Checking discarded tickets for winners - Claim Form RequiredPrev TopicNext Topic

• Pocono Player

  

  Keystone State
  United States
  Member #191,996
  September 1, 2018
  22 Posts
  Offline
  Sep 8, 2019, 10:52 pm

  ▲▼

  I have been checking discarded scratch-off tickets since May 2018.  On a good day I may find a discarded winner in every 100 tickets I check.  Pennsylvania's ticket checker tells you quickly and emphatically if you've found a winner.

  The following screen is one I had never seen before - until yesterday.

  

  

  I had hoped to eventually be lucky enough to find a $300, $400 or $500 discarded winning ticket.  Instead I found a $1,000 winner.  Last night I picked up the necessary claim form to complete.

  Has anyone else found or know of anyone who's done well searching discarded tickets?

  You can't lose if you don't play.
• omiller315

  

  Pennsylvania
  United States
  Member #109,270
  April 9, 2011
  1,628 Posts
  Offline
  Sep 9, 2019, 7:37 pm

  ▲▼
  In response to Pocono Player

  Quote: Originally posted by Pocono Player on Sep 8, 2019

  I have been checking discarded scratch-off tickets since May 2018.  On a good day I may find a discarded winner in every 100 tickets I check.  Pennsylvania's ticket checker tells you quickly and emphatically if you've found a winner.

  The following screen is one I had never seen before - until yesterday.

  

  

  I had hoped to eventually be lucky enough to find a $300, $400 or $500 discarded winning ticket.  Instead I found a $1,000 winner.  Last night I picked up the necessary claim form to complete.

  Has anyone else found or know of anyone who's done well searching discarded tickets?

  That's crazy and congrats. I found $100 and $50....... in my own trash pile.lol That's why I use the app or take them all to the store to double check. Never take the chance of throwing away a big one. Which ticket was it? Just had my 2nd $1K this weekend. Most years I get 5-6, so this year has definitely been a down year down here.
• Sweet-D

  

  NJ
  United States
  Member #131,982
  August 23, 2012
  13 Posts
  Offline
  Sep 19, 2019, 1:46 am

  ▲▼

  Congratulations on your lucky win! I don't check discarded tickets for winners (but I will now ☺) I was using them into the second chance lottery. Do you play second chance lottery?
• Pocono Player

  

  Keystone State
  United States
  Member #191,996
  September 1, 2018
  22 Posts
  Offline
  Sep 26, 2019, 12:31 am

  ▲▼

  omiller315, the discarded $1000 winner was a Pennsylvania Fantastic 10s ticket.  A "Ten" symbol means you automatically win the prize below.  By only scratching the words under the numbers the buyer managed to not see the numeral "10" within a spiked oval. Its unmistakable but could be missed by someone taking a minimalist approaching to scratching tickets.  If the purchaser had only scratched the ticket one millimeter higher they would have realized they had a winner.

  You can't lose if you don't play.
• Pocono Player

  

  Keystone State
  United States
  Member #191,996
  September 1, 2018
  22 Posts
  Offline
  Sep 26, 2019, 12:35 am

  ▲▼
  In response to Sweet-D

  Quote: Originally posted by Sweet-D on Sep 19, 2019

  Congratulations on your lucky win! I don't check discarded tickets for winners (but I will now ☺) I was using them into the second chance lottery. Do you play second chance lottery?

  Sweet-D, yes I do play second chance lottery.  This year I have won $175 in Pennsylvania - most recently $100 from the Grumpy Cat drawing.  For anyone collecting discarded tickets, saying that you are collecting tickets for second chance lottery is a good cover story. Its best not to hint to bystanders that checking discarded tickets might be lucrative.

  You can't lose if you don't play.
• omiller315

  

  Pennsylvania
  United States
  Member #109,270
  April 9, 2011
  1,628 Posts
  Offline
  Sep 27, 2019, 4:50 pm

  ▲▼

  Wow.. I had to look at that game. Saw that it does only say 10 underneath vs prize.Odd for PA to do that. However the person should at least scratch the symbol/# area vs just the words.  Only time I do the words is that Goldfish or Grumpy Cat tickets.