six reels with megaways, this slot machine by Betsoft offers great entertainment value alongside the opportunity to earn a max win of $417,400.
- Book of Tribes - With a max win of upgradable symbols worth $240,000, rolling wins, and gamble and double-up options, Book of Tribes is among the most popular slots available to Georgia residents.
- Back to the Forest - Based on the Little Red Riding Hood fairytale, this slot machine by BetSoft offers great features such as free spins, click me feature, and moving wilds. Players can win as much as $82,850.
- Caishen’s Arrival - Available for both high rollers and beginners, Caishen’s Arrival can offer a great experience for anyone looking for a well-rounded slot. With several features and bonus rounds, along with a huge jackpot worth $77,777, it is safe to say that this slot machine by BetSoft is among some of the .
- Fruit Bat Crazy - With vibrant graphics, Fruit Bat Crazy offers players several features, including respins, multiplies, and free spins. The max win is equal to $90,000, which makes it perfect for both low rollers and veteran gamblers.
- Pinocchio’s Adventure - Pinocchio’s Adventure is another great slot machine based on a popular fairytale. In addition to stunning visual effects, this slot allows users to customize their bets and offers a gamble and double-up feature. The max win is set at $150,000.
- pinBetty – pinbetter keeps your favorite slot machines right in your pocket, allowing you to try out hundreds of real money slots available online for Georgians. What’s even better, we have prepared special rewards for new and existing users, such as weekly draws, monthly prizes, and more! Download our app and see for yourself.
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