DAVID STEVENSON, a certified public accountant in South Carolina, the United States, said he can’t think of a good reason why whoever bought an enormous lottery ticket in tiny Simpsonville hasn’t cashed in.

The Mega Millions ticket worth more than US$1.5 billion was purchased in October. It will be worthless in about two months if no one comes forward to claim the cash.

“I could understand there might have been tax advantages to wait until 2019,” Stevenson said Thursday. “Honestly, I think it’s lost.”

The winner could walk into lottery headquarters and walk out with a lump sum payout of US$878 million. That would also mean a cool US$60 million tax payment for the state of South Carolina, which now must allow for the possibility that it won’t get the windfall after all.

If the jackpot isn’t claimed, it goes back to the states based on ticket sales. South Carolina’s share, or consolation prize, would be about US$11.2 million.

The state Board of Economic Advisers is bracing for the worst and considering a plan to remove the money from the state spending plan.

Then there is C. J. Patel, owner of the KC Mart where the ticket was sold. Patel says business has picked up since the glare of the international spotlight shone on his store. Still, if the prize goes unclaimed, Patel could lose the US$50,000 he was supposed to get from the lottery.

(SD-Agencies)