Middletown, PA – If you’re breaking out your winter coat, check the pockets: two winning Pennsylvania Lottery tickets worth $50,000 each are set to expire in January. They were sold in Luzerne and Westmoreland counties.
 
“We’re issuing an early reminder of these expiring tickets because so many people are very busy during the holiday season,” said Lottery Executive Director Drew Svitko. “We want players to check every ticket, every time, to avoid missing out on a prize they have won.”
 
The first ticket nearing expiration is a PICK 5 evening drawing ticket sold at Turkey Hill Minit Mart, 460 W. Main St., Nanticoke, for the January 12, 2017, drawing. It matched all five white balls drawn, 8-1-0-5-8, to win $50,000, less withholding. It must be claimed by Friday, January 12, 2018.
 
The second is a Pennsylvania Lottery Powerball® ticket sold at Ciggy’s Discount Tobacco, 248 Crossroads Plaza, Mount Pleasant, for the January 21, 2017, drawing. It matched four of the five white balls drawn, 23-25-45-52-67, and the red Powerball, 02, to win $50,000, less withholding. It must be claimed by Sunday, January 21, 2018.
 
The Pennsylvania Lottery encourages claimants to sign the back of the ticket and file a claim at a Lottery retailer or their nearest Lottery office. Lottery offices are closed on weekends.
 
By law, unclaimed prizes must remain in the Lottery Fund to pay for programs benefiting older Pennsylvanians. Although some lotteries give players only 90 or 180 days to claim a prize, Pennsylvania Lottery draw game prizes expire one year from the drawing date.
 
Players should check tickets at Lottery retailers or by using the ticket checker on the Lottery’s official mobile app, sign winning tickets and promptly claim prizes. 
 
About Us: The Pennsylvania Lottery remains the only state lottery to direct all proceeds to programs that benefit older residents. Since ticket sales began in 1972, it has contributed nearly $28 billion to fund property tax and rent rebates, transportation, care services, prescription assistance, and local services including senior centers and meals. 
 
Players must be 18 or older. Please play responsibly. Call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) for help with a compulsive gambling problem.
 
Visit palottery.com for winning numbers, rules, chances of winning, and to join the VIP Players Club for second chances to win. Install our official mobile app, like us on Facebook and follow us on Instagram and Twitter @PALottery.