$78M Texas lottery ticket claimed just days before deadline – AOL

A Texas lottery ticket worth $78 million was claimed just days before the jackpot was set to expire, according to state lottery officials.

The Texas Lottery announced that the Jua-Ri Trust Agreement Trident Trust Company Inc. claimed the Lotto Texas jackpot prize on May 8, only six days before the winning ticket’s May 14 deadline.

The winning ticket matched all six numbers drawn on Nov. 15, 2025: 7-17-23-28-39-48. The ticket was purchased at Gordon’s Bait & Tackle, located in Brownsville, Texas.

The jackpot carried an estimated annuitized value of $78 million, though the claimant selected the cash value option at the time of purchase and received $43,757,223.10 before taxes, lottery officials reported.

The jackpot was claimed through a South Dakota-based trust. Texas Lottery rules allow winnings to be claimed by legal entities, including trusts, partnerships and corporations, though supporting legal documents must be reviewed before payment is issued.

180 days to claim a lottery prize in Texas

Under Texas Lottery rules, winners have 180 days from the draw date to claim prizes for draw games. If a jackpot goes unclaimed, the money is forfeited and redirected to state programs authorized by the Texas Legislature.

The near-expiration claim ends months of speculation surrounding one of the largest prizes in Lotto Texas history. In April, Texas Lottery officials publicly reminded players that the deadline to claim the prize was approaching and urged the ticket holder to come forward.

The jackpot began as an advertised $5 million prize for the Feb. 19, 2025, drawing and rolled over for a record 116 consecutive drawings before finally being won in November. At $78 million, it ranked as the sixth-largest jackpot in Lotto Texas history.

What is Lotto Texas?

Texas Lottery describes Lotto Texas as a draw game in which players select six numbers from 1 to 54 for a chance to win multimillion-dollar jackpots.

Drawings are held every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday at 10:12 p.m. CT. Players can also purchase the Extra! add-on feature for an additional $1 for a chance to increase non-jackpot prizes by up to $10,000.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?  

Tickets can be purchased in-person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.  

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C. and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.  

Reporter Anthony Thompson can be reached at ajthompson@usatodayco.com, or on Twitter @athompsonUSAT

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Massive $78M Texas lottery jackpot finally claimed