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Coronavirus Lottery Changes for May 5
Tuesday May 5th 2020The latest U.S. lottery updates due to the coronavirus outbreak, including extended prize claim deadlines, lottery office closures, and how to claim prizes while stay-at-home orders are in place.
Most lottery drawings, including Mega Millions and Powerball, continue to be held on schedule.
While you're staying at home, you can still have fun playing the lottery online with automatic prize payout if you win.
Coronavirus state lottery updates
Below you'll find a roundup of new changes lotteries nationwide have made in response to COVID-19.
Iowa
Lottery offices will remain shut to the public through at least May 18.
All winning tickets worth less than $1 million may be redeemed by mail. Prizes up to $600 can be cashed out at a retailer. The lottery has also installed a secure dropbox for claims to be deposited at its Clive headquarters.
Prizes of $1 million and above will need to be claimed in person in Clive with a prior appointment.
Kansas
Gov. Laura Kelly has begun the first phase of the state's reopening, lifting the stay-at-home order on Monday, May 4. In Phase One, anyone who can is strongly advised to work from home.
The lottery office will stay closed to public access until further notice, and winners will not be able to visit in person to claim prizes.
Winning tickets of any value may be mailed to the lottery, and retailers may be able to cash tickets up to $599.
The deadline to claim prizes that would have expired from March 23 through May 18, 2020 will be extended on a case-by-case basis at the winner's request. Winners must email the lottery at lottery.info@kslottery.net to request the extension.
Louisiana
Lottery offices remain closed until further notice.
The deadline to redeem tickets that would expire from March 24-May 15, 2020 has been extended until August 15, 2020.
On May 1, the lottery introduced an emergency rule change to allow winners of $5,000 and below on any Louisiana game (Lotto, Pick 3, Pick 4, Easy 5, and all scratch-offs) the option to claim by mailing in copies of the front and back of their signed winning tickets instead of the originals.
Louisiana game tickets worth less than $600 may also be cashed out at a retailer.
Louisiana game prizes over $5,000, as well as all Powerball and Mega Millions prizes of any amount, must be claimed in person. Winners will need to email the lottery prizepayments@louisianalottery.com to make an appointment.
Massachusetts
The lottery has introduced the option to claim prizes worth $20,000 and up in person with an appointment. To make a booking, contact the Customer Service Department at 781-849-5555 and ask to speak with a Grand Prize Coordinator.
Claim centers will stay closed until further notice for all other visits.
Winners may also submit claims by mail for prizes of $50,000 and under. Retailers can pay out tickets worth $600 or less.
New Jersey
The Lottery's front office will remain closed through at least May 15. Winners are encouraged to claim prizes by mail during this time, although retailers may be able to cash tickets worth less than $600.
The deadline to claim prizes that would have expired from March 19 to May 15, 2020 has been extended. Normally, draw game prizes must be claimed within one year of the draw date. Winners will now have an extra 30 days to claim from the date the lottery office reopens.
Virginia
Lottery customer service centers will remain closed at least through May 15. Winners are encouraged to redeem winning tickets by mail.
The deadline to claim prizes has also been extended. All prizes that are set to expire while the Virginia state of emergency order is in effect will still be paid as long as the winner claims by mail or at a customer service center within 30 days of the governor lifting the order.
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