Claiming a prize from a Florida Lottery scratch-off is really easy. You have numerous claim options, including in person, by drop-off, or by mail, but a lot depends on the value of your prize.
One important factor to keep in mind is the ticket expiration time in the Sunshine State. You only have 60 days from the official end-of-game date, which is a shorter period than other locations. Remember that you can only claim prizes in Florida too, you would not be able to redeem a prize in another state.
You can’t stay anonymous if you win a major lottery prize in Florida. However, if you win more than $250,000, your name will not be disclosed for 90 days from the date you claim.
Find out more about how to claim prizes in Florida.
Prizes of $599 or Below - The simplest way to claim a prize of up to $599 is to go to a Florida Lottery retailer and hand in your ticket. You do not need a claim form for winnings below $600. If you prefer, you can mail in your winning ticket to one of the FL Lottery’s district offices.
Prizes of $600 and Above – You can claim in-person by visiting the Florida Lottery’s headquarters in Tallahassee or any district office. If the prize is worth $1 million or more and you visit anywhere other than the Tallahassee HQ, your claim will simply be forwarded on for processing and payment. Alternatively, you can mail in your ticket (see instructions below) or drop it off in an envelope at any of the district offices. You have to include a claim form and the required documentation – a scanned copy of a form of identification that is current or was issued within the past five years.
Here are the addresses of the Florida Lottery’s district offices, where you can claim prizes of more than $600.
Prizes of any value can be claimed by mail. You can send your winning ticket, claim form, and required documentation to any of the district offices, but prizes of more than $1 million will be forwarded on to the FL Lottery headquarters in Tallahassee for processing and payment. It takes approximately 30-45 days for mail-in claims to be processed.
If your winning scratch-off has already been validated by a retailer but the prize could not be paid out, you have until the 90th day after the official end of the game to postmark your envelope. If you wish to send your ticket to the FL Lottery headquarters, the address for mail-in claims is as follows:
There are no state taxes on lottery prizes in Florida. However, federal taxes still apply and any portion of a prize worth more than $5,000 will be subject to a withholding of 24 percent. If you’re a non-resident alien of Florida, this rate rises to 30 percent.