2nd chance lottery drawings give players a second opportunity to win prizes using losing scratch-off or draw game tickets. Most lotteries offer these types of drawings to generate interest and provide more chances for players to win. The purpose of 2nd chance lotteries is to increase ticket sales by giving losing tickets additional value. Players can enter losing tickets into drawings for a chance to win large prizes like vacations, cars, or even millions in cash. These programs allow lotteries to promote new games and engage players by offering prizes beyond those available just by purchasing tickets.
According to the National 2nd Chance Lottery’s website, “2nd Chance drawings provide lottery players more opportunities to win big prizes. Enter your non-winning scratch-off and draw game tickets for an extra chance at a major jackpot and other exciting prizes such as vacations, cars and cash!” https://www.2ndchancelottery.com/2CL
Eligibility
In order to enter 2nd chance drawings in California, you must meet certain eligibility requirements. According to the California Lottery website, “You must be 18 or older and meet the eligibility requirements at the time of the drawing to participate in 2nd Chance drawings.” [1]
The main eligibility requirements are:
- You must be 18 years or older.
- You must be a resident of California.
- You must submit a non-winning Scratchers ticket.
- You must provide a valid U.S. postal mailing address.
In order to enter a 2nd chance drawing, players must register qualifying non-winning Scratchers tickets either online or by mail. Each entry requires the player’s name, address, phone number, and ticket information. There is no limit to the number of entries a player can submit.
How to Enter
There are a couple main ways to enter 2nd chance lottery drawings depending on the type of lottery game.
For Scratchers games, you can enter online by logging into your account on the California Lottery website and submitting the code from your eligible non-winning ticket [1]. You can scan the barcode on the ticket or manually enter the code. Each non-winning ticket will give you one entry.
For draw games like SuperLotto Plus, you enter by using the SuperLots code on your ticket. You can submit the code on the California Lottery website to get entries based on the amount of money spent, usually 1 entry per $1 [2]. So a $2 SuperLotto Plus ticket would give you 2 entries.
You can also enter some 2nd chance contests by mailing in your non-winning tickets. The details vary by state lottery, but generally you would fill out an entry form and mail it along with your ticket to the lottery headquarters for manual entry. Check your state lottery’s website for full instructions on mailing in entries.
The key things to remember are to hold onto your non-winning tickets, make note of any entry codes, and submit your entries either online or by mail before the expiration date printed on the ticket.
Prizes
The prizes available through 2nd chance lotteries vary by state but typically include cash prizes, cars, vacations, and merchandise. For example, the California Lottery’s 2nd Chance program gives away thousands of prizes each month including vacations, concert tickets, and merchandise like home theater systems. The Illinois Lottery’s Twelve Weeks of Holiday Winnings promotion awarded $500 cash prizes each week for 12 weeks, totaling $60,000 in cash prizes. Prizes are funded by the revenue generated from lottery ticket sales, allowing lotteries to give away valuable items like cars and dream vacations. The specific prizes available through 2nd chance drawings depend on the rules and budget set by each state’s lottery program.
Odds of Winning
The odds of winning prizes in 2nd chance drawings are generally much better than winning the standard lottery jackpot. For example, the odds of winning the Powerball jackpot are 1 in 292 million, whereas the odds of winning a $1 million prize in the Powerball 2nd chance drawing are around 1 in 2 million (source: California Lottery).
According to the California Lottery, the odds of winning $750 in their 2nd chance SuperLotto Plus drawings are around 1 in 1,500. Comparatively, the odds of winning the SuperLotto Plus jackpot are 1 in 42 million (source: Reddit).
The better odds for 2nd chance prizes make entering worth the time for many players. However, the odds are still long and winning requires a good amount of luck. Strategies like entering the maximum number of tickets can help slightly improve the odds.
Tax Implications
Second chance lottery winnings are treated the same as regular lottery winnings when it comes to taxes. The IRS considers lottery winnings to be ordinary taxable income 1. This means that after subtracting the cost of your lottery ticket, you will owe federal income taxes on the full amount at your regular rate.
Lottery agencies are generally required to withhold 24% of winnings over $5,000 for federal taxes 2. However, this amount may not cover your full tax liability. Your total winnings will be added to your regular income, and you could end up in a higher tax bracket. It’s important to plan for this when budgeting your winnings.
In addition to federal taxes, you may owe state taxes on lottery winnings. State tax rates vary, but can be as high as 8% of winnings. Some states like California, Florida, and Texas don’t tax lottery winnings at all 3. Check with a tax professional to determine your full tax obligation if you win a second chance lottery prize.
Strategies
The most common strategy for maximizing your odds of winning a second chance lottery is to simply buy more tickets. Since second chance drawings use non-winning tickets as entries, purchasing more scratch-offs or lotto tickets directly increases the number of entries you have in the drawing. For example, the California Lottery’s Scratchers Second Chance program lets you enter up to 50 entries per week. Buying 50 tickets instead of just one boosts your odds significantly (California State Lottery).
Pooling entries with friends or family is another way to maximize entries. For states like California that cap entries, pooling allows each person to enter their maximum before combining all entries together. This cooperative strategy lets groups accumulate hundreds of entries. However, it requires coordination and trust that everyone will share winnings (Yotta).
Overall, the key is simply to play often and consistently enter drawings to build up entries over time. Buying in bulk and combining entries with others are two of the most effective methods to boost your odds in second chance lotteries.
Scams
Second chance lottery scams are unfortunately common. Scammers will contact you claiming you’ve won a second chance drawing that you never actually entered. This is always a scam. According to the FTC, it’s illegal for real lotteries to require you to pay money or buy something to enter1.
Be wary of phone calls, emails, social media messages, or letters claiming you’ve won a second chance lottery. They may ask for personal information or money to process your “winnings.” Never provide credit card or bank account information to someone who contacts you claiming you’ve won2. Legitimate lotteries won’t contact you out of the blue.
Only enter second chance drawings directly through the official lottery website or mailing address. Check for any fees, taxes, or processing costs before entering. If you’re asked to pay, it’s likely a scam. Stick to reputable state lottery second chance games to avoid falling victim.
Notable Winnings
Some lucky 2nd chance players have won life-changing amounts through lottery promotions. In May 2021, Stacy Hege won $10 million through the Colossal Cash Second Chance drawing in North Carolina, which was the largest second chance prize offered at the time according to the state lottery.[1] Another notable winner was Amy Colbert from Kansas, who claimed a $1 million Mega Millions prize in 2020 through the Kansas Lottery’s Holiday Millionaire Raffle second chance promotion.[2] Also in 2020, a Missouri Lottery player won $1 million through a “Millionaire Second Chance Promotion.”[3] These examples demonstrate that entering second chance drawings can sometimes lead to life-changing windfalls.
Summary
2nd chance lotteries provide players with an additional opportunity to win prizes after the initial lottery drawing. Players can enter losing tickets into 2nd chance drawings for a chance to win cash, cars, vacations, and other prizes. The odds of winning are usually better in 2nd chance lotteries compared to traditional lottery games since there are fewer entries. However, the odds are still long and vary based on the number of entries.
While there is no strategy to win 2nd chance drawings, submitting as many eligible entries as possible will maximize your chances. Just be sure to enter into legitimate contests run by official state lottery organizations, as scams do exist. Winners are responsible for any taxes owed on prizes.
Overall, 2nd chance lotteries give players hope of redeeming what would otherwise be losing tickets. They provide fun and excitement at no additional cost. With millions in prizes up for grabs, you can’t win if you don’t enter.
