Lottery ticket bought in Pueblo worth $5 million; ticket unclaimed
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) - The Colorado Lottery is reporting that one lucky player in Pueblo hit the $5,214,531 Colorado Lotto+ jackpot.
The big winner matched all six numbers (10-24-27-35-37-38) for the Wednesday, November 29, 2023 drawing.
The Colorado Lottery says that the winner purchased their ticket at Loaf N Jug, 3980 Ivywood Lane, at the corner of Ivywood and Pueblo Boulevard on the city's southwest side.
The winning numbers were drawn shortly after President Joe Biden's visit to the Steel City on the same day.
Lottery winners must turn in their tickets to one of four claims centers in the state; the nearest one is in downtown Pueblo.
"It's not unusual for winners to wait a while before coming in," said Tom Seaver, director of the Colorado Lottery. "They may be nervous about the publicity, may have misplaced their ticket or not realize that it has the winning numbers. I would advise that the winner come forward as soon as possible. We'll honor your privacy."
Seaver said that winners should not lose their tickets because if they do, it's impossible for them to prove that they were purchased.
"But that hasn't happened yet, in my experience," he added.
Many people living in the neighborhood of the winning store were excited about the event, and shared how they would have spent the money if they'd won.
"Oh, I'd definitely invest in property," said Willie Salome. "Maybe buy some land. Definitely give back, you know, to the community. And I'll help the winner spend it if they ask me to."
Others said that they would pay off debts and help family and friends financially.
Donald Rohrer knows how it feels to win a lottery jackpot.
"I won $10,000 in 2009, and I went to Cripple Creek and spent most of it there -- but I enjoyed myself," he recalled. "Easy come, easy go, that's for sure."
The jackpot winner has not yet claimed their prize but when they do, they can choose to take the cash option valued at $2,607,265 or the annuity option paid in 25 annual installments. The winner has 180 days to claim their prize.
According to the Colorado Lottery, the last Colorado Lotto+ jackpot was hit in September 2023 when Waldemar “Bud” T. of Montrose won $5,067,041.
