If you have an old Washington Lottery ticket sitting in a glovebox or junk drawer, now would be a very good time to find it. Washington’s Lottery is warning that about $637,500 in prizes are about to disappear, including two $10,000 Match 4 wins and one HIT 5 ticket worth a hefty $617,500.
The clock is brutally specific, too. The smallest deadlines hit as soon as April 22, with the last of this batch expiring May 1. Once the cutoff hits at 5 p.m. on the expiration date, the money stops belonging to the lucky player who bought the ticket and starts moving into state education programs instead.
In an April 16 press release, Washington’s Lottery said these three prizes are just the tip of the iceberg. They are part of 15 unclaimed prizes worth about $9.55 million that are creeping toward their claim deadlines. According to Washington’s Lottery, that larger list includes an $8.2 million Lotto jackpot that will vanish later this summer if the winner does not step forward. The agency also reminded players that, in general, winners have 180 days from the drawing, or from the last day of sales for Scratch tickets, to claim their cash before it turns into state revenue.
Lottery officials are practically begging players to dig out their tickets. They say anyone hoping to claim a prize should carefully check their numbers, sign the ticket, bring a valid photo ID and show up at a regional office before 5 p.m. on the expiration date. Washington’s Lottery also asks players with prizes of $100,000 or more to call ahead so staff can schedule a secure, in-person appointment.
Which tickets are at risk
Two unclaimed $10,000 Match 4 tickets are on the chopping block. One was sold at Safeway, 1624 72nd Street E in Tacoma, and expires April 22. The other was sold at Kalispel Market, 220 S Hayford Road in Airway Heights, and expires April 30, as reported by KING 5.
Right after those deadlines, the big one hits. A $617,500 HIT 5 ticket sold at Conoco, 302 Basin Street SW in Ephrata, must be claimed by 5 p.m. on May 1. Miss that cutoff and the life-changing payout becomes a what-could-have-been story. Lottery officials emphasize that players should double check any tickets against the winning numbers and keep that 5 p.m. deadline firmly in mind.
How unclaimed money is used
Under state law, players get 180 days to claim most prizes. If no one steps forward, the money stays in the state lottery account. When that account tops $10 million on June 30, the excess is transferred to the Washington Opportunity Pathways Account, which supports education programs, according to RCW 67.70.190.
That transfer helps pay for college financial aid and early learning efforts across Washington, according to the statute and Lottery beneficiary information. Lottery officials note that moving unclaimed prize money into those programs is part of their regular year-end accounting.
How to claim
For anyone who checks a ticket and realizes their lucky day is about to expire, the process is straightforward but time-sensitive. Winners should immediately sign the back of the ticket, store it somewhere secure and head to a Lottery regional office before 5 p.m. on the prize’s expiration date.
Winners of $100,000 or more are asked to call ahead to schedule an appointment and may need to fill out a winner claim form, according to KING 5. Lottery press contacts listed in the agency’s release can also help walk winners through any paperwork and tax questions so no one leaves money on the table, or lets it quietly roll into the state’s education fund.
