How Long Do You Have To Claim a Lottery Ticket?

Do lottery tickets expire? Yes, lottery tickets do expire – that surprises a lot of people.

So it’s important to always check your ticket promptly.

But then how long do you have to collect lottery winnings?

Let’s find out.

How Long Do You Have To Claim Lottery Winnings?

You may not have as long as you think to claim lottery winnings. It can be as little as 90 days.

This is plenty of time if you check your tickets right away. But it’s not much time if your tickets are ‘lost’ for months at a time in your bag or car. Or the jacket you rarely wear (this happens). 🙂

Some lottery companies give you longer to make a claim. Most commonly you have 180 days to claim a lottery prize.

But in some areas it can be as much as a year.

When Does the Claim Clock Start Ticking?

For draw based games, including the big ones like Powerball and Mega Millions, they start counting from the day of the draw.

So depending on which state live in you may have as little as 90 days from the draw date to make your claim. Or as much as a year from the date of the draw.

How Long Do You Have To Claim a Scratch Off?

For scratch-off tickets it’s different, because they are on sale for a period of time – often months. So in this case the clock runs from when that particular scratch game ‘closes’.

All scratchers are only on sale for a limited period of time – usually until all the big prizes are won, but sometimes sooner than that. This closing date is also referred to as the ‘announced end of the game’ or ‘end of sale’ date.

These dates are not printed on the ticket, because they are not set in stone. You have to check the lottery companies website to find this closing date. Remember though, this is not the expiry date of the scratch-off, it’s the date they start counting.

So you have 90 days (or 180 days) from this date to put in your claim. Which should be long enough for everyone to cash in their tickets.

See also: lottery scratch off tips.

Can You Cash in Expired Lottery Tickets?

No, you can’t. Lottery companies have no obligation to pay out a prize for an expired ticket. The money is usually rolled over into the prize pot or the good causes fund.

So the winnings are gone if not claimed in time.

How To Avoid Lottery Ticket Expiry

Please always check your tickets as soon as you can. Play scratchers that week. Check the draw results right after the draw.

Then double check your lottery ticket using a self-scan machine.

And if it is a winner then claim your lottery ticket immediately. Smaller prizes can be claimed in cash over the counter (see How Long Does It Take To Get Lottery Winnings?). For larger prizes you will need to put in a claim form, but it won’t take long.

And once your claim is lodged it doesn’t matter how long they take to process it. All that matters is the deadline before you make a claim.

Have You Ever Suffered From an Expired Ticket?

Ever had an expired ticket? How much did you lose out on? How old was the ticket? Share your tales of woe in the comments below.

You’ll have our sympathies, and feel better for it. 🙂