Guide to Winning

Stake your claim!

So you’ve won a Lottery prize!

On behalf of the Delaware Lottery, we’d like to say congratulations!

We’re delighted that you’ve joined the many other players who have won Lottery games in Delaware.

The following is a guide to help you claim your prize in an efficient and timely manner and give you some helpful advice on how to handle your big win.

  1. Sign the back of your ticket.

    Print your name, address and phone number clearly on the back of ticket and most importantly, be sure to sign it. Remember that tickets are bearer instruments because there’s no record of the person who purchased it. If someone gets a hold of the ticket, he or she could bring it to a Retailer, Retailer Claim Center or Lottery Claim Center and cash it in. So sign your ticket and keep it safe! You must have a valid physical ticket for all prize claims.

  2. Check your numbers carefully.

    Numbers can play eye tricks-especially when you think you may have won! Calmly re-read the game instructions and compare your game ticket numbers to the winning numbers drawn/revealed. Since a winning lottery ticket is nearly equivalent to currency and can be quite valuable, it’s important that you check your numbers for yourself.

  3. Winning numbers are available:

    • By calling 1-800-338-6200
    • In the Winning Numbers section of this site
    • At any Delaware Lottery Retailer

    Remember, numbers from each drawing are not official until validated by the Delaware Lottery.

  4. Know what your winning ticket is worth.

    For your protection, take a minute to determine for yourself whether you have won and the correct prize amount. Depending solely on another person to tell you whether you have won, and how much, poses an unnecessary risk.

    It’s easy: When you’re not sure what you’ve won, check published drawing results, game rules, and How to Play information available at Retailer locations and delottery.com. Or, simply contact the Lottery Office for official rules and advice.

  5. Store your ticket in a safe place.

    Home safes and safety deposit boxes are some of the safest places to store your ticket until you are ready to claim your prize. Take extra care so that your winning ticket is not accidentally lost, stolen or destroyed.

  6. If you’ve won a significant prize, seek the counsel of an attorney or licensed financial advisor.

    Managing prize winnings can be a big responsibility. Professional financial and legal advice can be the best place to start. For example, there are very important planning steps you may now have to consider for managing your taxes, investments, and personal estate. These are matters that should be handled only by trained and licensed professionals. Wise use and management of a prize windfall will enable you to enjoy your good fortune for as long as a professionally developed plan will allow.

  7. Now, claim your prize!

    If your prize is $599 or less, take your ticket to any Delaware Lottery Retailer to claim your prize or mail your ticket to the Delaware Lottery Office. Be sure to sign the back of your winning ticket and clearly print your name and address in the space provided. For peace of mind, many winners create a record of the details of their winning ticket and send their claim in using Certified Mail, to ensure delivery to our office. If your ticket is confirmed by the Lottery Office to be a valid winner, a check will be mailed to you. Unless your prize is claimed in person at a Retailer, Retailer Claim Center or at the Lottery Office, please allow up to 15 working days for your prize check to arrive in the mail.

    Select Retailer Locations may cash up to $2,500.

    If your prize is $5,001 or more, you must claim your prize at the Delaware Lottery Office any business day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

    The Delaware Lottery Office is located at:

    Delaware Lottery Office
    McKee Business Park
    1575 McKee Road, Suite 102
    Dover, DE 19904
    Phone: (302) 739-5291

    Claim Centers:

    New Castle County:
    Division of Revenue
    Carvel State Office Building
    820 N. French Street
    Wilmington, DE 19801
    *Must enter at 9th and French Streets.
    Phone: 302-577-8200
    New


    Retailer Claim Centers
    Sussex County:
    Division of Revenue
    20653 DuPont Blvd Suite 2
    Georgetown, DE 19947
    Phone: 302-856-5358

  8. Bring necessary documentation to claim your prize.

    In order to claim your prize, you will need to bring your photo I.D. (with name and address) and Social Security card. All winning Delaware Lottery tickets are subject to Delaware Income Tax. Prizes with a value of more than $5,000 are subject to Federal withholding at time of claim.

  9. Claim your prize within a year of your win.

    Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date (for drawing game prizes) or within one year of the announced End of Sales (for Instant Games).

  10. Decide how widely you want the news of your winning to be known.

    In most other states, lotteries publish the names and faces of their big winners. In the State of Delaware, if you purchase an official Delaware Lottery online or instant game ticket and win, you specify whether or not the Delaware Lottery can publicly release your name(s) for promotional purposes. If you don’t want your likeness used for promotional purposes, the Delaware Lottery and all of its representatives will uphold your request for privacy. However, you are ultimately responsible for your privacy and must personally and carefully decide whom you disclose your winnings to. As opposed to traditional lottery ticket games, the names of players who enter Delaware Lottery second-chance drawings or entry-based contests will automatically be released if they are selected as winners. This is because the results of such random drawings are the actual names of entrants rather than sets of numbers like our ticket games. There is simply no other way to publish the drawing results!

    When you sign the back of your non-winning ticket or entry form, you grant the Lottery permission to announce your name to satisfy other players who need to know that a valid drawing has taken place. Tickets are valid for up to one year past the drawing date (for drawing game prizes) or within one year of the announced End of Sales (for Instant Games). If you have additional questions, contact the Delaware Lottery Headquarters. We would be happy to assist you in any way possible.

    Delaware Lottery Office
    McKee Business Park
    1575 McKee Road, Suite 102
    Dover, DE 19904
    Phone: (302) 739-5291
    Player Information Hotline: (800) 338-6200

Winner’s Checklist

Here’s a helpful list you can use to make sure that everything is in order before you claim your prize.

  •   Sign the back of your ticket.
  •   Check your numbers carefully (if applicable).
  •   Know how much your winning ticket is worth.
  •   Store your ticket in a safe place.
  •   Seek the counsel of an attorney or licensed financial advisor (if applicable).
  •   Know where to claim your prize.
  •   Bring necessary documentation to claim your prize.
  •   Claim your prize within a year of your win.
  •   Decide if you want the Delaware Lottery to publish your name and/or likeness or not.