Experiencing the thrill of having won the lottery! If you think you have matched the winning lottery numbers, here are the steps you should take to claim your prize.

Have I Won The Lottery?

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Before taking steps to claim your prize, double-check your numbers against the official drawing results with the ones drawn or visit our Lottery Results. This will help you confirm that you have correctly matched the winning numbers and know what prize amount will fill your pockets.

Who Can Claim Lottery Winnings?

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Once you confirm that you are a winner, Congratulations!! But remember, in North Carolina winners must be 18 years or older.

Your next step is to sign the back of your ticket. Be aware that some U.S. state lotteries allow you to claim your lottery money as a trust so you can avoid revealing your identity. Check the anonymity policy of your state below to see what information they will make public. Also, some states permit lotteries to be claimed by groups, while others have special rules for lottery pools. If you are part of a lottery pool, the name that you sign to your winning ticket should take these rules into consideration.

How Long Do I Have To Claim My Prize?

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Lottery winners have 180 days from the date of drawing to claim their prize. If your lottery prize gives an option of claiming it as a lump sum or an annuity, winners have 60 days from the date they claim their prize to choose between payout options.

Where Should I Go To Claim My Lottery Prize?

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The answer to this question lies in, “how much have you won?”, or “what is the size of the prize?”. Prizes worth $599 or less can be claimed at lottery retailers. Prizes larger than this require that you stop by the regional offices of the state lottery or mail your claim following the instructions provided on the official site.

Prizes Up To $599, Redeem At:

  • The retailers may redeem the winning tickets up to $599 or the amount that is allowed by the retailer's normal cashing practices
  • The Regional Claim Centres also redeem the winning tickets up to $599
  • The NCEL Headquarters also redeem the winning tickets up to $599
  • The winning tickets up to $599 can also be redeemed by mail
  • Ensure to fill out the Winner Claim Form, available on the official website as well as the regional offices of the lottery
  • Make sure you have Photo ID verifying name, signature, and age, Social Security card

For Prizes From $600 To $99,999

  • The Regional Claim Centre's are entitled to redeem the winning tickets from $600 to $99,999
  • The NCEL Headquarters are entitled to redeem the winning tickets from $600 to $99,999
  • The winning tickets from $600 to $99,999 can also be redeemed by mail
  • Ensure to fill out the Winner Claim Form, available on the official website as well as the regional offices of the lottery
  • Make sure you have Photo ID verifying name, signature, and age, Social Security card

For Prizes Above $100,000

  • Prizes of $100,000 or more should be claimed in person at NCEL Headquarters
  • Ensure to fill out the Winner Claim Form, available on the official website as well as the regional offices of the lottery
  • Make sure you have Photo ID verifying name, signature, and age, Social Security card

North Carolina Lottery Mailing Address

NCEL
PO Box 41606
Raleigh, NC 27629-1606

North Carolina Claim Centres and Regional Offices

NC Education Lottery Headquarters

Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office
919-301-3637
2728 Capital Blvd.
Suite144
Raleigh, NC 27604
Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center
828-251-6223
16-G Regent Park Blvd.
Asheville, NC 28806

For more information, visit the official website.

Can I Stay Anonymous After Winning The Lottery?

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The North Carolina lottery commission website says that lottery winners cannot remain anonymous. Winners must publicly disclose their first name and the first initial of their last name. The location where the winning ticket was purchased is made publicly available. Winners may also choose to have their pictures taken for publicity purposes.

All lottery winner information is subject to Freedom of Information Act requests. Therefore, while some information may not be automatically shared with the public, requests for information may be granted.

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