unclaimed lottery tickets wisconsin
Wisconsin Lottery Scratch Offs- Ticket Odds, Prizes, Payouts & Info - Lottohotspot Filter Tickets $30 $20 $10 $5 $3 $2 $1 Best Wisconsin Lottery Scratch Offs Latest top scratchers in pa by top scratchers POWER UP YOUR CROSSWORD All Breackdowns SLINGO 5X All Breackdowns MAGIC WORD CROSSWORD All Breackdowns GOLD HARD CASH All Breackdowns View All I was in serious doubt. "I just looked up at the screen and saw my numbers," she said. That was the situation of California mechanic Hung Nguyen in 2015. Another customer saw the tickets and gave them to the clerk. The father of a five-month-old was unaware that he'd won a $1,098,624 Powerball prize after he matched all five main numbers. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Wisconsin retailers who sell winning tickets over $599 receive a two percent incentive up to $100,000. Unfortunately, the prize is now gone for good. According to the Wisconsin Lottery website, the odds of winning the All or Nothing top prize are 1 in 352,716. Wisconsin Lottery said the ticket can be claimed bymail or with a visit to the Madison lottery office by appointment. And he picked a great time to tidy, uncovering an old Mega Millions ticket. Jackpot-winning ticket bought at Lisbon Express Inc. in Milwaukee. Players often don't bother if the jackpot didn't go off or the winning ticket wasn't sold in their area. A Powerball ticket purchased in Michigan in May 2021 and worth $1 million is set to expire in about two weeks. The drawings for the lottery game are held twice daily. Below you can find a table which details all the unclaimed Mega Millions prizes that are of significant value. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and Madison, WI 53708-8941. These winners still have plenty of time left. And, drive slow, West smiled. Incredibly, lottery players let billions of dollars in winnings expire every year. More people buy tickets when there are huge jackpots, but often don't check whether they've won a lower-tier prize - which could still be $1 million or more. ", "I don't have big plans for the money," she said. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, $50,000 Powerball ticket bought in Green Bay expires July 9. For the third time in the last 30 days, a big winning Lottery ticket was purchased in Wisconsin Rapids when a $50,000 Powerball winning ticket was sold for the Monday, April 3, 2023, drawing. I will use some of this money to help people.". $100,000 Wisconsin lottery ticket going unclaimed. Here's how to make sure you never let winnings expire: One way to ensure you'll always receive any prize you've won is to play online. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Potential fireworks shortage ahead of Fourth of July, Parents of 4-month-old baby who died share their heartbreak as mystery of what happened drags on, Missing Wales woman found safe; located at bottom of embankment, MCTS WisGo fare collection system; launching April 1, Muskego hit-and-run crash; police seek pickup truck, driver, Storm, snow chances; Wisconsin could see active end to week, Chula Vista Resort in WI Dells Packages & Deals. One lucky Wisconsin resident is the winner of a $100,000 lottery ticket. Listen online or download the iHeart App. A Wisconsin lottery ticket worth $100,000 will be worthless if no one claims the prize in the next . While a major share of unclaimed winnings were of lesser amounts, there have been some eye-opening jackpots that were lost, including a$1 million Powerball prize. $68 million Mega Millions ticket purchased in New York on December 24, 2002. Mail to: WI Dept. That ticket, which was purchased in Eau Claire in September 2015, wasnt redeemed before the 180-day deadline expired in March 2016. And it's causingmillions of dollars to go down the tubes. The remaining 20 percent is returned to the lottery. The winner must claim within one year of the draw date, according to state law. The odds of capturing a$1 million Powerballprize at the time were 1 in 5,153,633. When Wisconsin created a state lottery 12 years ago, legislators promised it would be self-funding and they would never, ever tap into state tax dollars. Now you can, Muskego hit-and-run crash; police seek pickup truck, driver, Parents of 4-month-old baby who died share their heartbreak as mystery of what happened drags on, Missing Wales woman found safe; located at bottom of embankment, MCTS WisGo fare collection system; launching April 1, Storm, snow chances; Wisconsin could see active end to week, Chula Vista Resort in WI Dells Packages & Deals. endstream endobj 65 0 obj <. I didn't realize that. "She