Here's why you should treat that lottery ticket as though it was real cash
We all know that money is cash and we do our best due diligence to keep our money safe. We put our bills into our wallets and change into our pockets. We don’t run around willy-nilly on the street flashing hundred dollar bills at every single stranger we meet. We work hard for our money and we try our best to use it to pay for things we need or want.
So you should really treat every single lottery ticket you buy just in the same way as you would your cash. Every lottery ticket is a potential winner and if you lose or misplace it, it can be the same as if you lost real potential money.
Your ticket is important!
You can also think of your lottery ticket as similar to a bearer bond. A bearer bond, which issued by a corporation or government entity, is a bond that is not registered to any particular person. No identity or records are kept of the owner or transactions involving ownership. Whoever has the bonds in their possession is considered to be the rightful owner of the bonds.
Therefore, like a bearer bond, a lottery ticket is not registered to any person. No records are kept as to who bought the ticket. Whomever presents the ticket for redemption is considered to be the rightful owner of the ticket and the legitimate winner of the draw.
Like bearer bonds, with nothing indicating who they belong to, your ticket is vulnerable to anyone who happens to find or steal it. The signature on the ticket is the only indication as to who the ticket belongs to or is the rightful owner. That’s why it is so crucial to sign the ticket the moment it is in your hand. Don’t wait until you get home or finish errands. Sign your ticket the moment the retailer hands it over to you. This is the only proof of ownership that will be accepted.
Now, just like cash or bearer bonds, you should keep your ticket in a safe place. Your wallet is probably OK if the draw is only a day or two away and you expect to check your ticket at a retailer right after the announcement of the winning numbers. However, it’s best to stash it somewhere at home where only have access to it, like a special hiding place or between the pages of a book. The key to this is to remember where the ticket is and to check it as soon as possible after the winning numbers are released to the public so you don't end up with an expired lottery ticket.
If you discover that you have won a prize, anything from a free ticket to a multi-million dollar jackpot, your ticket has turned from potential cash to real cash. Now your ticket is really just like money and just as precious. Get it verified and redeemed as soon as possible and get your prize. Safekeeping your lottery ticket is just a prudent thing to do.