Second Chance Lottery Drawings: How They Work and How to Enter
That losing scratch-off might not be done. A second-chance drawing lets you enter a non-winning ticket into a separate drawing for cash and prizes — a free extra shot on a ticket you already bought. Here’s how they work, how to enter, and where to find your state’s official program.
The one-line version: don’t throw away a losing ticket until you’ve checked whether your state lottery runs a second-chance drawing. If it does, you register the ticket’s code — free — and it goes into a separate pool for prizes. It won’t happen often, but it costs nothing on a ticket you were about to bin.
What is a second-chance drawing?
A second-chance drawing (some states brand it “2nd Chance,” “Bonus Draw,” or fold it into a “Rewards” club) is a prize drawing you enter using a ticket that didn’t win the normal way. Most often that’s a non-winning scratch-off, but many states also allow eligible draw-game tickets. Instead of the ticket being worthless once it loses, its printed entry code becomes a raffle ticket into a separate drawing — for cash, merchandise, trips, or experiences, depending on what that state is running at the time.
The prizes, the eligible games, and the odds are set by each state lottery and change constantly, so this page won’t quote any — the honest move is to check the official page for whatever your state is drawing right now.
How second-chance drawings generally work
- They’re run by the state lottery — not by third parties. Every legitimate second-chance drawing lives on an official state lottery website or app. If a “second-chance” offer isn’t on your state lottery’s own site, be suspicious.
- You enter a ticket you already bought. There’s no separate purchase to enter — the ticket is the entry. Entering is free.
- Entry is account-based. You register a free player account (often a “rewards” or “players club”) so the lottery can reach you if you win.
- You submit the ticket’s code. Scan the barcode in the official app, or type the entry code printed on the ticket into your account online.
- Drawings happen on a schedule. Some are weekly or monthly pools; others are limited-time promotions tied to a specific game. Each has an entry deadline.
- Winners are notified and claim through the lottery. If you’re drawn, the lottery contacts you through your account, and you claim like any other prize — often by producing the physical ticket.
How to enter a second-chance drawing
- Keep the non-winning ticket. Don’t toss a losing ticket — it’s your entry. Second-chance drawings run on tickets that didn’t win a prize the normal way, and most states make you keep the physical ticket in case your entry is drawn.
- Find your state lottery’s second-chance page. Every program is run by the official state lottery — use the directory below, or search your state lottery’s site for “second chance,” “bonus draw,” or “rewards.” It is always free; a real lottery never charges you to enter.
- Create a free account. Second-chance drawings are account-based — you register a free player account (often a “rewards” or “players club”) with the state lottery so it can contact you if you win.
- Enter the ticket’s code. Scan the ticket’s barcode in the official state lottery app, or type the entry code printed on the ticket into your account on the lottery’s website. That code is your entry into the drawing.
- Watch the entry deadline — then the draw. Each drawing has a cutoff; enter before it. If your entry is drawn, the lottery notifies you through your account and you claim like any other prize — verify and claim through the official lottery, never by paying a “fee.”
Exact steps, eligible games, and deadlines differ by state — the directory below links each state’s official page so you can confirm the current rules.
Why they’re worth doing
- It’s a free second shot. You already paid for the ticket. Entering the loser costs nothing and gives it one more way to pay off.
- The prizes can be real. States use second-chance pools for meaningful cash prizes and one-of-a-kind experiences — check your state’s page for what’s live now.
- Fewer people bother. Most players toss losing tickets, so the entry pools are smaller than the primary game — the whole point of the “second chance.”
- It rewards a habit you should have anyway. Checking every ticket (and not binning it until you have) is the same discipline that keeps you from throwing away an actual winner.
Realistic expectations & common pitfalls
Second-chance drawings are a nice bonus, not a strategy. Keep expectations honest and avoid the usual traps:
- It’s still a long shot. A second-chance drawing is another lottery. Enter for fun on tickets you already bought — never buy more tickets just to get entries.
- Mind the entry deadline. Entries close before each drawing, and non-winning tickets expire (often within months of a game ending). A ticket in a drawer past its deadline can’t be entered.
- An account is required. No registration, no entry. Sign up with the official state lottery, not a lookalike site.
- Keep the physical ticket. Most states make you keep the entered ticket to validate a win — don’t shred it the moment you enter the code.
- Free means free. Entering and claiming are free. Anyone asking you to pay a fee, taxes up front, or “verification” money to release a second-chance prize is running a lottery scam.
- Eligibility varies. Which games qualify, and whether out-of-state players can enter, differs by state — read that state’s rules before you count on an entry.
Second-chance drawings by state
A curated directory of 17 major states whose official second-chance pages we verified. Program names and rules vary by state and change over time — open the official page to see the current drawings, eligible games, entry deadlines, and rules. WonYet is not affiliated with any state lottery; these are their official sites.
