California lottery players originally had just 6 months to claim Mega winnings, while those in other states had 12. The change takes effect Jan. 1.
Californians who keep their winning Mega Millions lottery tickets in their sock drawers will soon get an additional six months to dig them out and cash them in.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation Wednesday that extends the time for claiming a jackpot in the multi-state lottery game from six months to a year.
The change, effective Jan. 1, addresses a court decision that challenged California's requirement that prizes be claimed in six months although players in other states participating in the same Mega Millions game have 12 months to do so.
That discrepancy could have jeopardized Mega Millions revenue that goes to schools in California, officials said.
"This legislation should allow us to put the concerns about Mega Millions behind us," said Joan Borucki, director of the California Lottery. "Californians can now continue to enjoy this exciting game and the more than $834 million in cash prizes since the California Lottery began offering Mega Millions in 2005."
Voters approved the state lottery in 1984, requiring that at least half its revenue be returned to the public in prizes and at least 34% benefit public education, with the rest allowed for expenses. The original bill called for prizes not claimed in 180 days to revert to education programs.
However, in 2005, the state Lottery Commission voted for California to become the 12th state to join the Mega Millions multi-state lottery.
The decision was challenged in a suit filed that year by Californians Against Gambling Expansion, on grounds that it was not approved by the Legislature or voters.
A year later, Sacramento County Superior Court Judge Lloyd Connelly found that the Lottery Commission does have authority to enter into a multi-state lottery.
But he also said the requirement to claim prizes in six months created a "slight possibility" that revenue would not go to California education when prizes were claimed after six months in other states.
"Our citizens in California now have a longer period to claim their prize, and this reconciles our deadline with those of the other states," said Assemblyman Van Tran (R-Garden Grove), who wrote the bill.
Really.... Who in their right mind would want to wait a year?
Let's see, it would take about 2 days to set up a trust with a lawyer, set up a bank, change phone numbers and the like -- maybe all done within a week. That's all the time I'll need, especially to claim the prize anonymously. The sooner the better, just to maximize the interest that could be obtained.
I would like to see them increase the deadline to twenty or thirty years; maybe even fifty. First of all, because stupid people need all the advantages society can give them. Also, maybe the original holder will die, and a more intelligent sibling will find the ticket and claim the prize.
The longer it takes for the state to grab the money, the better the chance some great-great granchild will find the ticket in the junk in the closet drawer.
NY has it for 1 year too. I doubt I would wait for a whole year to claim the jackpot. Maybe 3 months will be fine. Lot of thing could happen within 1 year. If you can keep a secret, then 1 year would be great for planning your future. It also depends on your age too.
Maybe it is better to claim quickly. I recall a story where the store owner found the jackpot winner by using the store's video cam. Do you guys remember this?
Quote: Originally posted by JackpotWanna on Apr 24, 2008
NY has it for 1 year too. I doubt I would wait for a whole year to claim the jackpot. Maybe 3 months will be fine. Lot of thing could happen within 1 year. If you can keep a secret, then 1 year would be great for planning your future. It also depends on your age too.
see i'm too paranoid to do that. i would go the next day; I'm too afraid something would happen to me or the ticket before turning it in.
I'd only need the amount of time it takes to find a reputable attorney, a financial advisor and I will be drving down to sacramento in a heartbeat! I would need roughly 2 to 3 weeks.
Californians Against Gambling Expansion, hah what a joke!
No offense to any Cali people who read this, but I've been in the Golden State for six months now, and my opinion is that the lottery out here SUCKS. The Mega Millions prize payouts are all over the board. When it comes to hitting five white balls you stand the chance 9 times out of ten of not winning 250,000 but far less, maybe 160,000 on average, when the jackpot is below 200 million. Sure the chances of hitting five white balls is pretty slim, but when, and if, I did, I'd still be thinking about the extra 100k that I would have gotten in all the other Mega states.
