Don't throw away your non-winning scratch-off tickets just yet. The Mississippi Lottery offers a second chance program that turns losing instant tickets into another opportunity to win cash and prizes. Understanding how the system works ensures you don't miss out on valid entries due to common administrative errors.
This guide breaks down everything required to register, submit tickets correctly, avoid disqualification, and claim rewards through the official platform.
How Mississippi Lottery Second Chance Drawings Work
The second chance initiative gives players a digital safety net for eligible non-winning scratch-off tickets. Instead of discarding tickets that didn't hit a cash prize on the first try, you can register them online for upcoming promotional drawings.
Each specific scratch-off game features its own designated promotional rules, entry parameters, and prize pools. When you submit a ticket, the system automatically checks its barcode and ticket numbers against the state database to verify validity.
Eligibility Requirements
Before creating an account or submitting numbers, make sure you meet the baseline legal requirements enforced by the state:
- Age Limit: You must be at least 21 years old to purchase tickets, register an account, or claim any prize.
- Residency and Accounts: Players can create and maintain only one active member profile on the portal.
- Excluded Individuals: Employees, directors, and officers of the lottery corporation, along with authorized retailers, vendors, and immediate family members residing in the same household, cannot participate.
Step-by-Step Entry Instructions
Entering your non-winning tickets requires going through the official online portal rather than mailing physical paperwork. Physical tickets mailed or hand-delivered to lottery headquarters are permanently discarded and will not be entered or returned.
- Create an Account: Visit the official Mississippi Lottery Second Chance Portal to set up a free membership profile with your legal name, physical address, and valid email.
- Select the Game: Log in to your dashboard, navigate to the submission section, and select the exact scratch-off game corresponding to your ticket from the active dropdown list.
- Input Ticket Codes: Locate the front and back verification numbers on your scratch-off ticket. Carefully type these alphanumeric codes into the designated fields on the entry form.
- Verify Submission: Confirm that your entry registers successfully on the My Entries page. Retain your physical ticket in a safe place until the drawing concludes, as verification may require physical proof depending on the promotion's rules.
Avoiding Common Entry Mistakes
Many players run into frustrating roadblocks when attempting to log tickets. Recognizing these pitfalls helps keep your account in good standing.
- Duplicate Entries: A single non-winning ticket can only be entered once. Trying to submit the same ticket multiple times triggers an error message. If you forget whether a ticket was logged, check your account history on the My Entries tab.
- Typing Errors: Entering incorrect digits from the scratch-off surface will result in an unrecognized code notification. Double-check the back and front serial strings before hitting submit.
- Discarding Tickets Too Early: Never throw away a ticket immediately after scanning or typing it if the specific promotion rules mandate holding onto physical proof for validation.
Claiming Your Prizes and Deadlines
Winning a promotional drawing changes things quickly, and strict timelines apply to prize fulfillment. If your name is drawn, the state corporation typically notifies winners via certified mail.
Winners usually have a strict window—frequently 10 business days from the receipt of the notification letter—to complete and return the required winner claim forms along with valid government-issued identification. Failing to respond within this timeframe forfeits the prize, leading to an alternate winner being selected. Furthermore, winners are solely responsible for applicable federal and state taxes associated with the prize value.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I buy lottery tickets online in Mississippi?
No. State regulations prohibit online sales of scratch-offs and draw games. All initial ticket purchases must take place in person at an authorized lottery retailer.
What happens if I lose my physical non-winning ticket?
If a promotion requires physical ticket verification during the claim process and you cannot produce the original paper ticket, you risk forfeiting the prize. Always keep your non-winning tickets secure until drawings are finalized.
Can I use the official mobile app for entries?
Yes. You can download the official mobile application through the Google Play Store to scan tickets, track winning numbers, and manage your second-chance submissions on the go.
Why did my ticket show an error message upon entry?
An error message usually indicates that the ticket has already been submitted to the system, the game period has closed, or a typo was made while entering the serial numbers. Review your active entries list to confirm its status.
