What to Do If Your Lottery Ticket Is Damaged
Quick answer: If your Spanish lottery ticket (décimo) gets torn, wet or damaged, do not throw it away or try to repair it: keep all its pieces, let it dry naturally if it is wet, and store it somewhere dry. If you think it may have won a prize, take it to an official lottery outlet as soon as possible so they can advise how to claim it.
Updated 25 September 2026 · By the Serviloto team, Lottery Office no. 40 in Málaga (Spain).
Keeping a lottery ticket safe may seem simple, but accidents can happen. A ticket can become wet, torn, stained or damaged while being stored.
The first recommendation is to remain calm and keep every part of the ticket.
What should you do if the ticket is torn?
If a lottery ticket is accidentally torn, the most important thing is not to throw away any of its pieces.
Avoid trying to glue, cut or modify the ticket yourself. A homemade repair could make subsequent verification more difficult.
If the ticket is a winning ticket and its condition raises questions, visit an official lottery sales point and ask for guidance on the appropriate procedure.
What if the ticket gets wet?
If the ticket gets wet, allow it to dry naturally and handle it as little as possible.
Do not use direct heat, such as a hairdryer, radiator or iron, as this could cause further damage to the paper.
Once it is dry, keep it somewhere safe and avoid unnecessary folding.
What happens if the ticket is badly damaged?
When a lottery ticket has suffered significant damage, especially if important identification elements are affected, additional verification may be required.
For this reason, keep the ticket in the condition in which it was found after the accident and avoid trying to restore it yourself.
If you also believe that the ticket may have won a prize, it is advisable to act promptly and consult an official lottery sales point.
Never throw away a damaged lottery ticket simply because it appears difficult to read.
Why is it important to keep the ticket?
A lottery ticket is the document that proves participation in the draw. It should therefore be kept until the result has been properly checked and, where applicable, until the prize has been collected.
It is also advisable not to carry tickets loose in pockets, wallets or places where they could become bent, wet or torn.
A good option is to keep them somewhere dry and protected, particularly when tickets are purchased well before the draw.
Tips for keeping your lottery tickets safe
You can reduce the risk of damage by following a few simple recommendations:
• Keep tickets somewhere dry and protected.
• Avoid folding or crumpling them.
• Keep them away from unnecessary exposure to sunlight, moisture and heat.
• Avoid writing over important areas of the ticket.
• Do not store tickets together with objects that could damage them.
• Check the ticket after purchasing it and keep all purchase information.
• If the ticket becomes damaged, keep all of its pieces.
• If you think it may be a winning ticket, do not throw it away even if it is badly damaged.
What if the damaged ticket wins a prize?
This is usually the biggest concern for lottery players. If a damaged ticket turns out to be a winner, that does not mean that it should simply be discarded.
Keep the ticket and visit an official lottery sales point to find out how to proceed. Depending on the condition of the document, additional checks may be necessary.
The main rule when dealing with a damaged lottery ticket is simple: keep it safe and avoid unnecessary handling.
The importance of checking your tickets
After every draw, it is advisable to check all your lottery tickets, including those that do not appear to have won one of the major prizes.
Some lottery games have several prize categories, and smaller prizes can easily be overlooked if you only check the main winning numbers.
Checking the results allows you to determine whether your ticket has won a prize before deciding what to do with it.
Conclusion
A damaged lottery ticket should be handled carefully. If it becomes torn, wet or damaged, keep all its pieces, avoid homemade repairs and do not throw it away.
If there is any possibility that the ticket is a winner, it is particularly important to keep it safe and find out how to proceed before making any changes to it.
The best way to avoid problems is to protect your tickets from the moment you purchase them and always check them after the draw.
Frequently asked questions
Can you claim a prize with a torn lottery ticket?
A torn ticket does not automatically lose its validity. Keep all the pieces, do not tape or trim it, and take it to an official lottery outlet so they can assess whether the claim can be processed.
What should I do if my lottery ticket got wet?
Let it air-dry, without a hairdryer, radiator or iron, and handle it as little as possible. Once dry, keep it flat in a dry, protected place.
Can I tape a torn lottery ticket back together?
It is not recommended. Any home repair can make it harder to verify the ticket later. It is better to keep the pieces together, for example in an envelope.
What if the damaged ticket wins a prize?
Do not throw it away. Go to an official lottery outlet as soon as possible with all its pieces: depending on its condition, extra checks may be needed before payment.
How can I keep a lottery ticket from getting damaged?
Store it somewhere dry, unfolded, away from sunlight, heat and humidity, and take a photo of it on the day you buy it in case any problem arises.
