Coronavirus Lottery Changes for April 23
Thursday April 23rd 2020The latest U.S. lottery changes responding to coronavirus, including Powerball multi-draw ticket refunds, game updates, extended prize claim periods, lottery office closures, and how to claim prizes during stay-at-home orders.
Most lottery drawings, including Mega Millions and Powerball, continue to be held on schedule.
You can keep yourself safe at home and still play lottery games online, with a secure checkout process and ticket storage. If you win, theres no need to claim - prizes are paid automatically
Coronavirus state lottery updates
The most recent adjustments lotteries across the country have made to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
Connecticut
Below are the current opening hours for the state's high-tier claim centers, which can process winning tickets worth up to $5,000. Please call the centers directly to confirm their hours before making a trip:
- Sully's Mobil, 382 Vauxhall Street, New London: Open Monday-Friday 7am-8pm. Not currently processing claims on Saturday and Sunday. Phone: 860-443-5938
- Crossroads Card & Gift, 280 Connecticut Avenue, Norwalk: Open Monday-Saturday 7am-9pm, and Sunday 7am-5pm. Phone: 203-852-9671
- C&A Market, 1088 Boston Post Road, West Haven: Open Monday-Saturday 8:30am-3:30pm and Sunday 8:30am-12:30pm. Phone: 203-932-4296
- DADA Grocery LLC, 757 Meriden Road, Waterbury: Open Monday-Saturday 9am-6pm. Phone: 203-573-0029
Indiana
The lottery has delayed the Game On! 2nd Chance promotion drawing until further notice. Entries received up to 11:59pm on March 23, 2020 are being stored safely and will be eligible to win when the drawing is eventually held.
The lottery also recently announced that it has set the Hoosier Lotto game's roll increase to a minimum of $100,000. The lottery will announce the roll amount before each drawing based on an assessment of ticket sales. Previously, the roll amount was $200,000 to $300,000 for each draw.
The changes have been necessary because of declining sales since the state's stay-at-home order came into effect on March 25.
Kansas
The lottery lobby will remain closed to the public until May 3, following Gov. Laura Kelly's decision to extend the stay-at-home order. While the order is in place, it is not possible to claim a prize in person.
Winners may claim prizes of any amount by mail, and prizes up to $599 may be paid out by retailers.
The lottery has extended prize claim periods for winning tickets that would have expired from March 23 through May 3, 2020. Note that the extension is not automatic; players must email lottery.info@kslottery.net to request the extension.
Normally, prizes must be redeemed within 365 days of the draw date. For instant tickets, the expiration date depends on the game.
There are only a few days left until the May 1 deadline to claim Powerball and Mega Millions multi-draw ticket refunds in Kansas.
The Lottery is offering reimbursement in the form of coupons for some multi-draw tickets:
- Powerball: Any multi-draw ticket purchased on or before April 8, 2020 is eligible for a refund of draws occuring after April 8 through the ticket expiration.
- Mega Millions: Any multi-draw ticket purchased on or before April 10, 2020 is eligible for a refund of draws occuring after April 10 through the ticket expiration.
Hang on to your original ticket, because you can still claim any prizes won on it.
Fill out a reimbursement form for each ticket you are claiming for:
Download Powerball Refund Claim Form
Download Mega Millions Refund Claim Form
Sign the back of your ticket and make a copy of both sides for your records. Send the completed form and the copies of your ticket (not the original ticket) to the lottery via U.S. Mail or email:
Send by U.S. Mail:
Kansas Lottery
ATTN: S.L.E.D.
128 N. Kansas Ave.
Topeka, KS 66603-3638
Send by email: refund@kslottery.net
Claims must be postmarked or emailed by May 1, 2020.
Kentucky
The lottery has updated how drawings are conducted for the daily Pick 3, Pick 4, and CashBall 225 games due to concerns about COVID-19. The drawings will no longer be conducted using balls and machines; instead, a computer system will be used to randomly generate winning numbers.
The random number generator has already been used for the daily 5 Card Cash drawings for nearly eight years, and the system is used by 31 state lotteries nationwide.
“By using this system, our drawings will be done in a much quicker manner with the same levels of security and integrity,” said the Kentucky Lottery’s Sr. vice president of communications, PR and social responsibility Chip Polston. “Given the current COVID-19 situation, we want to improve safety for our draw staff as much as possible. Instead of taking an hour for the midday drawing and almost two hours for the evening drawing using the old method of balls and machines, we will now be able to complete this vital function in a matter of minutes.”
The number generator is located in the dedicated draw studio at lottery headquarters and has multiple security safeguards. These include requirements that the device cannot be accessed by a single person, video surveillance, a bar-coded security bolt that would need to be destroyed to be removed, and checks that must be conducted before each drawing.
All drawings are taking place on schedule.
Massachusetts
The lottery claim centers' closure has been extended through May 4, following Gov. Charlie Baker's decision to prolong the state's stay-at-home order. Winning tickets worth $50,000 and under may be redeemed by mail, and retailers may be able to pay out prizes of $600 and below.
North Dakota
Following Powerball's changes to its minimum jackpot and rollovers, the lottery has announced that Powerball multi-draw tickets that were purchased on or before April 9, 2020 are eligible for a refund of the price of remaining drawings from April 11 through May 9.
You can still claim any prizes won by your multi-draw ticket even if you claim reimbursement, so make sure to keep your ticket safe. If you don't have your ticket any more, see below.
If you have questions about the refund process, get in touch with the lottery at 1-877-635-6886 or 701-328-1574.
Here's how to claim a refund:
- Download and fill out a Powerball Refund Form
- Sign the back of your ticket
- Attach a copy of the front and back of your ticket (do not send the original ticket)
Mail to:
North Dakota Lottery
Powerball Multi-Draw Refund
P.O. Box 204
Bismarck, ND 58502-0204
Your claim must be postmarked on or before August 31, 2020. Please allow 4-6 weeks for processing.
Have you lost your ticket? Good news - the lottery will still reimburse you in the form of coupons for free plays.
Complete a Powerball Refund Form and a Powerball Refund Affidavit. Send both documents to the address above.
You'll receive $9.00 in promotional coupons which you can take to a lottery retailer and use for three single play/single draw Quick Pick Powerball with Power Play tickets.
Vermont
The lottery has made changes to the Tri-State Megabucks game. The minimum rollover value between draws where the jackpot is not won will now be $25,000 (previously $50,000).
The guaranteed starting jackpot will stay at $1 million for the time being. However, the new rules allow the lottery to drop the minimum jackpot to $500,000 if needed, based on ticket sales.
Lower ticket sales due to residents staying at home has driven the updates. The Tri-State Megabucks Commission has not determined how long the changes will last.
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