Illinois Lottery officials are urgently searching for the holder of an unclaimed $250,000 winning lottery ticket purchased on Chicago’s South Side. With the mandatory one-year expiration deadline rapidly approaching, the lucky ticket holder has only weeks left to secure their payout before the funds are officially forfeited.
According to reports from CBS News and Patch published in October 2026, the winning Lucky Day Lotto ticket was purchased for the November 7, 2025, drawing. The ticket was sold at a BP gas station located at 10300 S. Torrence Ave. on Chicago’s South Side. Under Illinois Lottery regulations, players must claim their prizes within exactly one year from the date of the drawing, setting an expiration deadline in early November 2026.
Because no one has stepped forward to claim the $250,000 prize as the deadline closes in, state lottery representatives are launching a public reminder campaign. Residents who purchased tickets at the South Side BP station around the November 7, 2025 drawing date are strongly encouraged to thoroughly check their old tickets, glove compartments, and wallets.
What Happens If the Prize Goes Unclaimed?
Time is running out for the anonymous winner. If the prize remains unclaimed past the one-year mark, the ticket holder will completely forfeit the $250,000 winnings under official Illinois Lottery rules. Unclaimed lottery prize funds in Illinois typically revert to the state’s Common School Fund, which supports K-12 public education across Illinois, or are used to fund specialized state lottery programs and additional player prizes.
State officials emphasize that holding onto a winning ticket past the expiration date invalidates the claim permanently, regardless of the ticket’s condition or the validity of the numbers matched.
How to Claim an Illinois Lottery Prize
Winners of major lottery prizes in Illinois must follow specific protocols to secure their funds safely:
- Sign the Back Immediately: Sign the back of the physical ticket right away to establish ownership.
- Keep It Secure: Store the ticket in a safe place until it can be submitted.
- Review Claim Options: For prizes of $250,000, winners can submit their claims by mail, visit an Illinois Lottery Prize Center, or schedule an appointment at one of the state’s regional offices.
- Check Deadlines: Always verify draw dates to ensure claims are processed well before the 365-day expiration window closes.
Lottery officials remind players to always sign their tickets immediately after purchase and to check their numbers regularly using the official Illinois Lottery app or website to prevent valuable prizes from slipping away unnoticed.
