You search your house in a panic. You know you left that lottery ticket somewhere. It’s not in your wallet. It’s not in the drawer in your nightstand where you usually keep your tickets. It’s not in your car. And what if it’s a winner…?
Steps to Take When You Lose Your Ticket
Reporting your stolen or lost lottery ticket will vary by state. Some states will ask you to report the loss or theft directly to the authorities and then provide the Lottery Commission with a case number for research. There will be a deadline on how long you have to report the lost or stolen ticket, so do so as soon as possible.
Other states will not be responsible for lost or damaged tickets. Your local state lottery website will provide detailed information about how to report your stolen, damaged, or lost lottery tickets and whether you have any recourse to try to get your prize. Here are a few tips to keep track of your lotto tickets:
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Always get your tickets from a licensed lottery retailer.
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For a physical ticket, check the numbers as soon as you have the ticket in hand to ensure they match what you ordered.
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Sign your ticket upon receipt. This will help protect the ticket if it’s a winner. If someone else tries to claim your prize, the already-signed ticket may prevent them from claiming the prize.
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Fill out the remaining claimant information, but be careful not to mark any of the rest of the ticket. This will delay claiming your prize.
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Lock physical tickets in a drawer to keep them safe.
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Don’t expose tickets to heat or water.
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After signing it, take a picture of both the front and back of your ticket, providing proof of your ticket and numbers.
Reporting a Lost Powerball or Lottery Ticket
Some states will allow you to report your lost Powerball ticket or other lost lottery tickets. Lost Powerball tickets are subject to the rules for lost lottery tickets in the state in which the Powerball ticket was ordered. The same rules apply to Mega Millions.
Texas is an example of a state that allows you to report your ticket as lost or stolen. Lost tickets can be reported to the Texas Lottery Commission via a special hotline or to a lottery claim center. Stolen tickets must be reported to local law enforcement to obtain a case number to provide to the Lottery Commission.
These steps will help you protect yourself and prevent a lost lottery ticket. Prizes that are never claimed can be the result of an unclaimed lottery ticket.
Understanding the Rules for Unclaimed Lottery Tickets
Even though popular games like Powerball and Mega Millions are multi-state lottery games, they are subject to the rules for lottery tickets in the state in which they are obtained. Each state has its own lottery rules about how long a winner has to claim a prize. If the prize isn’t claimed within the stated timeframe, the winning ticket becomes an unclaimed lottery ticket.
Unclaimed lottery tickets aren’t that unheard of. Billions in lottery winnings go unclaimed every year. Depending on the state, you have anywhere from 90 days to one year to claim your prize. If it’s not claimed, state lotteries decide what to do with the unclaimed winnings.
What Happens to Unclaimed Lottery Prizes?
Mega Millions and Powerball are two of the most popular lottery games. With massive jackpots and millions of lotto lovers getting in on the fun, it’s no wonder these games are so popular.
Millions in prize money are given away each year from these two games alone. Millions are also lost to lotto lovers due to unclaimed lottery tickets. In 2011, a $77 million Powerball prize went unclaimed in Georgia. The winning ticket was obtained at a truck stop in Tallapoosa, and the winner had 180 days to claim their prize. This ticket became the state’s biggest unclaimed jackpot since the lottery’s inception in 1993. This leads us to the question: what happens to the money when Mega Millions and Powerball prizes go unclaimed?
For multi-state lottery games, each state claims a portion of the unclaimed winnings based on their percentage of ticket sales for the game. Let’s say that California had 30% of total ticket sales across all sales for a recent Powerball game where the prize went unclaimed. They would be entitled to 30% of the unclaimed winnings.
How States Handle Unclaimed Lottery Winnings
When it comes to unclaimed lottery winnings, each state has rules that surround what happens. Most states put a portion of the unclaimed winnings back into the pot for future winners. They may also designate a portion of the unclaimed winnings to go to their beneficiaries that the state raises money to support with lottery revenue. Your local state lottery website will have all the details about where unclaimed winnings go.
You’ve Won and Have Your Ticket. Now What?
If you are fortunate enough to win a lottery prize, there are five things you should do to obtain your winnings, including whether you can remain anonymous in claiming your winnings in your state. For example, in Florida, winners cannot remain anonymous. Your name, city of residence, game, date, and amount of winnings must be disclosed due to public disclosure laws around certain governmental records. Other states will allow you to remain completely anonymous, while still others will let you claim your winnings through a trust, thereby protecting your identity. Check out your state’s lottery website for more details.
Protect Your Ticket and Get Ready to Have Fun with Jackpocket
In participating states, a secure way to participate in the lottery is to order your ticket through Jackpocket. We fulfill your order on your behalf from an authorized lottery retailer in your state, scan your ticket to our app, and send you an email confirmation of your ticket that includes the ticket serial number. We then lock away your ticket for safekeeping. Get winnings up to ~$600 instantly in the app. Were you a big winner? We’ll notify you automatically and arrange to securely send your ticket to you to claim your winnings.
Take a chance on the lottery with Jackpocket. Good luck!
