Lottery News

From September 2020, the New Jersey Lottery will allow lottery players to file some in-person claims at lottery headquarters, situated in Lawrence, by appointment only.

The closure of claim centers, since March 19, has actually impacted the ability to claim winnings by lottery players, in-person, that were to expire during the pandemic. The resumed claim hours will offer limited capacity for lottery tickets purchased between March 19, 2019, and September 30, 2019.

Players, whose lottery tickets fall into this bracket should contact the NJ Lottery at 1-800-222-0996 to schedule an appointment to file their claim from Monday through Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Lottery players, who will show up to file claims without any prior appointment, will not be entertained by the lottery offices, nor will their tickets be accepted. The shutting of claim centers also affected the lottery tickets of scratch-off games ending between March 19, 2019, and September 30, 2019.

In addition to it, the lottery has also extended the expiration date for all claims which were to expire between March 19, 2020, and September 30, 2020.

The Lottery has put out an important part to note that it will not provide the payouts immediately for winning tickets entered by appointments. Rather the lottery will validate the winning tickets in-person and will mail the payments later.

Players who have mailed their lottery tickets for claims or visited Lottery headquarters should expect to receive their winning amount or check-in four to six weeks. The Lottery has also set up a dropbox, available next to the lobby at headquarters. The dropbox is open from Monday through Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

Lottery players who want to redeem their winning tickets worth less than $599.50 can immediately redeem them at any authorized lottery retailer while claims worth $600 or more should be mailed in to be processed.

Before mailing the ticket, you need to fill in the back of your winning ticket, complete the Winner Claim Form, and then mail it to the New Jersey 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.