Depending on how much your prize is, there are a few ways for you to claim your winnings. To claim your prize, you will need the original ticket. For your protection, sign the back of your winning ticket and keep it safe because it is a bearer instrument.
Winning draw game tickets expire one year from the date of the draw.
Winning Scratch-Off ticket expiration information can be found in the Game Report PDF on the Scratch-Off Games Page.
Less than $600
If your prize is less than $600, you can claim it at any licensed New York Lottery retail location, Customer Service Center, or Prize Claim Center, or you can claim by mail. See details on each method below.
$600 to $249,999
If your prize is $600 or more, you can claim it at any New York Lottery Customer Service Center, at a Prize Claim Center, or by mail. See details on each method below.
Big Winners & Jackpots!
If you won a Powerball or Mega Millions prize of $50,000 or more, or a prize of $250,000 or more in any other New York Lottery game, congratulations! You must claim it at a New York Lottery Customer Service Center or by mail. See details on each method below.
To claim your prize at a Lottery Customer Service Center, you may need to set up an appointment. In Schenectady, appointments are not available, so please walk in for service. Plainview accepts walk-in service, but appointments are recommended. Buffalo and Syracuse are not able to accommodate walk-in service at this time; appointments are required. Lottery Customer Service Centers can process up to 30 winning tickets per visit. Players may leave additional tickets for processing.
You will need to bring your winning ticket, fill out a Winner Claim Form (download link above) and show a valid, government-issued ID. Acceptable forms of identification include:
U.S./Foreign Passport
Driver License or Non-Driver ID
Driver Learner Permit
Government ID
Certificate of Naturalization
Certificate of Citizenship
Permanent Resident Card (Green Card)
Birth Certificate and a form of photo ID with name
US Military ID
Social Security Card or Federal Taxpayer ID Certification must be presented with these forms of ID:
New York City ID
New York State Benefit ID Card
MTA Reduced Fare MetroCard
Your Winner Claim Form must include your Social Security Number, TIN, or FEIN. Your claim will be processed on-site unless your prize is a Jackpot win, or a Mega Millions or Powerball prize of $50,000 or more. These claims will be provided to the Lottery’s Schenectady headquarters for processing.
Make a copy of your Winner Claim Form and winning ticket and hold onto them until you receive your prize. Schedule an appointment at a New York Lottery Customer Service Center.
Prize Claim Centers
Prize Claim Centers are located at Video Gaming Facilities and Casinos. You must be 21+ to claim at casinos. Powerball® and Mega Millions® prizes less than $50,000 and prizes less than $250,000 for all other games can be claimed at Prize Claim Centers.
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Customer Service Center
Prize Claims Center
*View Claim Center details: Hover over pins for info, click to keep modal open
Find a Claim Center
Choose your county from the drop-down list to find a claim center near you.
Choose your county from the drop-down list to find a claim center near you.
*Only counties with active claim centers listed.
Claiming by Mail
Winning tickets for all amounts may be mailed to the address below. Complete the ticket back and include a completed Winner Claim Form (download link above). Make a copy of the front and back of your ticket, as well as the completed Winner Claim Form. We recommend you use registered mail to track your mailing. Please be sure to include a return address.
New York Lottery
PO Box 7533
Schenectady, NY 12301-7533
Remember! Draw Game prizes must be claimed within one year of the draw date. Scratch-Off Game prizes must be claimed within one year from the announced end of the game. Winning Scratch-Off ticket Prize Claim Deadline information can be found on your game's individual page, or in the Game Report PDF on the Scratch-Off Games page. If you do not see the game listed, it’s likely past its Prize Claim Deadline. You may use the Contact link to confirm a ticket’s Prize Claim Deadline has passed.
How to Claim a Prize FAQs
What payment options are available if I win a Jackpot prize?
Scratch-Off Games - Scratch-Off Games may offer top prizes as annual installments (in the form of an annuity) or as a one-time lump sum payment. However, as of May 1, 2013, winners of a Scratch-Off Game annuity prize have the choice of a lump sum prize payment or the announced annuity payments.
Lotto, Mega Millions, Powerball, or Cash4Life - There are two jackpot payment options available if you win a jackpot prize from any of these games: annual annuity payments or the one-time lump sum cash value. Whether you choose the lump sum or annual payments, the payments are typically made through electronic funds transfer.
How are “For Life” prizes paid out?
“For Life” prizes are typically advertised as the annual annuity payments, but a winner may choose to be paid a one-time, lump sum payment. When you come in to claim your ticket, your options will be discussed.
When do I receive my jackpot prize?
Once your prize claim has been approved by the Lottery, your lump sum or initial payment will be made, typically through electronic funds transfer to your bank account. For large prizes, this can take up to 12 weeks to process. We’ll tell you more when you first claim your prize.
How can I tell if my Scratch-Off Game is a winner?
Each Scratch-Off Game has features that help to identify whether it is a winning ticket. In addition to the number and/or symbols used for game play, each has a caption printed under it with either the spelling of the number or an abbreviation of the number. Both the number and caption must match to identify a winning ticket and the validation codes on the ticket must match the Lottery's computer records for the game. You can also take your Scratch-Off Game to a retailer or scan it with our mobile app to confirm its status.
What if I lose my winning Lottery ticket?
All Lottery tickets are bearer instruments, meaning the tickets are like currency. If you lose your ticket and it does not have your signature on it, anyone can use the ticket to claim a prize. If you lose your ticket, please contact a Customer Service Center. Remember to always sign the back of your tickets right away.
Can I claim a prize while I’m in another country?
Yes. Since you're overseas, you can download a Winner Claim Form and mail it to: New York Lottery PO Box 7533 Schenectady, NY 12301-7533.
What is the deadline to claim a prize on a Scratch-Off Game?
Prize Claim Deadlines are posted on each Scratch-Off Game’s individual page (find your game here).
Do I have to choose a payment option at the time I buy my ticket or subscription to LOTTO, Mega Millions or Powerball?
You don’t have to choose a jackpot payment option at the time of purchase. If you win a jackpot, you will have up to 60 days to choose from the date you claim your prize at a Lottery Customer Service Center.
Where can I claim the free play of a Take 5 Quick Pick Prize?
The bonus prize of a Take Five Quick Pick is called a Free Play. It can be redeemed at any retailer location within 45 days of the draw date.
What if I die before I receive all my jackpot payments?
The Lottery will continue making payments to the original prize winner, the estate of a deceased prize winner, or whoever the Lottery is ordered to pay pursuant to an appropriate judicial order. This is according to New York State Tax Law Section 1613. Lottery payments will not be accelerated upon a prize winner's death.
Can I cash my Cash4Life, Mega Millions or Powerball winning ticket in any of the other states that offer these games?
No, sorry! Winning tickets must be cashed in the state in which you purchased them. This is because the states with Cash4Life, Mega Millions, and Powerball run independent computer systems that can’t process or validate tickets from the other states.
Will it be announced that I’ve won the lottery?
If you’re a Lottery winner, your name and city of residence may be public information, but we won’t release your street address or telephone number. The New York Lottery is a government agency and Lottery prizes are public funds, so we owe it to all our players to disclose the names of winners. The Lottery requires personal information from prize winners pursuant to its authority under Tax law Section 1604 to operate and administer the New York Lottery, which includes the marketing and advertising of the Lottery and the identification of the person entitled to a prize award.
Customer Service Center
Prize Claims Center
