{
  "dataset": "US unclaimed lottery prizes by state",
  "source": "WonYet",
  "url": "https://wonyet.com/unclaimed-lottery-prizes",
  "reviewed": "2026-06-15",
  "nationalEstimate": "an estimated $1–3 billion a year",
  "license": "https://wonyet.com/terms",
  "notReported": [
    "Delaware",
    "Georgia",
    "Illinois",
    "Indiana",
    "Kansas",
    "Maine",
    "Massachusetts",
    "New Hampshire",
    "Vermont",
    "West Virginia",
    "Wyoming"
  ],
  "rows": [
    {
      "state": "Arizona",
      "figure": "$20.3 million",
      "year": "FY2022",
      "dest": "CASA program + recycled",
      "source": "Arizona Lottery; 12News",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "Arkansas",
      "figure": "$10.9 million",
      "year": "FY2024",
      "dest": "College scholarships",
      "source": "Arkansas Democrat-Gazette",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "California",
      "figure": "~$46.8 million",
      "year": "Multi-year avg",
      "dest": "Public education",
      "source": "CA State Lottery (via KGET/KTLA)",
      "note": "average"
    },
    {
      "state": "Colorado",
      "figure": "~$15.36 million",
      "year": "FY2024",
      "dest": "Parks & outdoors (GOCO)",
      "source": "CO State Auditor (audit)",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "Connecticut",
      "figure": "$14.73 million",
      "year": "FY2024",
      "dest": "State general fund",
      "source": "CT Lottery FY2024 Annual Report",
      "note": "prize credit"
    },
    {
      "state": "District of Columbia",
      "figure": "$2.45 million",
      "year": "FY2024",
      "dest": "District general fund",
      "source": "DC Inspector General audit",
      "note": "gross expired"
    },
    {
      "state": "Florida",
      "figure": "$60.4 million",
      "year": "FY2023–24",
      "dest": "Education (80%) + prize pool",
      "source": "WUFT / Fresh Take Florida",
      "note": "scratch-offs only"
    },
    {
      "state": "Idaho",
      "figure": "~$5 million",
      "year": "Annual est.",
      "dest": "Schools + building fund",
      "source": "Idaho Lottery (via KTVB)",
      "note": "estimate"
    },
    {
      "state": "Iowa",
      "figure": "nearly $5 million",
      "year": "FY2024",
      "dest": "Recycled into prizes",
      "source": "Iowa Lottery pressroom",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "Kentucky",
      "figure": "$7.1 million",
      "year": "FY2020",
      "dest": "College scholarships",
      "source": "NKyTribune",
      "note": "dated"
    },
    {
      "state": "Louisiana",
      "figure": "~$9–10 million",
      "year": "Annual est.",
      "dest": "Returned to players",
      "source": "WWL-TV",
      "note": "estimate"
    },
    {
      "state": "Maryland",
      "figure": "~$20 million",
      "year": "~2016",
      "dest": "Education (county boards)",
      "source": "Baltimore Sun",
      "note": "dated"
    },
    {
      "state": "Michigan",
      "figure": "~$31 million",
      "year": "2013–14",
      "dest": "School Aid Fund",
      "source": "Michigan Capitol Confidential",
      "note": "dated"
    },
    {
      "state": "Minnesota",
      "figure": "$13.72 million",
      "year": "FY2023",
      "dest": "State general fund",
      "source": "MN State Lottery Annual Report",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "Mississippi",
      "figure": "~$1.8 million",
      "year": "FY2024",
      "dest": "Recycled into prizes",
      "source": "MS State Auditor (audit)",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "Missouri",
      "figure": "~$19.7 million",
      "year": "FY2023",
      "dest": "Public education",
      "source": "MO Lottery CAFR FY2023",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "Montana",
      "figure": "$1.80 million",
      "year": "FY2024",
      "dest": "State general fund",
      "source": "Montana Lottery Annual Report",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "Nebraska",
      "figure": "$4.24 million",
      "year": "FY2023",
      "dest": "Education funds",
      "source": "NE Auditor of Public Accounts",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "New Jersey",
      "figure": "~$48 million",
      "year": "2015",
      "dest": "Education / state",
      "source": "WOBM (NJ Lottery figures)",
      "note": "dated"
    },
    {
      "state": "New Mexico",
      "figure": "~$2.5–3 million",
      "year": "~2016",
      "dest": "Tuition scholarships",
      "source": "KRQE",
      "note": "dated"
    },
    {
      "state": "New York",
      "figure": "~$74 million",
      "year": "2016–17",
      "dest": "Recycled into prizes",
      "source": "Fox Business",
      "note": "dated"
    },
    {
      "state": "North Carolina",
      "figure": "~$46 million",
      "year": "FY2025",
      "dest": "Education (50%) + prizes (50%)",
      "source": "NC State Auditor (audited)",
      "note": "total (2×$23.1M edu half)"
    },
    {
      "state": "North Dakota",
      "figure": "just over $780,000",
      "year": "FY2023",
      "dest": "State general fund",
      "source": "North Dakota Monitor",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "Ohio",
      "figure": "~$34 million",
      "year": "2017",
      "dest": "Education",
      "source": "Cleveland19",
      "note": "dated · scratch-offs"
    },
    {
      "state": "Oklahoma",
      "figure": "$9.10 million",
      "year": "FY2024",
      "dest": "Mental health + prize pool",
      "source": "OK Lottery CAFR FY2024",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "Oregon",
      "figure": "$8 million",
      "year": "FY2024",
      "dest": "Education, parks, veterans",
      "source": "Oregon Lottery press release",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "Pennsylvania",
      "figure": "~$18 million",
      "year": "Multi-year avg",
      "dest": "Programs for older residents",
      "source": "The Center Square; WITF",
      "note": "average · scratch-offs untracked"
    },
    {
      "state": "Rhode Island",
      "figure": "~$3.3 million",
      "year": "FY2019",
      "dest": "State general fund",
      "source": "WPRI Target 12",
      "note": "dated"
    },
    {
      "state": "South Carolina",
      "figure": "~$30 million",
      "year": "2024–25",
      "dest": "Education & scholarships",
      "source": "Post and Courier; WIS-TV",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "South Dakota",
      "figure": "~$1.6 million",
      "year": "FY2021",
      "dest": "Recycled into prizes",
      "source": "KELOLAND",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "Tennessee",
      "figure": "up to $18 million",
      "year": "FY2022",
      "dest": "Education (afterschool)",
      "source": "WKRN / Nashville Scene",
      "note": "statutory cap"
    },
    {
      "state": "Texas",
      "figure": "$62.6 million",
      "year": "FY2022",
      "dest": "Schools + veterans",
      "source": "Texas Lottery FY2022 Annual Financial Report",
      "note": "press-reported · unverified vs audit"
    },
    {
      "state": "Virginia",
      "figure": "$22.4 million",
      "year": "FY2025",
      "dest": "School construction (Literary Fund)",
      "source": "Virginia Lottery",
      "note": ""
    },
    {
      "state": "Washington",
      "figure": "over $18 million",
      "year": "2023",
      "dest": "Prizes + education grants",
      "source": "Secondary outlets",
      "note": "secondary source"
    },
    {
      "state": "Wisconsin",
      "figure": "~$3.3 million",
      "year": "Annual est.",
      "dest": "Property-tax relief",
      "source": "NBC26 (WI Lottery)",
      "note": "estimate"
    }
  ]
}