Illinois Lottery players have been able to buy lotto tickets online for years; however, if they won certain prizes, they’d still have to take care of that in person. Well, the Illinois Lottery prize claim process recently got an upgrade.
The Illinois Lottery’s new “e-claims” system allows you to submit an electronic claim regardless of the size of your prize. With the change, the lottery is now a truly digital experience.
How does the new Illinois Lottery online prize claim work?
Essentially, “e-claims” puts the same technology that many other state systems already use to work for the lottery and its players. Illinoisans regularly conduct business with the state for things like licenses and taxes completely online.
Now the same rings true for the lottery. For the sake of example, suppose you won a $1,000 prize playing Lucky Day Lotto. Whether you purchased the ticket in person or online makes no difference.
How to claim your prize online
- Visit the IL Lottery’s website.
- Click on the “When You Win” tab in the “Winning” drop-down menu.
- Click on the blue “Go To E-Claims” button.
- Read the terms and conditions, and check the two boxes confirming you read them.
- Click “Next.” Here, you’ll find a fillable claim form broken down into three steps.
- After completing the form, you’ll need to submit a scan or picture of the back and front of your winning ticket.
That’s it.
When will you receive your prize?
Within three to four weeks, you will receive a check for the amount of your prize — minus any applicable taxes — at the mailing address you specify on the claim form.
Do I have to use the new e-claims system?
For prizes of $600 or less won with tickets purchased on the app or website, the prize automatically credits to your Illinois Lottery account. There’s no need to file a claim for such prizes.
Prizes of that same value won with a physical ticket can still be redeemed at any Illinois lottery retailer, according to funds availability. Again, there’s no need to file a claim for prizes of $600 or less.
If your prize is at least $601, you can still make an appointment at an Illinois Lottery claim center to redeem your prize in person instead of using e-claims. It’s completely up to you.
Whether it would be faster to make an appointment or use the e-claims portal depends on volume and staffing. As of July 2020, claims centers in the state are not accepting walk-in traffic. All the details on how to claim a prize at a claim center are here.
For those who choose to use it, e-claims represents a truly digital solution for lottery play in Illinois.
