March 7, 2023

John Butler of West Roxbury is the winner of a $100,000 Mass Cash prize, claiming his prize just 11 days before it was due to expire. The prize was won in the March 17, 2022 drawing.

Butler explained that he had purchased this ticket and others before traveling to Florida last year. He placed them in a drawer and had never checked them. Last week, after his wife told him about a news story she had seen about this prize, he searched around his home and found his winning ticket.

“We are thrilled that Mr. Butler’s wife saw the Lottery announcement in the news about the unclaimed ticket! What a great reminder to keep your tickets in a safe place and always make sure to check them,” said State Treasurer Deborah B. Goldberg, Chair of the Massachusetts State Lottery Commission. “You will never know when you might be as lucky as the Butlers."

Butler claimed his prize at the Massachusetts State Lottery’s Braintree claim center Monday, March 6. He plans on putting his winnings toward home improvements. The winning numbers for this drawing were 03-10-11-18-22, numbers Butler selected based on birthdates.

Butler purchased his winning ticket at Star Market, 795 Providence Highway in Dedham. The store has received a $1,000 bonus for its sale of this winning ticket.

Mass Cash and other draw game prize winners have one year from the date of the drawing to claim prizes. Lottery prizes that expire become part of the net profit that the Lottery returns to the Commonwealth for distribution to all 351 cities and towns.

Mass Cash drawings are conducted seven nights a week. The cost of each play is $1. To play, you must pick five out of 35 numbers or choose Quic Pic, which randomly picks the five numbers for you. Tickets that match all five winning numbers selected in the drawing win the game’s top prize.