What Happens to Unclaimed Texas Lottery Jackpots?

I don't play a 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.

What If You Win And Forget To Claim The Prize?

It sounds silly, but there have been some big jackpots that have gone unclaimed. 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. 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.

Texas Law - Section 466.408

Unclaimed lottery winnings revert to the state and are used for the Department of State Health Services, the Health and Human Services Commission, veterans' assistance, and/or foundation school funds. The law is complex, but you can read the full text HERE.

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