WINNER'S GUIDE WINNER'S GUIDE

Resources For Winners

WINNE R’S

GUIDE

WINNE R’S

GUIDE

Congratulations!

Thank you for playing the Hoosier Lottery.

Having a winning ticket can be thrilling, and

sometimes overwhelming. We encourage our

players to keep play positive, and we also want

our winners to have a positive winning experience.

The information in this guide is designed to assist

as you navigate claiming your prize.

Overall Odds: Powerball

1 in 25 • Mega Millions

1 in 24

Hoosier Lotto

1 in 6 • +PLUS 1 in 6

Claiming Your Prize

There are various ways to claim your prize including

our Prize Payment Centers or by mail. The size of

your prize will help you decide the best next steps.

Additional information is available at

HoosierLottery.com/Claim.

Please make sure to sign and complete the back

of your ticket.

• For Scratch-off games you have 180 days from the game

end date to claim your prize.

• For Draw games you have 180 days from the drawing date

to claim your prize.

• For Fast Play games you have 180 days from the purchase

date to claim your prize.

If you’ve won under $600:

• Redeem at participating Hoosier Lottery retailers. Retailers

will redeem tickets up to $25, and some will redeem up to

$599. Please check with your individual retailer on their

redemption capabilities and policies, or

• Redeem via mail.

If you’ve won $600 - $49,999:

• Redeem via mail, or

• Redeem at Hoosier Lottery Prize Payment Centers in

Indianapolis, Mishawaka or Evansville.

If you’ve won $50,000 or more:

• Please contact us at 1-800-955-6886 to schedule an

appointment to claim your prize at our Hoosier Lottery

Headquarters Prize Payment Center in Indianapolis.

We have three Prize Payment Centers,

visit HoosierLottery.com/Contact-Us for more information.

Hoosier Lottery Headquarters Prize Payment Center

1302 N. Meridian Street, 1st Floor

Indianapolis, IN 46202

North Region Prize Payment Center

230 Red Coach Drive, Suite D

Mishawaka, IN 46545

South Region Prize Payment Center

6225 E. Virginia Street, Suite A

Evansville, IN 47715

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We know that winning the lottery can be the beginning

of an exciting chapter in your life. The Hoosier Lottery

provides resources to players who win to help with

navigating the ﬁnancial implications of winning the

lottery. The FAQ below will provide you with some

useful tools before you collect your winnings and

afterwards. Most of the information is for players that

have won $10,000 or more. For winnings less than that

amount, please visit HoosierLottery.com/Winners.

When is an appointment necessary?

If you are a winner of $50,000 or more, we recommend that you

make an appointment to visit our Hoosier Lottery Headquarters

Prize Payment Center. Appointments can be made by calling

1-800-955-6886. Please note that the South Region Prize Payment

Center and North Region Prize Payment Center offices do not take

appointments.

What can I expect upon arrival to the

Hoosier Lottery Headquarters Prize

Payment Center?

You will present your ticket and complete a claim form. Depending

on your prize you will meet with various members of the Hoosier

Lottery team. This may include representatives from the Security

Division and Public Relations.

Do I need the ticket to claim?

A lottery ticket is considered a bearer instrument. You must present

the ticket at the time of claim along with a valid form of identification.

Where can I cash my check?

Hoosier Lottery checks can be cashed at any Key Bank branch, with

two valid forms of identification, 2.5 hours after issuance. You can

also use your own bank.

What if I am part of a group of winners?

The Hoosier Lottery can make separate prize payments to

individuals in a group as long as the group consists of 99 winners

or less. The group representative will sign the ticket and claim form.

You must complete IRS Form 5754 to claim as a group. Form 5754

divides the tax liability for group prizes. This form can be requested

from the Hoosier Lottery or found on the IRS website (www.irs.com).

Valid government-issued identifications must be presented. All

group members must receive payment in the same manner.

Will I have to pay taxes on my prize?

The Hoosier Lottery withholds 24 percent in federal tax if

winnings minus the wager are more than $5,000, and 3.15

percent in state tax on any winnings that exceed $1,200. You

may want to consult with a tax advisor to determine whether

you will owe additional taxes. Winners should keep the W2G,

attached to the top of the prize check, in safe place so that it

is easily accessible when it is time to file your taxes.

What if I owe debt to the state?

Any debt owed to the State of Indiana will be taken out of your

prize winnings in accordance with IC 4-30-11-11 and your check

will reflect the balance. Whether you have a debt with the state

cannot be determined until the prize is processed.

How do I know if there is a lump sum cash option

or annuity available?

Prizes may be paid out as an annuity with payments or as a lump

sum cash payment equivalent to the present value of the annuity

payments as estimated by the Hoosier Lottery during the claims

process. Refer to the game rules for specific information.

