How to Claim Illinois (IL)
Lottery Prizes
Claim an Illinois Lottery prize $600 or less at any retailer and over $600 at the Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central), within one year of the drawing. Prizes up to $999,999 can be claimed by mail.
Where to Claim Your Illinois Lottery Prize
Won? You have one year to cash it in.
Where to Cash a Winning Ticket
Where you can cash an Illinois Lottery prize depends on how much it is.
- Up to $600Signed ticket at a store
- Any lottery retailer
- By mail
- Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central) by appointment
- $601–$999,999Claim form and ID
- By mail
- Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central) by appointment
- $1M+Claim form and ID
- Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central) by appointment
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Play scratch-offs too?Up to x24.2 better jackpot odds
For $50K to $5M+ jackpots on the best Illinois scratch-offs. ScratchOdds ranks all 53 by today's odds.
For $50K to $5M+ jackpots on the best Illinois scratch-offs.
Get the Free AppSee the Best Ones
Good to Know
Claim deadline
One year after the drawing
Take a jackpot's cash option within 60 days of the drawing.
When you're paid
Retailers pay prizes of $600 or less on the spot, and claim centers pay up to $25,000.
Claim by mail
Up to $999,999
Illinois Lottery Claims Department, P.O. Box 19080, Springfield, IL 62794-9912
Taxes on winnings
24% federal withheld over $5,000
4.95% state tax; 4.95% withheld from $1,000. See your take-home
Can you stay anonymous?
Yes, from $250,000
Illinois Lottery Claim Forms
Over $600, bring your signed ticket, ID and a completed claim form.
Full checklist (6 items)
- Your winning ticket, signed on the back
- A completed claim form and winner questionnaire
- A photo ID: a valid driver's license or state ID, a passport, a military ID or a resident alien ID card
- Proof of your Social Security number: your Social Security card, a federal or state tax return, a W-2 or W-2G, or a 1099 form
- To have a prize over $25,000 deposited, a direct deposit form and a check marked VOID
- If more than one name is on the ticket, a Form 5754 saying how the prize is split
Illinois Lottery Claim Centers
Bring your ticket, claim form and ID. Every office sees winners by appointment only.
Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central)
404 N 5th St, Springfield, IL 62702By appointment onlyHours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PMPhone: 217-524-5147Chicago Claim Center
George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building, 69 W. Washington, Suite LL06, Chicago, IL 60601By appointment onlyHours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PMPhone: 312-793-2385Des Plaines Claim Center
9511 Harrison St, Des Plaines, IL 60016By appointment onlyHours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PMPhone: 847-294-4851Rockford Claim Center
200 S Wyman, Rockford, IL 61101By appointment onlyHours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PMPhone: 815-987-7018Fairview Heights Claim Center
15 Executive Drive, Suite 3, Fairview Heights, IL 62208By appointment onlyHours: Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PMPhone: 618-624-8670
More Claim Rules
- Claim centers by appointment
- Every Illinois Lottery claim center sees winners by appointment only, with no walk-ins. Book a time online, come alone unless you need help, and you can claim several winning tickets in one appointment.
- Retailers
- Retailers pay prizes of $600 or less when they have the cash on hand and choose to. If one can't, claim at a claim center, by mail or with an e-Claim.
- Claiming online with an e-Claim
- Prizes of $10,000 or less can be claimed online with an e-Claim. Fill in the form, attach your documents and photos of the front and back of the signed ticket, and keep the ticket: the prize is mailed to you by check.
- Prizes won online
- Prizes of $600 or less won online go straight into your Illinois Lottery account, unless they'd take its balance over $2,000, when the lottery sends a check instead. Larger online wins are claimed at a claim center, by mail or, up to $10,000, with an e-Claim, noting on the form the game, the amount and that you won online.
- Prizes over $25,000
- Claim centers pay prizes up to $25,000. Larger claims are sent to the lottery's Springfield office and paid later by State of Illinois warrant, in 4 to 6 weeks on average. Winners of more than $25,000 can have the prize deposited in their bank account with a direct deposit form and a check marked VOID.
- Prizes of $1 million or more
- Call the lottery first, at 800-252-1775 or the Claims Department at 217-524-5147. Prizes of $1 million or more are claimed in person at the Springfield office or a claim center, on a date agreed with the lottery.
- Keeping your name private
- A winner of $250,000 or more can ask to keep their name and city private by marking it on the claim form when they claim. Otherwise the lottery publishes each winner's name, home city and the amount won, but never their address or phone number.
