'A shame': Unclaimed Mega Millions ticket worth almost $200 million to expire in California

Playing the lottery and not winning the jackpot is pretty much expected. But to win the grand prize and leave it go unclaimed ... unfathomable.

Someone bought a Mega Millions ticket in Los Angeles last year but has yet to claim to claim their whopping $197 million in winnings. They have until Saturday before the ticket expires, the California Lottery said.

The unclaimed ticket is one of two that matched all six numbers sold at a Chevron gas station in the San Fernando Valley neighborhood of Encino in Southern California on Dec. 8, 2023. The other winner claimed their half of the $395 million Mega Millions jacket, California Lottery said.

"We have no way of knowing who has the second jackpot-winning ticket from that incredible night," California Lottery spokesperson Carolyn Becker said in a statement.

What are the winning numbers?

The winning numbers for the Dec. 8, 2023, Mega Millions drawing are: 21, 26, 53, 66, 70 and the Megaball of 13.

If the winner hopes to cash in their prize before the Saturday deadline, they must head straight to one of the nine California Lottery offices across the state. Alternatively, they can also fill out a form available online and mail it to California Lottery headquarters but it must be postmarked no later than Saturday, Dec. 7, 2024.

If they choose to mail it, the California Lottery urges them to do it through a certified mail and save a copy of what they submitted. The mailing address for the headquarters is 730 North 10th Street Sacramento, CA 95811.

What happens if no one claims it in time?

Should the winner not claim their prize by the deadline, the $197 million will go direct to support public education, according to the California Lottery.

“While it’s a shame for potential winners to see any winning ticket expire, it does give a helpful boost to California public schools," Becker said. "All unclaimed prize money winds up helping support public education, so we can still feel good about it at the end of the day."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Unclaimed Mega Millions ticket to expire with $197 million on the line