Claiming prizes in Virginia is simple and the most exciting part of the process, but it is important that you know what you need to do to get your hands on your money. The deadline for redeeming a winning scratch ticket is only set once a game has officially ended. From that date, you have 180 days to make your claim, regardless of how much you win.
If you win $600 or more, it is deemed a matter of public record, so the Virginia Lottery will reveal your name and city of residence. You are only allowed to remain anonymous if you win more than $10 million, but scratcher prizes are not usually that high.
Learn more about how to claim Virginia Lottery prizes below.
Prizes of $600 or Below – You might be able to claim any prize of this value from a Virginia Lottery retailer, although in some cases retailers do not keep large amounts of cash on-site for security reasons. Other options for prizes of this value are to send your ticket by mail, go to a Virginia Lottery customer service center or a prize zone. You need to provide valid photo ID and your Social Security card if you redeem winning tickets of $100 or more at a customer service center.
Prizes Above $600 – Win more than $600 and there are still several ways to pick up your prize. One method is to bring your winning ticket to a VA Lottery customer service center or one of the prize zones. You’ll just need to make sure you fill out a claim form, provide a valid photo ID (such as a passport or driver’s license) and your Social Security number. Alternatively, you can claim by mail. If your prize is under $5,000, you can also mobile cashing to claim via the Virginia Lottery app. This just involves scanning the barcode of your scratch ticket, tapping ‘Claim My Prize’ if it is a winner, and then withdrawing the funds into your online wallet.
Here are the addresses of the customer service centers where you can redeem prizes in Virginia. These centers are open Monday to Friday, and you can call (804) 692-7777 for assistance.
Claiming prizes by mail is simple and cuts out the need to travel to a customer service center. Make sure to fill in all the requested information on the back of your ticket, and attach a claim form if the value of your win is $600 or more. It is recommended that you make copies of the front and back of your ticket, and use registered mail. Send your claim to the following address:
Any lottery win of more than $600 is reported to federal and state tax agencies, but there are generally no deductions unless you win over $5,000. Above this threshold, federal taxes are withheld at 24 percent and state taxes at 4 percent. It is always worth speaking to a tax expert if you win a major prize, as your own personal situation could have an impact on what is due.