made me turn around in the middle of Taylor Avenue," her partner recalled. Telephone: (608) 264-6604. She'd stopped at the shopping center with her partner after he got hungry. The ticket holder never came forward, so we'll probably never know whether the ticket was lost, tossed in the trash, or maybe even now is sitting quietly in the back of a drawer. Get your summer vacation planning started NOW and Save Big on Chula Vista Resort this summer! I told my sister to get in her truck and get that ticket and get up here right now! He received a check for $683,507.20, according to the Wisconsin Lottery. Winning Menasha lottery ticket unclaimed: Bye, bye $100,000, Unclaimed state lottery winnings hit $60M, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Even if you haven't won the jackpot, you may have won another prize.". Last July, a customer of Citgo AV Food Mart, 975 Racine St., Menasha, bought an "All or Nothing" Lotto ticket. Mega Millions | Wisconsin Lottery Games > Mega Millions Mega Millions $2 PER PLAY DRAWINGS EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY latest winners Check your numbers Start Date End Date Estimated Jackpot Friday, April 28, 2023 $38 MIL Annuity $20.4 MIL Cash Latest Drawing Tuesday, April 25, 2023 Numerical Drawn Past Numbers Drawing Video Trends & Stats How to Play Note: If your state doesnt appear in the drop down list, that means there are currently no unclaimed Mega Millions prizes there. "I needed her to show me the ticket.". To win All or Nothing's top prize, players can either . To learn more about how to claim the ticket visitwilottery.com/winners/claim-prize. Everything from a couple of bucks through to millions of dollars is routinely left on the table. The Wisconsin Lottery says the Megabucks ticket was purchased at Lisbon Express in Milwaukee on January 6. A 70-year-old Baltimore, Maryland woman won $12,327 on the Racetrax virtual racing game after using family birthdays as her numbers. Most of the prizes are for smaller amounts, but there are big prizes too such as a $1 Million winning Powerball ticket which was sold in Racine County back in August 2009. The content and operations of this website have not been approved or endorsed by Powerball or Mega Millions or any other State Lottery. $70 million Powerball jackpot won in Pontiac, Michigan on February 12, 2020. The next Mega Millions drawing is estimated to have a jackpot of $40 million, and the next Megabucks drawing has an estimated jackpot of $2.2 million. "To be honest, I don't even know how to play Racetrax! It's quite common to outright lose tickets, whether it's behind the couch or stuffed into a coat pocket. What is much more common than you might think is the number of prizes - sometimes very big ones - that expire every year all across the country. BROOKFIELD, Wis. (CBS 58) -- A Badger 5 lottery ticket worth $162,000 will expire soon and a winner has not come forward. One of those was former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack, who won a $150,000 Powerball prize on January 22, 2020. Updated: Apr 28, 2023 / 01:07 PM CDT. Unclaimed jackpots are very rare, but they do happen. The amount typically rangedfrom $2 million and $4 million annually, state officials said. The Wisconsin lottery says the Megabucks ticket was purchased at Lisbon Express on Jan. 6. endstream endobj startxref According to FOX 6, a $1 million lottery prize is just a week away from going unclaimed. %%EOF Material Copyright 2023 Lottery.net. The clock is ticking as we wait for the winners of three huge recent jackpots won within a two-week period to come forward. An appointment to cash the ticket with state lottery officials in Madison must be made by July 2. Times are from the date of the drawing. The matching numbers on the winning $100,000 ticket were 2-9-10-12-13-15-17-18-19-20-21. hb``f``Z;0D8!AaZC7x51732vmg=R7\qC)Mp;XX@D j MADISON - Wisconsin lottery players may want to check if they have a ticket they forgot about purchasing. Division Administrator: Cindy Polzin. She checked the numbers and the ticket was a $50,000 winner. Below are the currently unclaimed top prizes and where each winning ticket was sold. Lottery Security will determine if a ticket is defective. After giving her daughter the big news, "she stayed calm," her mother said, "but I could tell she was shocked and very excited.". Michael Weirsky of Alpha, New Jersey, won the $273 million Mega Millions jackpot on March 1, 2019. "Sort of a word to the wise: Check your numbers. I usually just tell the cashier, 'Straight for $1 on Racetrax' and they know what I mean.". An appointment to cash the ticket with state