Yes, an old lottery ticket can still win, but only if you claim it before the deadline set by the state where it was purchased. Claim windows run from as short as 90 days to as long as a full year after the drawing date, with 180 days being the most common for draw games like Powerball and Mega Millions. Once that window closes, even a jackpot ticket is worthless. Roughly $2 billion in prizes goes unclaimed across the country every year, so a forgotten ticket is worth two minutes of your time.
How Long the Claim Window Lasts
There is no national deadline. Each state sets its own, and the differences matter. Some give you 90 days from the drawing; others allow a year. Most sit in between.
Scratch-offs run on a different clock, which is where people get tripped up. A scratch-off’s expiration is usually measured from the date the lottery commission officially closes that particular game, not from the day you bought the ticket. A ticket that sat in a glove box for months may still be well within its claim period if the game hasn’t been closed, or it may expire shortly after the closure is announced. Game-specific end dates are posted on each state lottery’s website.
If you’ve just found an old ticket, check it now. There are no extensions once the deadline passes.
How to Check an Old Ticket
The fastest route is your state lottery’s official website. Historical drawing results are posted and searchable; look up the drawing date printed on the ticket and compare the numbers. Most state lotteries also have free apps that scan a barcode and return an instant result, which helps with scratch-offs where matching symbols get confusing.
Any authorized lottery retailer can scan the ticket at the terminal. The system tells the retailer whether it’s a winner and whether the claim period is still open.
If you can’t get a clear answer online or in a store, call the state lottery commission. Have the ticket in hand with the serial number, game name, and drawing date ready, and they can look it up.
Second-Chance Drawings for Non-Winning Scratch-Offs
A scratch-off that didn’t win on its face might still have value. Many state lotteries run second-chance drawings where non-winning tickets can be entered for the game’s top prize or other bonus prizes, usually by scanning the barcode through the lottery app or website.
These promotions have their own entry deadlines, typically tied to the game’s closure date. Once the entry period ends, submissions are rejected regardless of when the ticket was purchased. Before tossing a stack of old scratch-offs, check whether any of those games still have active second-chance promotions.
Claiming a Winning Ticket
Sign the back of the ticket first. An unsigned lottery ticket is treated as a bearer instrument, meaning whoever holds it can claim the prize. Your signature establishes ownership if the ticket is later lost or stolen.
Prizes Under $600
Small prizes can almost always be cashed at any authorized lottery retailer. Hand over the ticket, the retailer validates it, and you walk out with cash. No paperwork, and in most cases no ID requirement.
Prizes of $600 or More
At $600 and above, tax reporting kicks in and the process gets more formal. You’ll generally need to visit a lottery district office or state headquarters with the signed ticket, a valid photo ID such as a driver’s license or passport, and your Social Security card. Most states also require a winner claim form, which the office provides.
Many lotteries allow claims by mail. If you go that route, photocopy both sides of the ticket first, then send the original signed ticket, the completed claim form, and a copy of your ID by certified mail with a return receipt. Lottery commissions are not responsible for tickets lost in transit.
Damaged Tickets
A ticket that went through the wash, tore, or got water-stained isn’t automatically disqualified. State lottery security or claims departments have processes for reading the barcode, serial number, or validation code on a damaged ticket. Take it directly to the state lottery’s claims office rather than trying to tape or reassemble torn pieces yourself, since alterations can complicate validation or raise fraud concerns. If the ticket data can be reconstructed and it’s a winner within the claim period, you’ll be paid.
Taxes on the Winnings
A found winning ticket comes with a tax bill. Federal law requires 24% withholding on lottery winnings over $5,000.1IRS. Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754 (01/2026) The lottery commission withholds that amount before paying you, so a $10,000 prize means $2,400 to the IRS and $7,600 in your pocket. The withholding applies to the proceeds minus what you paid for the ticket.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 3402 – Tax Collected at Source
For prizes between $600 and $5,000, nothing is withheld at payment, but the commission reports the winnings to the IRS on Form W-2G. You still have to report the income and pay any tax owed. Many states also tax lottery winnings on top of the federal bite.1IRS. Instructions for Forms W-2G and 5754 (01/2026)
Prizes under $600 aren’t reported by the lottery, but they’re still taxable income and belong on your return.
What Happens if the Deadline Has Already Passed
Once the claim window closes, the prize is gone. There is no appeals process and no discretionary extension. Depending on the state, unclaimed prize money is either recycled back into future prize pools or redirected to state programs such as public education or general revenue. Most of the roughly $2 billion in annual unclaimed prizes is smaller wins, but unclaimed jackpots worth millions surface in the news often enough to make checking that drawer worthwhile before anything gets thrown out.