"These are the rules on the Ohio Lottery website. If you win up to $599, you can collect from any lottery retailer."
Providing the retailer has enough cash on hand. You can buy the ticket anywhere but make sure the store can cash and pay a winning ticket before the clerk validates it.
The Ohio Lottery has a back-up feature that has created problems with cashing tickets. If you get a $1.00 back-up and hit straight on a 3-way number like 112, you'll have to fill out a form, go to a bank, and declare the winnings on your income tax because the ticket value is over $599.
If you play and hit a $1.00 back-up on the pick-4 and it hits straight, plan on waiting at least 6 weeks before getting your winnings because the ticket value is over $5000. By getting two separate tickets, one straight, one boxed, you can get your winnings within an hour.
So as a rule of thumb, get separate tickets when playing any combination multiple times and when cashing tickets, go to high volume lottery retailers like grocery stores.
Stack