The casinos in this state are out of control, Seems like there is one in every other county. It sure puts the kibosh on lottery activity, and now Arnold wants to privatize the California lottery. It could only help! The state sure dosen't seem to have a grasp of how to do it right . All I can think is that the casino lobby doesn't want the competition, and considering the amount California is milking the casinos for every year, I can see why.
Quote: Originally posted by lottocalgal on Apr 24, 2008
I'd only need the amount of time it takes to find a reputable attorney, a financial advisor and I will be drving down to sacramento in a heartbeat! I would need roughly 2 to 3 weeks.
This law is not written for people like you. It was written for those who couldn't find their rear with both hands. Those that spend money and don't remember what they spent it on, or where the purchased item is located. We would call them idiots, but that isn't PLC. You have to have compassion for the idiots of the world. Thus, they extend the time line to a year. Makes every one feel warm and fuzzy!
Drop in the bucket. If they want more sales they need to bring back live, ball drawings for the daily draws, and have a massive increase in prize payout percentages for scratchers. Extending the period to claim prizes and letting people choose their payment option at the time of claim are moot points.
Really.... Who in their right mind would want to wait a year?
Let's see, it would take about 2 days to set up a trust with a lawyer, set up a bank, change phone numbers and the like -- maybe all done within a week. That's all the time I'll need, especially to claim the prize anonymously. The sooner the better, just to maximize the interest that could be obtained.
In Ohio, another MegaMillions state, players still only have 180 days to claim their winnings.
People in the middle of a divorce!!!! LOL
I would like to see them increase the deadline to twenty or thirty years; maybe even fifty. First of all, because stupid people need all the advantages society can give them. Also, maybe the original holder will die, and a more intelligent sibling will find the ticket and claim the prize.
The longer it takes for the state to grab the money, the better the chance some great-great granchild will find the ticket in the junk in the closet drawer.
NY has it for 1 year too. I doubt I would wait for a whole year to claim the jackpot. Maybe 3 months will be fine. Lot of thing could happen within 1 year. If you can keep a secret, then 1 year would be great for planning your future. It also depends on your age too.
Maybe it is better to claim quickly. I recall a story where the store owner found the jackpot winner by using the store's video cam. Do you guys remember this?
ROFL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
see i'm too paranoid to do that. i would go the next day; I'm too afraid something would happen to me or the ticket before turning it in.
I'd only need the amount of time it takes to find a reputable attorney, a financial advisor and I will be drving down to sacramento in a heartbeat! I would need roughly 2 to 3 weeks.
Californians Against Gambling Expansion, hah what a joke!
No offense to any Cali people who read this, but I've been in the Golden State for six months now, and my opinion is that the lottery out here SUCKS. The Mega Millions prize payouts are all over the board. When it comes to hitting five white balls you stand the chance 9 times out of ten of not winning 250,000 but far less, maybe 160,000 on average, when the jackpot is below 200 million. Sure the chances of hitting five white balls is pretty slim, but when, and if, I did, I'd still be thinking about the extra 100k that I would have gotten in all the other Mega states.
The casinos in this state are out of control, Seems like there is one in every other county. It sure puts the kibosh on lottery activity, and now Arnold wants to privatize the California lottery. It could only help! The state sure dosen't seem to have a grasp of how to do it right . All I can think is that the casino lobby doesn't want the competition, and considering the amount California is milking the casinos for every year, I can see why.
This law is not written for people like you. It was written for those who couldn't find their rear with both hands. Those that spend money and don't remember what they spent it on, or where the purchased item is located. We would call them idiots, but that isn't PLC. You have to have compassion for the idiots of the world. Thus, they extend the time line to a year. Makes every one feel warm and fuzzy!
Drop in the bucket. If they want more sales they need to bring back live, ball drawings for the daily draws, and have a massive increase in prize payout percentages for scratchers. Extending the period to claim prizes and letting people choose their payment option at the time of claim are moot points.