How to Claim Prizes in Virginia
If you win a lottery prize, the next step is to stake your claim. There are various ways to get hold of your money, depending on how much you win. Find out more below about claiming prizes of different amounts.
Up to $600
If you have won a prize of up to $600, the easiest way to claim money is through a Virginia-based lottery retailer who will pay you the cash. Alternatively, they will pay you a check or money order if they do not have enough cash available. You can also claim a prize by mailing a signed version of your ticket to the following address:
P.O. Box 1254,
Richmond, VA 23218-1254
Over $600
If you win a prize over $600 then you can claim your prize through the mail with your ticket signed at the back. You should also provide your social security number and government-issued photo ID.
You can also take it to one of the following customer service centers in: Richmond, Harrisonburg, Hampton, Abingdon, Roanoke, Woodbridge and Farmville. The addresses of the claims centers are shown below:
| Location | Address | Telephone Number |
|---|---|---|
| Prize Zone West | 1620 E. Parham Rd. Richmond, VA 23228 | (804)692-7950 |
| Shenandoah Valley | 1790-26 E. Market Street Harrisonburg, VA 22801 | (540)433-7979 |
| Hampton Roads | 2306-2308 W. Mercury Blvd. Hampton, VA 23666 | (757)825-7800 |
| Central Virginia | Longwood Village Shopping Cntr. 1506 S. Main Street Farmville, VA 23901 | (434)392-7294 |
| Roanoke Valley | 1287 Towne Square Blvd. Roanoke, VA 24012 | (540)561-7011 |
| Southwest Virginia | 408 E. Main Street Abingdon, VA 24210 | (276)676-5540 |
| Northern Virginia | 14550 Potomac Mills Rd. Woodbridge, VA 22192 | (703)494-1501 |
If you have played online then you don't need to do anything to claim your prize! The value of the prize you have won will automatically be added to your player balance, meaning you can then use it to buy more tickets or you can withdraw it to your bank account.
Playing Online
Playing online removes the need of having to go to a local store to claim your prize. You will automatically receive the value of your prize when you win. The amount is instantly paid into your player balance which you can either withdraw of use to buy more lottery tickets.
Winning the Jackpot
If you have won one of the multi-state jackpots that offers multiple millions of dollars (Powerball, Cash4Life or Mega Millions) then you can choose to take the money as an annuity or a lump sum. You have 60 days to decide this once you have made your claim. Contact the Virginia Lottery directly on 804-692-7000 to make arrangements for collecting your prize.
Don’t wait too long to claim any prize and risk losing out on your winnings - you only have 180 days after the drawing before it expires.
Join our Winners List
Winning the lottery could well be the happiest day of your life. A lot of players want to share this monumental occasion with the world, going public and sharing their stories. Other players may prefer to remain anonymous - Virginians who have won over $10 million do have this option. If you want to go public then you could be shown on our Winners which showcases some of the biggest wins in the state.
Tax
Aside from Bank a Million, where taxes are covered for you, all Virginia Lottery wins over $600 will be taxed by federal and state tax agencies. If you have won a large prize you may have to calculate how much you will be taking home. Currently in Virginia the lottery holds 24% for federal taxes and 4% for state. It is always a good idea to speak to a tax professional or financial adviser in the event of a big win.
Lost and Damaged Tickets
If you have bought a physical ticket for any lottery game, this is your only proof that you have entered. You need to make sure that you keep the ticket safe so you don’t miss out on receiving your money.
If anyone finds your misplaced lottery ticket then they could claim the prize for themselves. For this reason, it is often advised to sign the back of your ticket to protect yourself from anyone taking your winnings.
Similarly, damaged lottery tickets will be harder to claim depending on the extent of the damage. You may still be able to claim if you can still scan the barcode or the winning numbers are still clearly visible.