How To Claim Your Winnings

Claiming a North Carolina Education Lottery (NCEL) prize is simple. An original winning ticket must be presented and verified in order for the prize to be paid. A lottery ticket is a bearer instrument until signed.

Prizes with a value of less than $600, including free tickets, can be collected at any NCEL retailer or Regional Office.

Prizes with a value between $600 and $99,999.99 may be claimed at NCEL headquarters OR any NCEL Office or by mail using an NCEL prize claim form. Prizes of $100,000 or more must be claimed in person at NCEL headquarters.

For all prizes of $600 and above, photo I.D. and proof of Social Security number is required. Prize winnings are subject to mandatory Federal and State tax as well as other State withholdings.

Any Lottery prize can be claimed by mail at the following address:
North Carolina Education Lottery
P.O. Box 41606
Raleigh, NC 27629-1606

The North Carolina Education Lottery Commission is not responsible for tickets which are lost by the US Postal Service or any other carrier. If you have questions on how to claim your winnings, contact Player Services at (877) 962-7529 for more information.

Redemption Timeframes

Instant Scratch-Off Tickets must be redeemed or claimed no later than the end of the NCEL's business day (standard local time), as posted by the NCEL, on or before the 90th calendar day after the announced end of game date. If mailed, the ticket must be received by the NCEL within 90 days. Postmarks will not satisfy this requirement.

Online Tickets must be redeemed or claimed no later than the end of the NCEL's business day (standard local time), as posted by the NCEL, on or before the 180th day of the drawing for which the ticket was purchased. Postmarks will not satisfy this requirement.
View Regional Offices and Claim Centers

If You Win The Powerball or Mega Millions Jackpot

Prior to coming to the NCEL's Corporate Office in Raleigh, please call Player Services at (877) 962-7529 (9NC-PLAY). Player Services can verify the actual winning numbers drawn for a particular drawing date and provide you with instructions on how to claim. You should also inform Player Services regarding when you will be appearing at NCEL Corporate Office to claim your prize. We recommend that you notify the NCEL in advance of your visit to claim.

If you are claiming as a group of winners on the same winning ticket and all members of the group are not claiming their portion of the prize in person at Lottery headquarters, an Affidavit of Multiple Ownership must be completed in advance and photocopies of required identifications for the members that will not be present at the claim. If all members of the group will be present for the claim, the group will be requested to complete the Affidavit of Multiple Ownership at the time of claim.

On the day of claim, you must present your ticket at the Raleigh Regional Claims Center, which is next to the NCEL Corporate Office. You must also have appropriate proof of identification (Driver's License, Valid Identification Card, Social Security Card, Passport or Visa, Military ID, US Resident Card, Student ID Card, Voter Registration Card). The combined forms of identification must verify your name, signature, age and social security number. Once your ticket has been verified as a jackpot winner, the Raleigh Claims Center will contact Prize Validation, who will then complete the remainder of the claiming process.

Generally, the entire claiming process will take approximately 2-3 hours. Therefore, we recommend that you present your claim early in the day, if possible, in order for the NCEL to have sufficient time and staff to complete your claim.

How to Claim Your Powerball or Mega Millions Winnings

Only original tickets will be accepted to claim any prize. Prizes under $600 may be claimed at any NCEL retailer, NCEL headquarters, or any NCEL office. Prizes between $600 and $99,999.99 must be claimed at NCEL headquarters, any NCEL office, or by mail. Prizes of $100,000 or more must be claimed at NCEL headquarters. A NCEL Winner Claim Form, proper identification (ID), and the original ticket must be provided for all claims $600 or over. Proper forms of ID must verify: name, signature, age and social security number.

If mailing, send required documentation to:
NCEL
P.O. Box 41606
Raleigh, NC 27629-1606.
The NCEL is not responsible for lost or misdirected mail. The risk of mailing tickets remains with the player.

In accordance with NCEL prize payment policy, all online game prizes must be claimed within 180 calendar days of the drawing. A mailed online ticket must be received at NCEL Headquarters or any NCEL office within 180 calendar days of the drawing. Postmarks shall not constitute satisfaction of the 180 day requirement.

The ticket, not the play slip, shall be the only valid proof of the selections made and the only valid receipt for claiming a prize. All Lottery tickets, winners, and transactions are subject to, and players agree to be bound by North Carolina State law and to the rules, policies and procedures of the NCEL. Liability for void, altered, or misprinted tickets, if any, is limited to refund of retail sales price. The NCEL is not responsible for lost, stolen, misdirected tickets or tickets not produced due to a telecommunications and/or power interruption.

Prize winnings are subject to State and Federal taxes and any other mandatory State withholdings.

Regional Offices and Claim Centers
Claim Center Hours are: 9:00AM to 5:00PM, Monday thru Friday