lottery officials in Madison must be made by July 2 or it will go unclaimed. Gino recently sat down with two of the stars. An unclaimed Badger 5 lottery ticket, which was purchased at Brookfield Corner Pump for the Nov. 15, 2020, drawing, will expire May 14. Unclaimed prizes last updated April 25, 2023. The Wisconsin lottery says the Megabucks ticket was purchased at Lisbon Express on Jan. 6. Predictions. USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin reported in October 2016 that, dating back to 1997, more than $60 million in lotto winnings went unclaimed, according to lottery and state revenue officials. Box 8982 Madison, WI 53708-8982 Provide the bar code page, if you have one. Check yourcouch cushions, underneath your car seats and in those messy dresser drawers. The location in which the ticket was sold, and the retailer where that information is available, is shown along with how long there is remaining for the prizes to be claimed before the ticket will expire based on state lottery laws. Some of these prizes will be claimed before they expire - but some likely will not. Double check those old tickets Wisconsin - because there are over $45 Million of lottery prizes left unclaimed. Please note: All draw game prizes expire and must be . The odds of winning the $100,000 top prize . The next Mega Millions drawing is estimated to have a jackpot of $166 million, and the next Megabucks drawing has an estimated jackpot of $2.9 million. Time is running out for the winner of an unclaimed $1 million lottery ticket purchased in Milwaukee. The winner planned to invest the money and maybe take a vacation. $77.1 million Powerball ticket purchased in Georgia on June 29, 2011. There is a 1 and 169,911 chance of winning the Badger 5 jackpot. More information about the All of Nothing Wisconsin Lottery Lotto game can be found at wilottery.com/games/all-or-nothing. Telephone: (608) 261-8800. Sometimes it's earmarked for good causes. A Baltimore, Maryland woman put her Powerball tickets on her nightstand, but some mysteriously disappeared. Tickets must be purchased before 1:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. to be included in that days Midday or Evening drawing. If interested in participating in other Wisconsin Lotteries, the next Wisconsin Powerball drawing is estimated to have a jackpot of $186 million. An . Lottery tickets are valid for 180 days after the draw date. Copyright 2015-2023 Leisure Apps LLC., All Rights Reserved. Once the claim period expires, so does the prize. Unclaimed Lotto Game Prizes Only cash prizes of $25,000 or more are listed here. Find out what to do are i find a lost win ticket? All or Nothing drawings are held twice daily, Monday through Sunday. Maye turned in his $1 million ticket on Sept. 24. 93 0 obj <>/Filter/FlateDecode/ID[<817383790FDD0947BC24569DB2498C01><6FF012DEE450424EAF5917EFB2474BF8>]/Index[64 49]/Info 63 0 R/Length 131/Prev 280931/Root 65 0 R/Size 113/Type/XRef/W[1 3 1]>>stream This money is divided up and goes toward homeowners relief, winners, retailers, and lottery operations. The totals don't include instant scratch tickets. Once the claim period is over and the prize expires, there's nothing the winner can do about it - the winning ticket no longer has any value. Theres a new hangout for humans and hounds in Waukesha and Brian is getting a look at what makes The Hounds & Tap so unique. Suddenly, the winner realized the ticket was still at the store. However, if no one claims it, the Wisconsin Lottery said that money doesn't just disappear. Proceeded you ever miracle if you have unclaimed winnings from a lottery ticket. I didn't see the additional papers behind my bed until I did some spring cleaning. Bender said to think of it as dividing up a dollar: about 57 cents goes toward prizes; about 30 cents would go toward property relief; about 7 cents to operations; and 6 cents to retailers. The winner can choose between a $1 million annuity or $400,000 in cash. Below are the three major reasons why ticket holders never claim their winnings. She called her sister, who finally found the precious item on the floor of her truck. 