Lump Sum

Available

Annuity Available

Powerball

Yes

Jackpot only

Mega Millions®

Yes

Jackpot only

Hoosier Lotto

Yes

Jackpot only

Cash4Life®

Yes

Top and

secondary prize

Scratch-o Dependent on game

and prize amount

Dependent on game

and prize amount

Can winnings be collected by an ACH Transfer?

Winnings of $50,000 or more given to you by check or via

ACH Transfer. The ACH Transfer process takes between 48-72

hours to complete. All other amounts are paid by check. Banks

may hold checks for a period of time. Please check with your

bank regarding its policies before you arrive to claim.

What if my prize check was lost or stolen?

Should your prize check become lost or stolen, please visit a

Prize Payment Center in person. If a new check is to be issued,

a stop will be placed on the original check. The stop must be

in place for 24 hours before a new check will be issued.

Does the public have to know who I am?

The name, address and city of Hoosier Lottery winners are

considered public record under Indiana Access to Public Records

law. The Lottery is required to provide reasonable access to a

public record upon request, with some limits, including that in

certain circumstances, the requesting person may not use your

information for commercial purposes. The Lottery may also

publicize your winning as authorized by law.

(IC 4-30-3-7; IC 4-30-3-9).

Will I receive a “big check” to take home?

Depending on your prize amount, your photo may be taken with

a big check prop and you will not receive the big check to take

with you.

What happens if I die before my prize is fully paid?

Any remaining prize money will be paid directly to your estate.

Please consult financial advisors and your attorney for further

information.

What happens if I move?

Be sure to notify the Hoosier Lottery in writing immediately with

any changes to your name, address, or telephone number to

ensure timely delivery of your annual payments.

Hoosier Lottery

Attn: Accounts Payable Coordinator

1302 N. Meridian Street, Suite 100

Indianapolis, IN 46202

Questions?

HELPFUL RESOURCES

Now that you are a lottery winner, you may have

questions about changes to your ﬁnancial, legal,

and tax outlook. Getting advice and building your

team of trusted advisors can help you achieve

your goals and have a positive winning experience.

The following is a list of resources should you

require assistance.

Financial Planning and Financial Literacy tools

Financial Planning Association:

plannersearch.org

1-800-322-4237

Implement a financial plan with a certified financial planner.

Indiana Secretary of State Indiana MoneyWise:

securities.sos.in.gov/moneywise

317-232-6681

The Indiana Secretary of State encourages Hoosiers to visit

MoneyWise, a financial education program devoted to providing

resources to improve financial fitness.

Key Bank Financial Wellness

https://www.key.com/personal/ﬁnancial-wellness/index.html

Key Bank Financial Wellness Center contains a host of resources

to learn more about financial well-being.

Hoosier Lottery

HoosierLottery.com/FinancialTools

Whether you are looking to brush up on budgeting or

interested in learning more about ways to improve your

financial fitness, there are many resources available to boost

your financial literacy.

Questions about Taxes

Depending on the amount of money you have won,

there may be tax implications. You may have questions

about steps involved in estate planning or establishing

a foundation for philanthropic giving. The following

organizations may have valuable information on their

websites or be able to refer you to speciﬁc companies

or organizations for assistance.

Internal Revenue Service

www.irs.gov

1-800-829-1040

Indiana Department of Revenue

in.gov/core/taxes

317-232-2240

Certiﬁed Public Accountants Indiana CPA Society

Incpas.org

317-726-5000

The Indiana CPA Society is a statewide professional association

representing nearly 7,000 CPAs and accounting professionals

to serve the public interest as well as its members, by offering

programs and services to educate and raise awareness of the

accounting field.

Indiana 211

in211.communityos.org

866-211-9966

Explore this list of resources designed to help Hoosiers with

everything from tax questions to rental assistance.

United Way of Central Indiana

uwci.org/indy-free-tax-prep

317-923-1466

Visit the United Way of Central Indiana Guide to Tax Prep page

for helpful information about preparing your taxes.

Legal Advice and Scams

Winning the lottery might raise questions for you about

security, fraud, or scams. The organizations below can

provide information about speciﬁc concerns you may

have.

Indiana State Bar Association

Inbar.org

317-639-5465

Should you feel you need legal advice, the Indiana State Bar

Association maintains information on available legal services.

Consumer Protection Division

in.gov/attorneygeneral/consumer-protection-division

800-457-8283

The Indiana Attorney General’s Office is dedicated to protecting

consumers from deceptive and predatory business practices

and educating consumers to make wise choices when buying

products or entering into contracts.

As you continue playing Hoosier Lottery

games, it is important to keep your play

positive and keep your win in perspective.

We know that the majority of our players

play the lottery responsibly and for fun.

To promote healthy playing habits and

behaviors, we have a series of free tools

designed to reinforce responsible gaming

and Positive Play for our players.

Visit HoosierLottery.com/PositivePlay

to help keep play fun. The toolkit includes

a series of short, informational videos,

a Positive Play Quiz, a Track Your Play

Calculator and more!

Keep

Play

Positive