- Joint winners
- When more than one name is on the back of a winning ticket, they own it jointly and fill in a Form 5754 saying how the prize is split.
- Tickets for several drawings
- A prize on a ticket for several drawings can be claimed right away or later. If you claim it before the last drawing, you get an exchange ticket for the drawings left.
- Claiming by mail
- Sign the ticket, keep copies of both sides and of the claim form, and send the originals by registered mail.
Reviewed by Bishop Woosley, former Director of the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and NASPL President.
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More Illinois Lottery Help
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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers about the Illinois Lottery
Where can I claim lottery winnings in Illinois?
$600 or less: Any lottery retailer, by mail or Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central) by appointment. Over $600 to $999,999: By mail or Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central) by appointment. $1 million or more: Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central) by appointment.
Where can I cash a $1,000 lottery ticket in Illinois?
Not at a store: Illinois Lottery retailers pay prizes up to $600. Over $600 to $999,999: By mail or Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central) by appointment.
Where are the Illinois Lottery claim centers?
Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central), 404 N 5th St, Springfield; Chicago Claim Center, George W. Dunne Cook County Office Building, 69 W. Washington, Suite LL06, Chicago; Des Plaines Claim Center, 9511 Harrison St, Des Plaines; Rockford Claim Center, 200 S Wyman, Rockford; Fairview Heights Claim Center, 15 Executive Drive, Suite 3, Fairview Heights.
What time can you cash lottery tickets in Illinois?
Any Illinois Lottery retailer cashes prizes up to $600 whenever it's open. The Illinois Lottery claim centers are open Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM.
What should I do if I win the Illinois Lottery?
Sign your ticket and keep it safe, then claim it within one year of the drawing. $600 or less: Any lottery retailer, by mail or Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central) by appointment. Over $600 to $999,999: By mail or Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central) by appointment. $1 million or more: Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central) by appointment. Over $600, bring your signed ticket, ID and a completed claim form.
How long do you have to claim an Illinois Lottery prize?
One year after the drawing. A jackpot's cash option must be chosen within 60 days of the drawing.
Do Illinois Lottery tickets expire?
Yes. A winning ticket must be claimed within one year of the drawing, or the prize can no longer be paid.
What do I need to claim an Illinois Lottery prize?
At a store, a prize up to $600 needs just the signed ticket. Over $600: Your winning ticket, signed on the back; A completed claim form and winner questionnaire; A photo ID: a valid driver's license or state ID, a passport, a military ID or a resident alien ID card; Proof of your Social Security number: your Social Security card, a federal or state tax return, a W-2 or W-2G, or a 1099 form; To have a prize over $25,000 deposited, a direct deposit form and a check marked VOID; If more than one name is on the ticket, a Form 5754 saying how the prize is split.
Do I need an appointment at an Illinois Lottery claim center?
Yes. Every claim center sees winners by appointment only.
Can I claim an Illinois Lottery prize by mail?
Yes, prizes up to $999,999. Mail the signed ticket, with any copies the Illinois Lottery asks for, to Illinois Lottery Claims Department, P.O. Box 19080, Springfield, IL 62794-9912. Prizes over $600 also need a completed claim form.
How long does it take to get Illinois Lottery winnings?
Retailers pay prizes of $600 or less on the spot, and claim centers pay up to $25,000. Larger claims are processed in Springfield and paid by State of Illinois warrant, in 4 to 6 weeks on average. Mailed claims and e-Claims are paid by check by mail.
Can you claim lottery winnings anonymously in Illinois?
Yes, for prizes of $250,000 or more. Smaller prizes' winners are public record.
Can I claim an Illinois Lottery prize online?
For some prizes, yes: prizes of $10,000 or less can be claimed online with an e-Claim. Otherwise, claim in person or by mail.
What is the Illinois Lottery phone number?
800-252-1775 for customer service. Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central): 217-524-5147.
Where can I claim an Illinois Lottery prize in person?
The Springfield Claim Center (Lottery Central) is at 404 N 5th St, Springfield, IL 62702, open Mon–Fri, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM. Call 217-524-5147.
Are lottery winnings taxed in Illinois?
Illinois taxes lottery winnings at 4.95%, and federal income tax applies too. 4.95% state tax is withheld from prizes of $1,000 or more, plus 24% federal tax from prizes over $5,000.
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