2023 FOX Television Stations, Have you ever wanted to take your dog to a bar? Results. But with high demand and supply chain issues, we may see a fireworks shortage this summer. "I was snooping a bit, figuring out what was trash and what wasn't, when I saw the ticket. If no one claims the ticket, the money will go unclaimed. The winning matching numbers for the $100,000 unclaimed ticket were 2-9-10-12-13-15-17-18-19-20-21, selected during the Midday drawing. The clock is ticking for one lucky lottery winner in Wisconsin. Mega Millions Unclaimed Prizes Mega Millions Unclaimed Prizes Below you will find a table of all the unclaimed Mega Millions prizes across the country. I decided to check on it - just in case," the player's mother said. RELATED:Winning Menasha lottery ticket unclaimed: Bye, bye $100,000, RELATED:Unclaimed state lottery winnings hit $60M. "We've had a rough start to the year," his wife Wendy said. For multi-state games like Powerball and Mega Millions, the funds each lottery contributed towards the jackpot from its ticket sales are returned. Since 1997, more than $60 million in. In order for the ticket holder to claim their prize, they must make an appointment to cash the ticket with state lottery officials in Madison by Friday, July 2. . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The winning ticket needs to be claimed at either of the Madison or Milwaukee lottery offices to collect the money. The winning numbers in Sunday evening's drawing of the Wisconsin Lottery's "Daily Pick 3" game were: 3-1-5 (three, one, five) Maximum prize: $500. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. MADISON, Wis. (WMTV) - Seven is generally deemed a lucky number, but it was especially lucky in the Wisconsin Lottery Saturday. Below are the claim periods for each jurisdiction. Wisconsin Lottery retailers who sell winning tickets over $599 receive a 2 percent incentive up to $100,000. Material Copyright 2023 Lottery.net. Jun 20, 2008, 9:21 am Share Tweet Copy Link. In addition, a Madison store sold a Powerball ticket that won $50,000, and the ticket-holder didn't come forward by the May 7 deadline. Lerynne West, the Redfield, Iowa woman who won half the $687 Powerball jackpot on October 27, 2018, thought she had put her ticket into her purse as she sat in the passenger seat of her sisters truck. In 2020,142 Badger 5 jackpot winners were announced. Unclaimed lottery winnings had been rising by millions of dollars prior to 2017. To timely claim a prize, on or before a ticket's expiration date, go to a CT Lottery Retailer or Lottery Headquarters where the Retailer or the Lottery will validate your ticket through their terminal. of Revenue - Unclaimed Property P.O. It's just one of the dirty tricks they play to cheat you out of your money! "I didn't believe it was that much," he said. hbbd```b``" e T l30;D2HO`t@d*L Xf`H~1~ You will also find instant tickets on the website, featured raffles, and plenty of other online lottery games. The total . The company said there were two lottery rounds and that unclaimed tickets from the drawings were recently released under different terms and conditions. Horoscopes. 64 0 obj <> endobj Most of that is due to lost tickets or the winner not . The winnings includejackpots, along with payments made to the Multi-State Lottery Association to fund Powerball and Mega Millions prizes. The ticket was sold at Main Street Mini Mart; Bender said they'll receive 2 percent of the winnings unclaimed or not. Follow him on Twitter @Thompson_AW. If interested in participating in other Wisconsin Lotteries, the next Wisconsin Powerball drawing is estimated to have a jackpot of $63 million. . MADISON, Wis. - An All or Nothing Wisconsin Lottery Lotto ticket worth $100,000 is set to expire Friday, July 30, if the winner does not claim their prize. Many players are simply not aware that there are more prizes - sometimes big ones - than just the jackpot. There are currently 29 Powerball prizes of $50,000 or more that will expire in the next six months. How to Claim Prizes Player Security Unclaimed Prizes Also in this Section Unclaimed Draw Game Prizes Enjoy the Thrill of Winning with New Scratchers Games! Ticket holders who let lottery cash prizes expire lose nearly $4 million a year in Wisconsin. That's why we encourage everyone to always check their tickets. We're all so fortunate to still have him with us, and winning this prize means we can enjoy doing some fun things together that we couldn't have afforded before.". ILLINOIS The clock is ticking for five lottery-made millionaires to claim their prizes in Illinois. It is very unusual for a huge Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot to expire unclaimed, given all the media attention on the winning numbers and the store that sold the ticket - but sometimes it does happen. Lisbon Express received $20,000 incentive for selling the ticket. According to CBS 58, officials say it was purchased for the January 31 Midday drawing at the Station Prospect LLC in North Fond Du Lac. If she hadn't noticed the ticket in a pile of papers, I never would have," the winner said. Someone