Original Blog Entry: Game ended is not the same as ticket expired

OddsObserver300 — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 17:47:55 GMT

A quick one for anyone holding older scratchers.

When a lottery ends a scratch game, two separate dates usually matter:

The end date. After this, the game is closed and retailers stop selling it. The last day to claim. Most states give a set window after the end date, and the length varies by state.

So a game disappearing from the store counter, or from the remaining-prizes page, does not by itself mean an unclaimed winner is dead. Check the claim window before tossing it.

What I do with an old ticket:

Read the game number printed on the ticket, not just the name. Names get reused. Look that game number up on the official lottery site's ended or closed games list. That list usually shows the end date and the last day to claim. If it is still inside the window, claim it the normal way for that prize amount. If the game number is not listed anywhere, contact the lottery's claims line instead of going by a forum post (including this one).

One more thing: remaining-prizes pages often drop a game around its end date, so an empty lookup can mean ended, not all prizes gone.... [ More ]