Every year, nearly $3 billion in lottery prizes go unclaimed.
Not because people didn’t play. Not because they didn’t win. But because they made simple mistakes — errors that turned winning tickets into worthless pieces of paper.
In 2024 alone, a $138 million Powerball ticket in Ohio expired unclaimed. A $1.13 billion Mega Millions ticket in New Jersey sat uncollected for months. And there were over 167 prizes of $1 million or more that nobody ever came forward to claim.
These aren’t hypothetical scenarios. These are real people who had winning numbers — and walked away with nothing.
The good news? Every single one of these mistakes is avoidable. Here are the 7 errors that cost lottery players the most — and how to make sure you never make them.
❌ Mistake #1: Not Signing Your Ticket
This is the simplest mistake — and potentially the most costly.
An unsigned lottery ticket is a bearer instrument. That means whoever holds it can claim the prize. If you lose an unsigned ticket and someone else finds it, that prize is legally theirs.
In 2019, a man in California had the winning numbers for a $63 million SuperLotto jackpot. He lost the ticket. Someone else could have found it and claimed the money — but fortunately (or unfortunately), no one ever did. The prize expired unclaimed.
❌ Mistake #2: Only Checking for the Jackpot
This is the #1 reason billions go unclaimed.
When players hear “no jackpot winner,” they assume their ticket is worthless. But lottery games have multiple prize tiers. Powerball has 9 ways to win. Mega Millions has 9 as well.
The secondary prizes can be substantial — $1 million, $2 million, even more with multipliers. Yet people throw these tickets away without checking because they only focused on the jackpot.
❌ Mistake #3: Assuming Location Matters
You hear the winning ticket was sold in Florida. You’re in Ohio. So you don’t bother checking your ticket.
Big mistake.
While the jackpot might have been sold elsewhere, the secondary prizes were sold everywhere. Your ticket could still be worth $50,000, $100,000, or $1 million — regardless of where the jackpot winner bought theirs.
❌ Mistake #4: Throwing Away “Losing” Tickets
Many state lotteries have “second-chance” drawings. That “losing” ticket in your pocket might actually be an entry into another drawing with prizes ranging from cash to cars to vacations.
Players throw away millions in potential winnings because they don’t know these programs exist.
❌ Mistake #5: Missing the Claim Deadline
Every state has a deadline to claim lottery prizes. Miss it, and your winning ticket becomes worthless — no exceptions.
The deadlines vary wildly:
| Deadline | States |
|---|---|
| 90 days | Some states (shortest deadline) |
| 180 days | Arizona, California*, Florida, Texas, and 20+ more |
| 1 year | New York, New Jersey, and others |
*California is 180 days for non-jackpot prizes
In 2024, a $138 million Powerball ticket in Ohio expired — the holder simply never came forward in time.
❌ Mistake #6: Playing Only “Lucky” Numbers
This mistake won’t cost you a prize — but it can drastically reduce how much you win.
Birthdays, anniversaries, and other “lucky” numbers are almost always between 1-31. This means if those numbers hit, you’re likely sharing the jackpot with many other players who picked the same dates.
Numbers above 31 are picked less frequently. A jackpot with those numbers means fewer people to split with.
❌ Mistake #7: Storing Tickets Carelessly
Lottery tickets can become unreadable if they’re:
- Washed in the laundry
- Left in a hot car (heat damages thermal paper)
- Exposed to direct sunlight
- Stored in a damp location
If the barcode and numbers can’t be read, you may have difficulty claiming your prize — even if you’re the rightful winner.
🎯 Bonus: The Smartest Way to Never Miss a Win
Many lottery apps and online platforms now offer automatic ticket scanning and notifications. If you win — any amount — you get an alert. No more wondering. No more forgotten tickets.
Some states also let you play online, where your tickets are stored digitally and winnings are automatically credited to your account.
✅ Tickets stored securely — can’t be lost or damaged
✅ Automatic win notifications — no need to check manually
✅ Smaller prizes credited directly to your account
✅ No risk of missing a deadline
✅ Your Never-Miss-a-Prize Checklist
☐ Sign the back of your ticket immediately
☐ Take a photo of the front and back
☐ Store in a safe, cool, dry place
☐ Check ALL prize tiers after every drawing
☐ Check regardless of where jackpot was won
☐ Know your state’s claim deadline
☐ Enter non-winning tickets in second-chance drawings
☐ Consider online play for automatic notifications
📊 Biggest Unclaimed Jackpots in History
These prizes expired. The money is gone forever.
| Amount | Game | Location | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| $77 million | Powerball | Georgia | 2011 |
| $68 million | Mega Millions | New York | 2002 |
| $63 million | SuperLotto | California | 2015 |
| $51.7 million | Powerball | Indiana | 2002 |
| $46 million | Mega Millions | New York | 2003 |
Don’t become a statistic.
🎯 Conclusion
Winning the lottery is rare. But losing a winning ticket? That’s tragically common — and completely preventable.
The 7 mistakes above cost players billions every year. But now you know what they are. Sign your tickets. Check every prize tier. Know your deadlines. Store your tickets safely.
It takes less than a minute to protect yourself. And it could be worth millions.
Keep an eye on your inbox.
📌 This content is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Lottery rules and deadlines vary by state. Always verify information with your state lottery commission. Please play responsibly.
Sources: CNN, lottery.net, state lottery commissions, Brett Jacobson research. Statistics as reported; some figures from 2017-2024.
Andrew Brooks is a qualified writer and researcher with experience producing clear, trustworthy content on topics such as personal finance, lifestyle optimization, consumer insights, productivity, and informed decision-making. With an approachable yet professional tone, he focuses on turning complex information into practical, easy-to-understand guidance that helps readers make smarter choices with confidence.