Millions in lottery prizes are still waiting to be claimed in BC

Check your pockets, your glove compartments, and your junk drawers. Twice.

Several huge lottery prizes won by British Columbians in 2024 have yet to be claimed, and the BCLC wants the winners to come forward before it’s too late.

Winning tickets were sold across Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and throughout the province.

@atlanticlottery/Instagram

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According to a previous release from BCLC, players can check their tickets at any BCLC lottery retailer in the province as well as anytime online or on the BCLC Lotto! App.

All lotto winners have 52 weeks from the draw date printed on the ticket to claim their prize.

The lottery corporation provided Daily Hive with a list of outstanding prizes won in 2024 valued at $500,000 or more. Games range from Lotto MAX to the Lotto 6/49 Extra and the Daily Grand.

BCLC

Shelley Wong from BC Lottery Corporation (BCLC) Media Relations previously told Daily Hive that only a small percentage of lottery wins go unclaimed each year.

“Most unclaimed prizes are for a small amount, such as a few dollars. It is extremely rare for major prizes of $10,000 or more to go unclaimed,” Wong said.

“When a winning ticket for a prize of $500,000 and above is set to expire, BCLC works to raise awareness through social media and media outreach to help remind players to check their tickets in the hopes of finding the winner.”

Lotto BC/Facebook

Wong explained that unclaimed winnings from national lotteries like Lotto 6/49 and Lotto Max are used in future draws and promotions.

“For BC lotteries, like BC/49, unclaimed winnings go back to the Province of BC for the benefit of all British Columbians,” added Wong.

With files from Isabelle Docto