Where to Claim Pennsylvania Lottery Prizes
Congratulations on your win! Here's what you need to know to claim your prize.
What you should do right away: Sign and complete the required information on the back of your ticket and keep it in a safe place. That means no one else can collect your prize. For security, you should also make a copy, or take a clear photo, of the front and back of the ticket for your records.
Prizes of $2,500 and below may be redeemed at a lottery retailer. However, after 180 days, draw game and Fast Play prizes of more than $100 cannot be cashed at a retailer and will need to be claimed by mail.
All prizes with the exceptions below can also be claimed by mail. See the table below for a list of all the lottery offices in Pennsylvania and their contact details:
| Location | Address | Telephone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Middletown (Lottery Headquarters) | 1200 Fulling Mill Road, Suite 1 Middletown, PA 17057 |
(717) 702-8000 |
| Philadelphia | 700 Packer Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19148 |
215-952-1123 |
| Wilkes-Barre | 49 South Washington St. Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701 |
570-826-2091 |
| Harrisburg | 1200 Fulling Mill Road, Suite 2 Middletown, PA 17057 |
(717) 702-8230 |
| Clearfield | 1000 Leonard St. Clearfield, PA 16830 |
(814) 765-0536 |
| Pittsburgh | 1424 Western Ave. Pittsburgh, PA 15233 |
(412) 770-2760 |
| Erie | 4802 Pittsburgh Ave. Erie, PA 16509 |
(814) 835-2423 |
| Lehigh Valley | 555 Union Blvd., Suite 5 Allentown, PA 18109 |
(610) 807-3319 |
| All PA lottery offices are open Monday - Friday from the hours of 8:30am to 4:30pm with the exception of the Middletown headquarters which is 8am - 4pm. | ||
The following prizes can only be redeemed at lottery headquarters in Middletown: Powerball or Mega Millions jackpot; Cash4Life annuity first or second-tier win; and any Scratch-Off game annuity.
Although Pennsylvania does not officially allow lottery winners to stay anonymous, you are able to create a trust or company to claim the prize for you, effectively shielding your identity.
Do you have a question about claiming a prize? Contact the lottery by email at RA-RVPALOTTCUSTSERV@pa.gov or call the Claims Department at 1-800-692-7481.
Prize Expiration Deadlines
Winning tickets expire, so make sure to check your tickets and don't wait too long to claim. Here are the deadlines for each type of game:
- Wins on Pennsylvania Lottery draw games, Powerball, and Mega Millions must be claimed within one year of the winning draw.
- Scratch-off / instant win tickets have a claim deadline of one year after sales for the game close.
- Fast Play prizes are valid for one year from the purchase date.
How to Claim a Prize by Mail
Any prize other than those requiring you to visit lottery headquarters may be claimed by mail.
If you've won $600 or less, fill out the back of your ticket and mail to the address below. Use registered mail for tracking and ensure your envelope is postmarked before the claim deadline.
For wins over $600, you'll need to include a completed claim form along with your ticket.
Mail to:
Pennsylvania Lottery
ATTN: CLAIMS
1200 Fulling Mill Road, Suite 1
Middletown, PA 17057
Most prizes are paid by check in four to six weeks or less after the lottery receives and validates your claim.
Group Claims
If your lottery pool or other group has won a prize, the claims process is essentially the same as for an individual claim.
One member will need to sign the ticket as the "claimant of record" and specify on the ticket that there is group ownership.
The same person should fill out the claim form and attach a list of co-owners, including the name, address and Social Security Number of each group member.
The lottery is able to issue individual checks for wins of $50,000 and above where each individual share of the prize is $2,501 or more.
Each group member must also complete an IRS-5754 tax form and these forms should be mailed with the claim. Download the IRS-5754 forms from the Internal Revenue Service website.
Are Taxes Due on Lottery Prizes?
Yes, under federal and state law lottery prizes are taxable income. For prizes of $600 and up, you'll need a W-2G tax form to report your prize and include when you file your tax return.
You can download a W-2G tax form with a Pennsylvania Department of Revenue account. You can create one if you aren't registered yet.
To view the form, enter your Social Security Number and choose the tax year to access the W-2G.