What is your experience??

Im wondering on all these big wins...what is the procedure people go thru to cash their tickets in? Here in NC we have to go to the lottery headquarters for anything $600 and over....Now we have about 5 lottery headquarter locations across the state but if you hit the big one I think you have to go to the main one in Raleigh....But all of you in other states can you cash in a ticket.... scatch-off or otherwise.... anywhere other than you lottery headquarters??

I believe $600.00 is the limit in Oklahoma as well. Now Oklahoma has dozens of locations(Authorized Lottery Claim Centers) where you can go to claim a prize exceeding $600.00 to $5,000 but anything over $5,001 has to be claim at Lottery Headquarters.

It's $600 here in New Hampshire as well. Being a very small state geographically we have only one lottery headquarters in the state capital which is at max a 2 1/2 hour drive away even from the most remote northern locations.

All states have lottery websites that explain the procedures for cashing winning tickets.  Here in Ohio we can cash any winning ticket up to $600 at any lottery retailer.  Winning tickets will a value of $600 to $5,000 can be cashed at a state approved bank usually within 20 miles after being verified by a local retailer and those above $5,000 has to be taken to a regional lottery office which is usually within 80 miles.

Although NH is a small state, it can take up to 2.5 days to reach the Concord lottery headquarters by cow.

Cows are the preferred means of transportation for most granite stater's, who are concerned with the local ecology.

The scenic views are well worth the trip however! 

Idaho's a pretty big state, and as far as I can see, we only have on lottery office here in Boise.  The people in Eastern or Northern Idaho have to claim by mail, or make the trek to Boise.

Haha so true especially if you were riding a cow down from Dixville Notch to Concord.

Really?? Wow that's interesting....being able to cash a ticket in at a bank...that's kinda convienent

the bank thing is cool but it gives me pause if they follow the same procedures to verify that you are indeed the proper winner of the ticket.  There so so much lottery fraud.

RJOh,

That really sounds convenient with the banks in Ohio.

These are the rules in Illinois:

For prizes up to $600

Most local lottery retailers will cash winning tickets that are less than $600.  Their ability to cash winning tickets is subject to fund availability and the individual retailer’s preference.  You can also cash lower denomination winning lottery tickets (less than $600) at any of the Prize Claim Centers around the state.  If you can’t make it to a Prize Claim Center, you can also mail your winning ticket to an Illinois Lottery Claims Department in Springfield, IL.  The address is:

ILLINOIS LOTTERY
CLAIMS DEPARTMENT
P.O. BOX 19080
SPRINGFIELD, IL, 62794-9080

Prizes over $600 but less than $1 million

Fill out a claim form available at any Illinois Lottery retailer and  mail it in. You'll receive your check in 4-6 weeks (less any taxes).

 You can mail your winning ticket to Springfield, IL.  The address is:

Just moved from Hooksett, NH. Loved the NH scratch-offs.

Here it is for the Florida lottery-

"Prizes of less than $600 can be claimed at any Florida retailer.

Prizes up to $250,000 can be claimed at any Florida Lottery

district office. Prizes greater than $250,000 must be claimed at Lottery

headquarters in Tallahassee."

Im just down the street from my lottery headquarters. Makes cashing big winners easy.

Ronnie: Maybe you can just waive your winning jp ticket to them from your balcony.

Ohio did a nice job to expedite their original process.

The first time I hit the pick-4, the clerk where I bought the ticket didn't know if they had a claims form or how to fill it out after they found it. When it was finally filled out and I found the nearest cashing bank (25 miles away), it needed notarized so I stopped at an Auto Dealership on the way to the bank and waited 20 minutes while the Notary was in the bathroom. The Bank Teller asked if I had an account at their bank and because I didn't, decided I had to pay the $10 processing fee up front as if there was a difference between me paying her or her paying me $10 less. It took me over 3 hours from start to finish.

The Ohio Lottery finally gave easy to follow instructions to their retailers, changed to a bank with more locations, and had them notarize the claim form so the next time it took less than 45 minutes. It was a little more complicated with multiple winning tickets, but I made a phone call to lottery headquarters and they gave me a number the retailer or the bank could call if they had any questions.

Kentucky has Cashing Agents in every county eliminating going to a retailer and pay by cash or by check on the spot.