Millions in lottery winnings go unclaimed annually. Approximately 1% of yearly lottery revenue, totaling over $1 billion, remains unredeemed. This includes smaller prizes and even some multi-million dollar jackpots. Experts attribute this to players not checking tickets, forgetting them, or being unaware of their win. Unclaimed prizes vary by state, with deadlines for claiming them. While large jackpots garner attention, the bulk of unclaimed money comes from smaller wins.

Prepared by Christopher Adams and reviewed by editorial team.