If you\u2019ve ever had a gift card tucked into a drawer, a wallet, and completely forgotten about it, you\u2019re not alone.<\/p>\n
And according to CNY Central<\/a>, that little piece of plastic might actually be worth real money that you can still get back.<\/p>\n The New York State Comptroller\u2019s Office<\/a> says millions of dollars in unused gift card balances get handed over to the state every single year. In 2025 alone, more than $28 million in gift card money was turned into the state\u2019s unclaimed funds system simply because people didn\u2019t use their cards.<\/p>\n How the New York 5-Year Gift Card Law Works<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how it works. Under New York law<\/a>, if a gift card goes unused for five years, retailers have to transfer whatever money is left on it to the state\u2019s Office of Unclaimed Funds. That office then holds the money for the rightful owner, no matter how much time passes.<\/p>\n \u201cThe law is really about protecting people\u2019s money and making sure they always have the right to claim it,\u201d Kelly Kuracina<\/a>, director of the Office of Unclaimed Funds, told CNY Central.<\/p>\n In other words, even if your gift card is long gone, the money<\/a> attached to it might not be.<\/p>\n Simple Ways to Protect Your Gift Card Balance<\/p>\n Kuracina says the easiest way to avoid losing track of gift cards is also the simplest: use them. But if you\u2019re saving it for later, she recommends registering the card as soon as you get it. Most gift card companies let you do this online or by phone, and it links the balance to your name, making it much easier to recover if the card is lost or forgotten.<\/p>\n