Here’s What Texas Does With Unclaimed Lottery Winnings

(Austin, Texas) - I don't play a whole lot but it is fun to grab a couple of Texas Lottery scratch off tickets or a quick pick from time to time. Sure, I know I'm most likely just giving my money to the State of Texas instead of winning but it's still fun to try. I think it's that feeling of anticipation of a hopeful big win as you scratch or watch those numbered balls fall that is the most fun for me.

But what if I did win, and for whatever reason, I forgot that I won and don't claim my prize? As unthinkable as that sounds, it has happened. Well, it's all spelled out in Texas law.

Playing the Texas Lottery

I remember when the Texas Lottery was first introduced in the late 90s. Every payday I would swing by Racetrac (now Raceway) in Lindale and pick up eight or nine $1 scratch offs. Out of those eight or nine, I would hit $5, $10 or $25 on at least three of them. One time I took a chance on a $10 scratch ticket and won $100, my biggest win still to this day on a scratch off.

Earlier this year, after getting our tax refund, me and my wife each bought a $100 scratch off ticket. Neither. One. Of Us. Won. Anything. It hurt, yes, but I knew that could be the case which did help the sting of losing a little.

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Claiming a Texas Lottery Jackpot

A Texas Lottery winner has 180 days (6 months) to claim their prize. A prize of $599 or less can be cashed in at any Lottery retailer. A prize of $600 to $5,000 can be cashed in through the Texas Lottery mobile app.

Prizes between $5,000 and $2.5 million can be claimed by mailing in a claim form or at one of 17 Texas Lottery Claim Centers, including one in Tyler. Anything above $2.5 million must be claimed in person at the Lottery Commission claim offices in Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, San Antonio or Austin.

What Happens to Unclaimed Lottery Winnings?

Unclaimed lottery winnings are reverted back to the state and used for the Department of State Health Services, the Health and Human Services Commission, veterans' assistance and/or foundation school fund. There is a lot of legal speak but you can read the full law HERE.

So, in a way, if you don't claim your million dollar winnings, you basically donate it to the State of Texas for use in various state programs.

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