What Happens If I Lose a Winning Ticket?

Everyone who purchases a lottery ticket dreams of hitting that life-changing jackpot. We’ve all had the daydreams of what we would do first. With millions of dollars only a draw away, it’s easy to see why so many people are excited about this draw. That’s why the thought of losing a ticket is so troubling.

Losing a lottery ticket is a position nobody wants to be in. But there have been an unfortunate few who have found themselves there. So, what happens if you lose a ticket? Read more below to find out! We’ll also cover what you can do to ensure you never lose a ticket again.

What To Do If You Lose a Lottery Ticket

Unfortunately, we don’t have good news for you to hear in this situation. If you lost your lottery ticket, you will not be able to claim any winnings if you don’t have your ticket.

If you know the ticket number for your missing ticket, you may be able to get help from the lottery corporation. However, you will need to know specific details. When you contact the organization, you will need to provide information for a lost ticket claim such as:

• Where you purchased the ticket
• Date and time of purchase
• Which lottery game was the ticket for

Please keep in mind that the lottery corporation does receive a lot of claims to investigate. Gathering as much evidence as possible could help further your claim. But you will need to be patient as it will take some time. On the same note, there is no guarantee they will be able to recover your ticket information. This is something you should be mentally prepared for if you find yourself in this position.

How To Avoid Losing Your Lottery Tickets

That lottery ticket could be your chance at winning a multi-million-dollar prize. You should always make sure that it’s kept in a secure place. Once you purchase the ticket, immediately put it in your purse or wallet for safekeeping until you get home. At home, you should have a designated safe space to store your tickets until it’s time to check them.

When you purchase a lottery ticket, always sign it immediately. This way, if the ticket is misplaced or you accidentally lose the ticket and someone else finds it, they won’t be able to claim the winnings. You should take clear photos of the ticket after your purchase. This way if you do accidentally lose it, you will have the evidence to support your claim for an investigation.

Best Way to Purchase Lottery Tickets so You Never Lose Them

Even the most careful player could lose a ticket. But what if we told you that there’s an easier way to buy your lottery tickets and never have to worry about missing a draw or misplacing a ticket? Lotto Max, Lotto 649, and all your other favourite Canadian lottery tickets are available to purchase online at PlayNow.

When you buy lottery tickets online, a digital copy of your ticket will be available online in your account. You can be in the middle of the most hectic day of the year and still not lose track of your ticket. Any time you want to check the results, you will always be able to access it online and you will get an email if you win. Buying a lottery ticket online is fast and easy too.

If you want to make sure you never miss a draw, check out the PlayNow lottery subscription. With this service, you can choose specific lottery tickets to automatically be purchased for you every week. You won’t have to worry about buying or losing the tickets with this convenient subscription.

What Happens to Unclaimed Lottery Wins

Knowing there have been many unclaimed lottery wins throughout history shows how important it is to keep your ticket in a safe spot (or buy them online). Did you know the largest unclaimed lottery jackpot in BC was for $15 million? Imagine losing your shot at that much money because you forgot where your ticket was. Neither can we.

So, what happens when someone doesn’t claim their jackpot win? Well, lottery ticket buyers have up to 52 weeks to claim their winnings. This is good news for people who recently misplaced a ticket or forgot you had one, because you still have time to find it and see if you won!

We also announce unclaimed lottery tickets to keep people alerted. If a player with a missing winning ticket finds it after 52 weeks are up, they will no longer be able to claim their prize. This is why it’s crucial to check your tickets as soon as possible.

Did you know that you never have to worry about checking tickets when you buy online through PlayNow. All winners will receive an email from the service letting them know about their prize.

What happens to unclaimed lottery tickets is different in each province. Any money that doesn’t get claimed in time for major lotteries in BC will be given back to players through BCLC bonuses and promotions. In Manitoba, this money goes back to players through jackpots and bonuses as well.

Rules For Claiming Lottery Wins

Are you wondering what to do if you discover you’ve picked the winning numbers? The first thing to remember is that lottery prizes will only be paid out to the rightful winners. If you have a physical copy of your lottery ticket that you purchased from a retail store, make sure that you have signed it before claiming your jackpot prize.

To claim your winnings, you will need to present two pieces of government-issued ID. The ID must include your photo, birthdate, and signature. Now, if you are claiming the lottery prize as part of a group in BC, a Group Prize Agreement Form must be filled out. This is a requirement for prizes that exceed $2,000.01.

Once the winners provide the required information, they will be issued the money by cheque or digital transfer if purchased online. However, prizes that exceed $25 million will be paid out by wire transfer.

Please note, this only applies to lottery wins that exceed $2,000. For wins lower than this amount, always refer to the policy of the retail store where you purchased the ticket. Online lottery ticket wins will be credited automatically to the player’s account on PlayNow, which they can directly transfer to their bank account.