HOW TO CLAIM WINNINGS?

Before taking steps to claim your prize, double-check your numbers against the official drawing results with the ones drawn or visit our Lottery Results. This will help you confirm that you have correctly matched the winning numbers and know what prize amount will fill your pockets.

Once you confirm that you are a winner, Congratulations!! But remember, in Illinois winners must be 18 years or older.

Your next step is to sign the back of your ticket. Be aware that some U.S. state lotteries allow you to claim your lottery money as a trust so you can avoid revealing your identity. Check the anonymity policy of your state below to see what information they will make public. Also, some states permit lotteries to be claimed by groups, while others have special rules for lottery pools. If you are part of a lottery pool, the name that you sign to your winning ticket should take these rules into consideration.

Lottery winners have 365 days from the date of drawing to claim their prize. If your lottery prize gives an option of claiming it as a lump sum or an annuity, winners have 60 days from the date they claim their prize to choose between payout options.

The answer to this question lies in, “how much have you won?”, or “what is the size of the prize?”. Prizes worth $599 or less can be claimed at lottery retailers. Prizes larger than this require that you stop by the regional offices of the state lottery or mail your claim following the instructions provided on the official site.

• Prizes $600 or less can be claimed at any authorized Illinois Lottery Retailer.
• Lottery winnings up to $600 can also be mailed by filling out the claim form available at the official site and send it to the Illinois Lottery Office mailing address.

• Prizes $600 and above should be claimed at any Illinois Lottery claim office.
• Winnings can also be mailed to Illinois Lottery for claiming.
• Print and fill out the claim form and winner questionnaire, available in the claim packet here.
• Sign the back of your ticket, make a copy of both sides, and make a copy of your completed claim form and winner’s questionnaire.
• You have to present two forms of identification as valid proof.
• Fill the back of your winning ticket, complete the Winner Claim Form mail it to the below mentioned Illinois Lottery P.O. Box address along with your signed original winning ticket, and copies of your valid government-issued photo ID and social security card.

Illinois Lottery Claims Department
P.O. Box 19080
Springfield, Illinois
62794-9912

The Illinois lottery commission website says that lottery winners cannot remain anonymous. Winners must publicly disclose their first name and the first initial of their last name. The location where the winning ticket was purchased is made publicly available. Winners may also choose to have their pictures taken for publicity purposes.

All lottery winner information is subject to Freedom of Information Act requests. Therefore, while some information may not be automatically shared with the public, requests for information may be granted.