Putting Safety First
Last updated: 10/19/2021
Customer Service Centers reopened
The Virginia Lottery is pleased to welcome players back to its Customer Service Centers.* To continue to promote public health and safety, we have adjusted our claims process. Here is everything you need to know before visiting us in person:
*Prize Zone at 600 E. Main St. WILL NOT reopen at this time. Richmond-area winners should visit Prize Zone West at 1620 E. Parham Road.
There will be Virginia Lottery employees available to provide social-distancing directions for the claims process.
Download and complete your claim form prior to your visit.
If possible, print and complete the claim form, found here, prior to arriving.
Ensure you have photo ID and proof of SSN.
You will need to present all required documentation in order for us to process your claim as efficiently as possible. Information about acceptable forms of ID can be found here.
Wear a mask or similar face covering.
Virginia Lottery requires all players to wear a mask or similar face covering when visiting any of our Customer Service Centers.
Do not bring guests.
To accommodate social distancing, we are limiting the number of customers in our Customer Service Centers. Please help us accomplish that by not bringing any family or friends with you unless you need their assistance to conduct your transaction.
When you arrive to claim your prize, this will be the process:
- Mask required
- Sign the back of your ticket
- Have current photo ID
- Have proof of Social Security number: (Social Security card, W-2 tax statement, current tax forms, court papers, military DD214 document or another verifiable residency document).
- No more than 10 people will be allowed in line for an available space which will be designated by a Virginia Lottery decal on the sidewalk.
HERE ARE COMPLETE DETAILS ON HOW TO CLAIM.
Play It Safe
The Lottery will continue to sell Lottery games however, social distancing is essential to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please do not jeopardize your health.
Here are the ways you can play Lottery games safely while enacting social distancing.
- Access Play Now to purchase a ticket for Mega Millions, Powerball and Cash4Life®. Players can purchase tickets on the Virginia Lottery website without ever leaving the house. The Lottery also offers Auto-Renewal to make not missing a drawing easier.
- Fill out a Digital Playslip – The Lottery offers digital playslips within the Lottery app for these games: Pick 3, Pick 4, Cash 5, Mega Millions, Powerball, Cash4Life® and Bank a Million. Just create your play in the app, then tap the Playslip icon instead of Buy Now. These playslips can then be scanned by a retailer or Lottery Vending Machine to produce a game ticket.
- Use the Ticket Checkers – The Lottery offers both a physical and digital ticket checker. You can scan your ticket at the physical Ticket Checkers located at many Lottery retailers. In the Lottery app, there is a digital ticket checker. Scan your ticket, and find out if you’re a winner that way.
- Check Winning Numbers at Home: The Lottery website and Virginia Lottery app both recap winning numbers, and both are great ways to see past winning numbers.
- Take advantage of multi-draw options: All Virginia Lottery draw games offer a multi-draw option. The multi-draw option allows you to play your numbers for multiple consecutive drawings. The number of draws varies per game. Some offer up 26 multi-draws (Cash4Life®, Bank a Million, Mega Millions, Powerball); others offer up to 91 (Pick 3, Pick 4, Cash 5).
- Keno is here - play it safe: Watch the live draws on the Virginia Lottery mobile app or web site.
If you have a winning ticket, congratulations. The Lottery offers players several options to claim winning tickets, but, given the COVID-19 situation, claiming by mail is your safest option.
Claiming winning tickets by mail
If you have a winning ticket, congratulations. The Lottery normally offers players several options to claim winning tickets, but, given the COVID-19 situation, claiming by mail is your safest option.
Please note that the processing time may be longer than usual. For the safety of our employees and with the latest recommendations from health experts in mind, Lottery staff is working remotely, though we are still processing winning ticket payments as quickly as possible.
Here are the steps to redeem a winning ticket by mail:
- Sign your ticket, and mail it to Virginia Lottery Claims, P. O. Box 1254, Richmond, VA 23218-1254. Be sure to complete the requested information on the back of the ticket, so the Lottery knows where to send the check. Keep a clear copy of both the front and back of your winning ticket and note the date you mailed it. You may also consider using registered mail to make sure your ticket arrives safely.
- Be sure to include your contact information so that the Lottery can reach you (daytime telephone and email contact, in addition to your full mailing address).
- If the prize is more than $600, you'll need to supply copies of both your government-issued photo ID and your Proof of Resident Social Security/Tax Identification card. If the prize amount is more than $100 up to and including $600, you only need to include your Proof of Resident Social Security/Tax identification number.
- If you have any questions about this, or do not have a Tax ID number, please email us at info@valottery.com.
To everyone, please stay healthy and safe.