What are the Deadlines to Claim Lottery Prizes?
If you’re holding a winning lottery ticket and thinking about delaying your claim, it’s important to reconsider. In Canada, there is no flexibility when it comes to the claiming deadlines for lottery prizes. Each ticket comes with a clearly defined expiry date, typically one year from the draw date, and once that period passes, the prize is forfeited.
Deadlines to Claim Lottery Prizes
Some important points:
- Draw-based games such as LOTTO MAX, LOTTO 6/49, DAILY GRAND, and provincial draw games generally have a 12-month claim period from the draw date.
- Scratch or instant tickets do not always expire one year after purchase. Instead, they have a specific claim deadline set by the lottery corporation, usually printed on the back of the ticket or listed on the lottery’s website.
- If a prize is not claimed before the deadline, it is generally forfeited. Depending on the lottery corporation, unclaimed prize money may be returned to future prize pools or to the provincial government for lottery-related purposes.
Consequences of Missing Claim Deadlines
If you win a lottery prize in Canada but don’t claim it on time, you lose the prize. The rules are strict, and all provinces follow them.
Main Consequences:
1. You Lose the Prize
If you don’t claim your prize within the allowed time, you forfeit it.
- For draw-based games, most provinces give you 1 year from the draw date.
- For instant games (scratch cards), the expiry date is printed on the ticket.
2. No Exceptions for Being Late
Even if you forgot or didn’t know you won, you still can’t claim the prize after the deadline.
- For example, in British Columbia (BCLC) and Ontario (OLG), once the deadline passes, your ticket is worthless.
3. The Money Goes Back to the Lottery
Unclaimed prize money doesn’t stay with the lottery company.
- It usually goes back into future prize pools.
- In some cases, like charity lotteries, it may be kept in trust for a short time and then used to support the cause.
4. No Refunds or Replacements
If your ticket expires, you don’t get a refund or a different prize.
- The only exception is if the ticket has a printing or system error caused by the lottery itself. In that case, you might get your money back – but not the prize.
What else you need to know
- Prizes under $1,000: Claim at an authorised lottery retailer (subject to cash availability).
- Eligible prizes: Submit a secure online prize claim through OLG’s online claim portal by uploading photos of your ticket and required identification. After submitting, you’ll receive an email confirmation.
- Any prize amount: You may also mail your signed ticket and completed claim documents to the OLG Prize Centre.
So, while you may receive email confirmation after submitting an online claim, you cannot simply email your ticket and claim documents to OLG as your method of claiming a prize
To claim a prize of $1,000 or more, you must complete a Lottery Prize Claim Declaration Form. This applies to both single and group play wins. All prize claim documentation must include the claimant’s legal first and last name as shown on the valid government-issued identification that will be presented with the claim documentation.
Once received at OLG, winning tickets and tickets that are damaged cannot be returned to the claimant.
No Assignment of Prize Winnings. Prize winnings cannot be assigned, transferred, lent, sold or otherwise directed to third parties by prize winners. For greater specificity, all prize winnings will be paid directly to the prize winner (as determined by OLG).
As part of OLG’s prize payment protocol, OLG reserves the right to subject any person having any involvement with a winning ticket prior to the submission of a prize claim to the same requirements as the person(s) claiming the prize. These requirements may include, but are not limited to, providing valid government-issued photo identification, participating in a face-to-face interview, and completing the “Release of Prize Claim Form”.
You need to have the following documents to get the prize:
Your original signed ticket: Fill in the required information on the front and back of the ticket (print clearly). Do not put additional writing or markings on your tickets as this can increase the time it takes OLG to process your prize claim. Keep a photocopy of your ticket. If you are a group winner, then the ticket should be signed by the group leader “In Trust” or each group member may sign the ticket.
Your customer receipt: If a retailer has checked your ticket, include the Customer Receipt printed by the lottery terminal.
Your ID proof: A legible photocopy (front and back) of one piece of valid government-issued identification with date of birth. Also, a group winner should have a legible photocopy (front and back) of one piece of valid government-issued identification with date of birth for each group member.
Completed lottery prize declaration form: All sections need to be filled out (Parts A, B & C), including where you purchased your ticket. Make sure the form is signed and witnessed. If you can’t print the form from the website, you can call the OLG Support Centre at 1-800-387-0098 and ask for one to be mailed to you.
For group winners: Each group member must complete the Lottery Prize Claim Declaration Form (Group). All sections need to be filled out (Parts A, B & C), including where the ticket was purchased and by whom. Make sure the form is signed and witnessed.
The individual who signs this form as a witness should be impartial and have no vested interest in the claim. If you can’t print the form from the website, you can call the OLG Support Centre at 1-800-387-0098 and ask for one to be mailed to you. A completed Lottery Prize Claim Group List with each group member’s legal name, address, postal code, telephone number, proportion of prize and signature.