How Long Do You Have to Claim a Lottery Ticket and Receive Your Winnings?
Along with all the excitement of winning, you’re probably wondering where you go to get your money, and how long will it take to collect your winnings. Until you claim your prize and get your money, you’re going to do all you can to safeguard your winning ticket. So, the sooner you claim your prize, the better. Listed here is everything you need to know about getting your prize after winning the lottery.
What Happens When I win?
Congratulations! Your numbers came up in the lottery draw you entered, and you just won an awesome prize! While many people wonder how do you win the lottery, you’ve already done it!
Now let’s talk about the winnings process, from learning how to go and claim your lottery ticket, receiving the winnings and more.
How Long Do You Have To Claim a Winning Lottery Ticket?
Depending on the state in which you bought your ticket, and the game which you entered determines how long you have to redeem a lottery ticket. When claiming Powerball and Mega Millions tickets for example, both allow up to 180 days in states such as Arizona and Ohio; while states like New York, New Jersey, Minnesota and Oregon allow winners 1 full year from the original draw date. If you fail to present your winning ticket before this deadline, you forfeit any claim to a lottery prize—it pays to be vigilant!
Fortunately when you order tickets at TheLotter US, you are informed of any win as soon as possible, while our dedicated team assists you all the way to claiming your tickets in person.
Here you can see a more detailed table of how long you have to claim Powerball and Mega Millions prizes:
| State | Claim Deadline | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ohio (OH) | 180 days from draw date | Applies to all draw games |
| New Jersey (NJ) | 1 year (365 days) | Must present ticket in time, extensions rare |
| New York (NY) | 1 year (365 days) | Strict deadline, even one day late = void |
| Oregon (OR) | 1 year (365 days) | From draw date, not purchase date |
| Minnesota (MN) | 1 year (365 days) | Retailers must redeem up to $599 |
| Arizona (AZ) | 180 days from draw date | After that, prize is forfeited |
Winning a Prize at TheLotter US
When you order lottery tickets online at TheLotter US, there’s no need for you to compare the numbers on your ticket(s) with those that came up in the draw. If you win a prize, we will notify you automatically by email and/or SMS! You can check your personal account to confirm the win. Your ticket(s) are safely held at our offices.
Lottery winnings over $600 will need to be claimed yourself in person at the official lottery offices. Once we have identified you as a winner, our Customer Service team will contact you and coordinate how to get your winning ticket(s) to you. You can instruct us to send you the ticket(s) or you can collect them in person at our office.
How to Claim Lottery Winnings?
The exact claims process is different for each state. Here’s a quick breakdown of how the claims process compares for Oregon, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Arizona and Ohio:
| State | Prizes ≤ $599 | Prizes $600–$5,000 / $50,000 | Large Prizes (>$50,000) | How to Claim | ID & Form Required | Tax Withholding |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oregon (OR) | TheLotter deposits direct to your account | Claim by: Mail, drop box, or in person | In person (appointment needed) | Mail or visit Salem/Wilsonville | Yes | 8% state over $1,500; 24% federal over $5,000 |
| Minnesota (MN) | TheLotter deposits direct to your account | Claim by: Mail or in person at regional offices | In person at Roseville HQ | Mail or visit office | Yes | 7.25% state + 24% federal over $5,000 |
| New Jersey (NJ) | TheLotter deposits direct to your account | Claim by: Mail or at lottery office | Same as $600+ claims | Mail or visit | Yes | State + 24% federal over $5,000 |
| New York (NY) | TheLotter deposits direct to your account | Claim by: Mail or customer service center | In person at Schenectady HQ | Mail or visit center | Yes | State + 24% federal over $5,000 |
| Arizona (AZ) | TheLotter deposits direct to your account | Claim by: Mail or claim in Phoenix/Tucson offices | Same as $600+ claims | Mail or visit office | Yes | State + 24% federal over $5,000 |
| Ohio (OH) | TheLotter deposits direct to your account | Claim by: Mail or at Super Retailers or regional offices | In person at regional offices or by mail | Mail or in person | Yes | 4% state + 24% federal over $5,000 |
Follow this link to learn more about tax on lottery winnings by state.
How Are Lottery Winnings Paid Out?
Typically, jackpot winnings can be paid out in two ways, by lump-sum, or by annuity. These methods typically depend on the rules of the game you’re playing, the size of the prize, and other potential game conditions.