has yet to claim a $50,000 Powerball ticket in Green Bay. Here are eight big jackpots that have expired unclaimed, from smallest to largest. Time to double check those old tickets! Get your summer vacation planning started NOW and Save Big on Chula Vista Resort this summer! FOX 6 Now Milwaukee. Purchased at the Station Prospect LLC (330 Prospect Ave) in North Fond Du Lac for January 31, 2021, Midday drawing, the winning ticket must be claimed at one of the Lottery offices in Madison or Milwaukee or mailed to PO Box 777, Madison, WI 53774. Winners must have a ticket to claim, so he was not able to get his prize. The Megabucks game, played only in Wisconsin, has had another jackpot winner this year. Harrison, Michigan man Jeff Heinig also tossed his ticket in the trash after believing he hadn't won. There were 167 unclaimed prizes of $1 million or more in fiscal year 2017 alone! %PDF-1.6 % 0 A winning All or Nothing Wisconsin Lottery ticket will expire Friday, July 30, if it is not claimed. A winning All or Nothing Wisconsin Lottery ticket will expire Friday, July 30, if it is not claimed. Previously, applicants had three weeks to . Wisconsin retailers who sell winning tickets over $599 . A Sheboygan man claimed a $1 million jackpot drawn Feb. 3. The winning numbers are 4, 9, 23, 27, 29. 2135 Rimrock Road, PO Box 8941. The winning numbers in Sunday evening's drawing of the Wisconsin Lottery's "All or Nothing Midday" game were: 03-06-08-10-12-14-16-17-18-19-21 (three, six, eight, ten, twelve, fourteen, sixteen, seventeen. "Players could also hear that the jackpot has been won elsewhere and think their ticket isn't a winner when in fact, they could be the winner of a lower tier prizes of $1 million, $50,000, $100, $7, or $4. The Wisconsin Lottery said the ticket can be claimed at their Madison or Milwaukee offices. A man sued for the prize, saying he "lost the ticket in a non-retrievable situation." As snowstorms hit Oregon in January 2017, Joemel Panisa used the time inside to clean his home office. The near-misses below are just a few examples of how easy it is to leave a prize on the table. You'll be notified if you've won, and your ticket is stored securely in the online system. MILWAUKEE - Time is running out for the winner of an unclaimed $1 million lottery ticket purchased in Milwaukee. Unfortunately, even if the tickets were turned in now, they're no longer worth anything. The ticket turned out to be worth $25,000 per year for life. Good decision - he learned his ticket wasn't eligible, because he'd won $4 million the first time. Unclaimed ticket: Badger 5 lottery ticket sold in Pewaukee expires Jan. 11. However, if no one claims it, the Wisconsin Lottery said that money doesn't just disappear. Music, radio and podcasts, all free. That's why, if you're playing the Wisconsin Lottery, you need ScratchSmarter! "Earlier this year, Jeff had a massive heart attack and actually died three times before they saved his life. more, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. They were relieved to find that the clerk had kept the ticket safe and sound. He searched his house, and finally returned to the store the day after the drawing and found the tickets safely waiting for him. Email to DOR at: DORunclaimedproperty@wisconsin.gov. GREEN BAY (NBC 26) The winner of a $50,000 Powerball ticket in Green Bay is still out there. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Jimmie Smith, a 68-year-old grandfather from East Orange, New Jersey, had no idea that he had won a multimillion-dollar prize on May 25, 2016. Kailey Bender, Wisconsin Lottery spokesperson, told USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin that from fiscal year 2017 to 2019, unclaimed lotto prizes which includes Powerball and Megabucks games totaled about $11.9 million, an average of roughly $3.9 million each year. Officials investigated but found no ticket matching his description in the Lotterys archive or the place where he claimed to have purchased the ticket. In order for the ticket holder to claim their prize, they must make an appointment to cash the ticket with state lottery officials in Madison by Friday, July 2. