For nine instant games, claims deadline is Thursday

July 24, 2012 Posted by NC Lottery at 5:42 PM

When you scratch-off a prize on an instant ticket, do you collect your winnings right away? If you’re the kind of player who sometimes waits to claim prize money at a later date, you should know that the deadline to cash in for nine specific instant games is Thursday, July 26.

The deadline was announced back in April. Claims under $600 can be made at a lottery retailer before midnight on July 26. Claims of $600 to $99,999 must be made at one of the six regional claims centers before 5 p.m. on July 26, while claims of $100,000 and above must be made at NCEL headquarters in Raleigh before 5 p.m. on that day. Claims that are mailed to the NCEL must be received within 90 days of the official end-of-game date. Postmarks will not satisfy the 90-day requirement.

The games ending on Thursday are:

$200,000 Cash
Break The Bank
Blackout Bingo
Fantastic 4’s
5X The Money
$150 Grand
Big Win
Holiday Green
$100,000 Treasure Tree

16 COMMENTS

10/24/2012 09:22 - NC Lottery

@ AUBREY - The Holiday Millions game has instant prizes, including top prizes of $1 million. In addition to that, players can enter non-winning tickets for the chance to win the largest second-chance prize in NCEL history. We understand folks play for a chance to win, but you have to remember that in order for a game to have prizes both big and small, there have to be many more non-winning tickets than winning tickets. We hope that of all the games we have to offer, some have prizes you enjoy playing for. Best of luck!

10/22/2012 12:29 - aubrey m.

when i buy a $20 ticket,its for a chance to win a prize then& there. I don't spent $20 for a 2nd chance opportunity!!!Not enough to have chance at winning big $$$. Players that buy $20 tickets want some $$$ back now!!! losers=less players/playing.

8/20/2012 11:01 - NC Lottery

@ KENNYC - If you look at the instant games page on our website, you will see which games are new and which games are ending.

8/20/2012 12:25 - ken h.

you need to have a link that shows the instant win games that are current and when they expire!

7/31/2012 11:21 - NC Lottery

We're looking forward to meeting 20X the Money winners! It's possible that winners have scratched the tickets but haven't come in to claim yet. To your second question: The tickets that the printers check for quality are not included in the portion of tickets that are delivered to the lottery. So for example, if six top prizes are advertised for a game, then there will be 6 top prizes in the game that goes on sale to the public.

7/30/2012 03:35 - john T.

Its very odd that no top prizes from the 10$ 20x game have been hit except for the stolen ticket in wilmington. I follow the prize amounts weekly in big games and this one has been the lowest for the length of time it has been out out.I know they randomly take tickets to check for quality purposes, if a top prize is scratched during this process does it get reprinted?

7/30/2012 11:07 - NC Lottery

@ KNIGHTTT65 - Thanks for your patience in getting a response. The way prizes are distributed in the Carolina Black game are similar to what you'd find in other states. We know folks would like to do better than break even, but that takes luck of course! :-)

7/30/2012 11:06 - NC Lottery

@ MOWALL JR - Yes, Jr. Big Ol' Bucks got a "facelift" when the game was recently recharged. The odds of winning are the same, but there are more tickets and more prizes now :-)

7/30/2012 11:04 - NC Lottery

@ JOANN - Thanks for being patient getting a response. The lottery's communications team does its best to keep up with comments and questions on the blog and sometimes we have to get precise info from an expert in the organization so we can provide accurate info to you. So, to your question: When all the top prizes for an instant game have been won, the lottery ends the game. The lottery's policy is that players should have a chance to win a top prize playing instant games. When a game ends, prizes that are considered unclaimed are split between education, and prizes for future games. New games start Tuesday, Aug. 7 - there will be a new blog about them coming soon.

7/30/2012 11:03 - NC Lottery

@ 1ROCK2KING - The "For Life" tickets start August 28! Be on the lookout for a preview blog here in the Lucke-Zone :-)

7/30/2012 09:40 - JAMES S.

We need yearly raffles like the State of Connecticut. I am sure $10.00 tickets would sellout. Drawing could be held for July 4th week and December 25th week.

7/30/2012 08:38 - JOANN M.

I MADE A COMMENT BUT HAVE YET TO RECIEVE AN ANSWER. WANTED TO KNOW WHY WAS THESE GAMES ENDING WITH ALLTHE PRIZES THAT WERE LEFT NOT CLAIMED AND WHAT WOULD HAPPEN TO THAT MONEY? HOPE TO GET AN ANSWER THIS TIME.

7/27/2012 01:01 - Monte W.

Off the subject a small bit, but Jr Big Ol' Bucks has a new look today. Instead of the yellow hue or base color, it is green. Has it been re-issued with new added prizes???

7/26/2012 12:25 - Vincent J.

Still wanting all players to know about the Carolina Black 5$ cards, I have been informed it is possible to have 5 winning numbers, but each will only be worth 1 dollar, so you can win 5 times and break even!! You should tell everyone in the commercials!!! Win everything and win nothing!! lol

7/25/2012 10:21 - JOANN M.

HAVE A QUESTION HOPE I GET AN ANSWER. WHY ARE ALL THESE GAMES ENDING SO SOON I KNOW SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE BUT ALL OF THEM STILL HAVE LOT'S OF PRIZE'S REMAINING. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THAT MONEY THAT IS LEFT? AND WITH ALL OF THESE GAMES ENDING I REALLY HOPE THAT YOU COME OUT WITH SOME GOOD ONE'S.

7/25/2012 09:32 - Roger K.

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For nine instant games, claims deadline is Thursday

July 24, 2012 Posted by NC Lottery at 5:42 PM

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