For example, when you win a Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot prize, you can have the cash-value paid out in one lump-sum, or you can be paid in annual installments. Having both options available provides a level of flexibility to the winner, where they can choose the option that suits them best, with both having advantages.
In terms of the way lottery winnings are paid out, you can see a quick comparison below:
| Payment Method | When It’s Used | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Lump Sum | For major jackpots (e.g., Powerball, Mega Millions) | Winner chooses a one-time cash payment instead of annual installments. Subject to full tax at payout. |
| Annuity Payments | For major jackpots (default unless lump sum is selected) | Paid out over ~30 years. Provides larger total payout than lump sum, but over time. |
| Bank Transfer (Direct Deposit) | For mid to large non-jackpot wins (usually over $600) | Often offered as an option when claiming in person or via mail. Especially for prizes >$5,000. |
| Cheque | Common for most mailed or in-person claims over $600 | Secure method used by most lotteries; standard for mail-in or high-value claims. |
| Cash Payments | For small prizes (usually ≤ $599) | Paid by retailers if they have sufficient cash on hand. Some retailers may offer store credit if unable to pay in cash. |
To be certain of the way you can receive your winnings, check the official relevant lottery operator’s website.
Can Lottery Winnings Be Direct Deposited into Your Account?
When you win a small prize in a lottery draw, there’s no need to go to a retailer to collect your lottery winnings. We’ve made it easy for you!
If you win a lottery prize up to $600, your prize will be credited to your personal account at TheLotter shortly after the prize money is received from the official lottery operator. This process is automatic—you do not need to do anything in order to claim your prize. Once your account has been credited, you can choose whether to withdraw your winnings or use them for future participation in lottery draws.
How Long Does It Take to Receive Lottery Winnings?
If you’re wondering how long after winning the lottery it takes to get your money, you’re in the right place!
Powerball and Mega Millions, two multi-jurisdictional lottery games that are played in most states, have their prizes paid out by the relevant state lottery directly to local winners.
To claim Powerball and Mega Millions prizes of over $600, you will need to go with your winning ticket(s) to a claims center, or in the case of very large wins, to the main offices of the relevant Lottery Commission in your state.
Powerball and Mega Millions jackpot prizes are not paid out immediately after the draw takes place. There is a short period of time after the draw during which ticket sales are calculated and the final jackpot amount is determined.
Wisely, winners are advised to take their time and first assemble a team of financial and legal advisers to plan exactly what they will do with their prize money.
What to Bring with You When You Go to Get Your Prize
Having won more than $600 in a lottery draw, you can go to a lottery claim center or to the local lottery’s main offices to collect your prize. Before you go, however, you need to know what forms of identification to bring. You wouldn’t want to show up at the lottery offices only to be turned away because you forgot to bring the correct documents with you!
The following is a partial list of acceptable identification. After a win, you should check the website of the relevant state lottery to be sure you’ve got everything you need:
- Valid state-issued Driver’s License with picture
- Student Identification Card (with picture)
- Social Security Card (original, no copies)
- Valid Passport (with picture)
- Resident Alien Identification (with picture)
Note: In some cases, you may bring your Birth Certificate along with other forms of identification. Expired Driver’s Licenses may be acceptable, depending on the other documentation you bring.
Tips for Claiming Your Prize as Quickly as Possible
When you win a smaller lottery prize through TheLotter US, there’s no need to go out and cash in your ticket, as your account will be credited with the winnings shortly after the prize money is received from the state lottery. We strive to credit your account with your prize as quickly as possible.
You will need to collect larger prizes in person, as outlined on this page. You will need to coordinate the prize collection process with our Customer Service team. They will arrange with you the best, and fastest, method of transferring to you the physical winning ticket which we purchased on your behalf.
Once you have your ticket and are ready to present it at a lottery claims center, there are some things you must remember:
- Sign the ticket, but with only one signature.
- Don’t use “white out” to cover any information on the ticket.
- Don’t make extra marks, or notes, or scribble out information on the ticket.
- If the ticket tears, don’t attempt to tape or glue it back together. Just take the torn pieces of the ticket to the claim center.
- Never purchase a “winning ticket” from a stranger. That ticket may be fake, stolen, altered, or possibly its prize may already have been paid.
The information we provide here about the lottery claim process should help you receive your lottery winnings as quickly as possible. Now all you have left to do is win prizes playing the lottery.
Good luck in the next draw!