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. Always check with the official source for lottery numbers in a particular state. I honestly didn't realize you could win by not having all of the numbers. The winner will have a choice of either a $1 million annuity or a one-time lump-sum payment of $400,000. Most recently, a $14.6 million prize expired in Arizona in December 2019. He recalled media stories about a prize about to expire, and realized he had to claim as soon as possible. The Wisconsin Lottery says the Megabucks ticket was purchased at Lisbon Express in Milwaukee on January 6. Stats. If you're lucky, $162,000 could be hiding there. The odds of winning the Badger 5 jackpot is 1 in 169,911, according to a news release from Wisconsin Lottery. For more information on the Wisconsin Lottery, you can check out the official Wisconsin Lottery website. Luckily, Smith saw the story and checked a shirt pocket where he'd stashed old tickets - incredibly, the winning ticket was there. Division of Lottery. FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 112 0 obj <>stream MADISON -- There are three unclaimed All or Nothing top prizes of $100,000 in Wisconsin. Andy Thompson can be reached at 920-996-7270 or at awthompson@postcrescent.com. This year the Wisconsin Lottery is expected to reach about $703 million for their fiscal year. People also put tickets away, intending to check them, and then simply forget about them until it's too late. "I scratched it and thought it wasn't a winner, so I threw it in the back of my truck," the Kentucky state park worker said. Sign the back of your ticket as soon as you buy it, Find out your state's claim deadline - see below, $14.6 million The Pick ticket purchased in Arizona on June 5, 2019, $16.6 million Powerball ticket purchased in Florida on May 25, 2013, $31 million Mega Millions ticket purchased in New York on August 1, 2006, $46 million Mega Millions ticket purchased in New York on April 25, 2003, $51.7 million Powerball ticket purchased in Indiana on September 14, 2002, $63 million Super Lotto ticket purchased in California on August 8, 2015. For more information on the Wisconsin Lottery, you can check out the official Wisconsin Lottery website. As for the winner of the January 11 Powerball, here are those winning numbers: 3, 21, 23, 31, 59, with a Powerball number of 3. The numbers for the unclaimed winning ticket are 3, 7, 17, 22, 33 and 44. "When I say $3 million in lotto, unclaimed in a year, it's a small amount compared to the overall larger winnings," said Kailey Bender with Wisconsin Lottery. You will also find instant tickets on the website, featured raffles, and plenty of other online lottery games. They're discarded in the trash, hopelessly lost, or rejected as worthless. For example, Florida law gives 80 percent of expired prizes to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund, which benefits state schools. Last month in Maryland, no one came forward by the deadline to claim a $10 million . Two of those, sold in Kentucky and Missouri, are worth $1 million each, while another two sold in Kentucky and Louisiana are each worth $100,000. According to CBS 58, officials say it was purchased for the January 31 Midday drawing at the Station Prospect LLC in North Fond Du Lac. Official Wisconsin Lottery Site. Systems. Deputy Administrator: Kevin Kaminski. Several weeks later, her mother was helping her prepare to move and found the buried ticket. Nguyen said that although he was sad about the missed opportunity, he would keep playing - and would be much more careful with his tickets in the future. An unclaimed Badger 5 lottery ticket, which was purchased atBrookfield Corner Pump for the Nov. 15, 2020, drawing, will expire May 14. Two Mega Millions tickets, two Lucky Day Lotto tickets . All or Nothing tickets are sold for $2. There are a surprising number of big jackpot winners who, having overcome overwhelming odds to win, almost lost their tickets and came this close to never claiming their life-changing prizes. "When I buy Lottery tickets, I never watch the drawings or even check to see if I won until a few days later," she said. Purchased at Kwik Trip on 1111 Lincoln St. in Wisconsin Rapids, the Powerball ticket matched four of five numbers (16-30-31-54-68) plus the Powerball (1). The money isn't technically wasted, since it'sreturned to state residents as property tax relief. "By then, the ticket had disappeared from my mind. "There are different ways to win. You can find out how long you have to claim lottery winnings by heading to your states lottery information page under the 'State Numbers' tab. "What I didn't know is that after my cat knocked some papers off my nightstand, a few of my tickets ended up falling behind my bed. Bender said there are several possible scenarios behind unclaimed lottery winnings. Panisa said that he'd put the ticket in an envelope, left it in his office, and forgotten about it for nearly a year. I really had to convince myself this was real.". As the one-year deadline to claim got closer, local news reported the winner hadn't come forward.