-
California 2nd Chance
Enter eligible non-winning ticket codes online or in the official California Lottery app.
-
Colorado Bonus Draws
Free MyLottery account; enter the code under the scratch coating or scan the barcode in the app.
-
Florida Bonus Play Drawings
Enter eligible previously-played tickets through the website or the Florida Lottery app.
-
Georgia Second Chance
Free Players Club account required; enter through the site or the Georgia Lottery app.
-
Illinois 2nd Chance Promotions
Follow the entry instructions for each active promotion on the official page.
-
Indiana my2ndChance
Free myLOTTERY membership; scan or enter the code from an eligible non-winning ticket.
-
Maryland My Lottery Rewards
Enter non-winning scratch-offs and draw-game tickets through the free My Lottery Rewards program.
-
Michigan Second Chance Games
Scan eligible non-winning tickets in the Michigan Lottery app or enter them online.
-
Missouri My Lottery Players Club
Free Players Club account; enter eligible non-winning tickets online or scan them in the app.
-
New Jersey VIP Club Second Chance
Join the free VIP Club, then enter eligible non-winning tickets for the second-chance drawings.
-
New York Promotions (NY Lottery+)
Second-chance drawings run through the Promotions / NY Lottery+ section of the official site.
-
North Carolina Lucke-Rewards Second Chance
Free Lucke-Rewards account; enter tickets with a Lucke-Rewards code online or in the app.
-
Ohio MyLotto Rewards Second Chance
Enter applicable non-winning tickets through the free MyLotto Rewards program.
-
Pennsylvania Second-Chance Drawings
Submit qualifying tickets at the site or in the PA Lottery app (mailed entries are not accepted).
-
Texas Luck Zone
Register a free account, then enter eligible non-winning tickets in active drawings; eligibility and residency rules are on the official page.
-
Virginia Virginia Lottery Rewards
Scan winning and non-winning tickets you bought in-store to enter eXTRA Chances / 2nd Chance promotions.
-
Washington Second Chance
Register, then enter the web code from eligible non-winning scratch or draw tickets.
Don’t see your state? Most US lotteries run some form of second-chance or rewards drawing — go to your official state lottery website and search “second chance,” “bonus draw,” or “rewards.” Only enter through the lottery’s own site or app.
Second-chance lottery FAQ
What is a second-chance lottery drawing?
A second-chance drawing is a separate prize drawing you enter using a lottery ticket that did NOT win the normal way — most often a non-winning scratch-off, but many states also allow eligible draw-game tickets. You register the ticket’s printed code with your state lottery, and it goes into a pool for cash, prizes, or experiences. It’s essentially a free extra chance on a ticket you already paid for. Programs, prizes, and eligible games are set by each state lottery and change often, so always confirm the current details on your state’s official page.
How do I enter losing lottery tickets into a second-chance drawing?
Go to your state lottery’s official second-chance page (many call it “2nd Chance,” “Bonus Draw,” or “Rewards”), create a free player account, and enter the ticket. You either scan the barcode in the official state lottery app or type the entry code printed on the ticket into your account online. Keep the physical ticket afterward — you usually have to produce it if your entry is drawn. Mailed entries are generally not accepted; entry is through the official website or app.
Are second-chance drawings free to enter?
Yes. Entering a ticket you already bought into a second-chance drawing is free — a legitimate lottery never charges a fee to enter or to release a prize. You do have to buy the underlying ticket in the first place, and you have to register a free account, but there is no additional cost to submit an eligible ticket. If anything ever asks you to pay to “claim” a second-chance prize, it’s a scam.
Do I need to keep my physical ticket after I enter?
Usually, yes. Most state programs require you to keep the physical ticket you entered until the drawing is over and prizes are claimed, because you may have to present it to validate a win. Entering the code online does not always mean you can throw the ticket away — check your state’s rules, and when in doubt, hold on to it.
Can I enter a second-chance drawing from another state?
It depends entirely on the state. Some programs are open to out-of-state players; others require an in-state address to register or to claim. Each state lottery sets its own eligibility, so read that state’s official rules before entering — and remember you can only enter a ticket that was actually bought in that state.
Does WonYet enter second-chance drawings for me?
No. Second-chance drawings are run by the state lotteries, and you enter them yourself on the official state lottery site or app. WonYet is a checker and reminder: scan a ticket and WonYet reads the numbers, watches the drawing, and tells you whether it won and what it’s worth. It doesn’t sell tickets, take entries, run drawings, or hold prize money. Think of WonYet as the tool that tells you a ticket lost the normal way — which is exactly the ticket worth entering into a second-chance drawing.
Always verify your results through official lottery channels before claiming any prize. WonYet is not affiliated with Powerball, Mega Millions, or any lottery organization. · All lottery names and marks are trademarks of their respective owners.