With Powerball on the rise, folks across the country are getting in on the fun and dreaming about the possibility of winning big. And when those lucky numbers are announced, it'll be exciting to see someone come forward to claim their enormous winnings.
But what happens if no one claims the Powerball prize? You might think, how could someone not claim what they’ve won? But it does happen. And it happens enough that states have rules about what happens to the prize money if it goes unclaimed after a certain period of time.
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How long do Powerball winners have to claim their winnings?
The big question of the day is how long do you have to claim Powerball winnings? The answer is that it varies by state. Lottery lovers have anywhere from 90 days to one year to claim their prize, but it depends on the jurisdiction in which the ticket was ordered.
Your ticket may have an expiration date on the back, so don’t forget to give that a look! If not, check out the lottery website for the state where you purchased your ticket for more information on how long you have to claim your prize.
If you don’t claim the Powerball prize within the allotted time, you forfeit the prize money to the state.
Where to claim your winnings varies by the amount won. If you win less than the threshold for your state, you can claim your winnings with any local state lottery retailer to claim your prize. If you ordered your ticket on Jackpocket, we will automatically credit your account with the amount won. You can use the funds to play again or transfer your winnings to your bank account.
The thresholds in each Jackpocket state are:
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Arizona - $599.99
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Arkansas - $500
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Colorado - $599.99
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Idaho - $599.99
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Massachusetts - $600
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Minnesota - $599.99
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Montana - $599.99
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Nebraska - $499.99
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New Hampshire - $599.99
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New Jersey - $599.99
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New Mexico - $600
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New York - $600
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Ohio – $599.99
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Oregon - $600
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Puerto Rico - $1,200
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Texas - $599.99
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Washington D.C. - $600
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West Virginia - $600
If your winnings exceed the threshold in the state where you got your ticket, you will need to visit a lottery office or the lottery headquarters in the state where the lottery ticket was ordered. Some lotteries require appointments so always check ahead on your state lottery website.
What happens when the winner doesn't claim a Powerball prize?
You might think the prize goes back into the game to increase the prize for someone else, or there might be a second chance drawing to pick a new winner, but that isn’t the case. The prize money is funneled back into the state.
First, a little background:When you order a lottery ticket, a portion of your ticket cost goes to fund various programs in your state. What programs are funded depends upon the state in which you got your ticket and the programs they have chosen to fund with lottery proceeds. The same may or may not go for unclaimed prize money.
Many states use these proceeds to fund programs such as education, public parks, people experiencing homelessness, or veteran services, just to name a few. You can learn more about what programs your state lottery supports by visiting your state lottery website. The website will have information on where the cost of your lottery ticket goes or related beneficiaries.
When it comes to Powerball, the unclaimed prize money is distributed based on the percentage of tickets sold in each state for the lottery run. Let’s say that the Powerball continues to roll over until the prize hits $1 billion and a winning ticket is drawn. Now, let's say the $1 billion prize isn’t claimed by the deadline. In this case, every state that sells Powerball tickets will receive a percentage of the unclaimed prize money in proportion to their sales for that Powerball jackpot run. If a state (such as California) has sold 20% of the total ticket sales, it will receive 20% of the unclaimed prize money. This equates to about $200 million in unclaimed prize money that goes back to the state.
After the money is returned to the lotteries, they divide it up according to their local laws. They might put it towards other lottery games or into their jurisdiction's general fund, or wherever else state law says it should go.
FAQs
Can I order a ticket in one state if I live in another state?
Yes! You can visit another state and play their state lottery by visiting a local lottery retailer. If you order your ticket using the Jackpocket app, you can play in another Jackpocket state so long as you are physically located in the state when you place your order. Example: You live in New York but order your ticket on your lunch break in New Jersey!
Just remember, if you win a prize above the state threshold, plan on making another trip to that state to claim your prize.
Can Powerball winners remain anonymous?
That depends. Each state has its own rules around whether winners can claim their prize anonymously. This information is available on your state lottery website.
Why do some lottery prizes go unclaimed?
Unfortunately, some people lose or forget to check their tickets or even misread their ticket, and it happens more often than you think! Approximately $2 billion in prizes go unclaimed every year.
Can I participate in the Powerball online?
Want to get notified automatically if you win? Order your tickets online using Jackpocket, an easy way to join the lottery fun. Jackpocket checks your ticket for you after the drawing and automatically notifies you when you win at any prize level.
Jackpocket is available in 18 states. Order your ticket right on the app and receive an email with all the details of your order, including your ticket serial number. You’ll then be able to view a front-and-back scan of your physical ticket in the app. And more importantly, your physical ticket is securely stored in a fireproof safe.
