Claim Prizes

How to Claim your Prize

Retail Winners

1. So you won, and now you want to get paid. Well, you’re in luck, because there are a variety of places to claim your prize based on how much you’ve won.

	Retailers	Regional Claims Centers	NCEL Headquarters	By Mail*
Under $600
$600 to $99,999
$100K plus

2. Before you run down to the claim center to claim your prize, you need to sign the back of your original ticket. A lottery ticket is a bearer instrument until signed. The ticket, not the play slip, is required for all claims, so don’t forget it. Also, for prizes of $600 or more, you will need:

An NCEL Winner Claim Form - $600 or more
Photo ID verifying name, signature and age
Social Security card

3. Don’t wait. Get paid. Scratch-off game prizes must be claimed within 90 calendar days from the game’s announced end date, and draw games must be claimed within 180 calendar days of the drawing.

Mailed tickets must be received at the NCEL headquarters or regional office within 180 calendar days of the drawing for draw games and within 90 days from the games’ announced end date for scratch-off games. Postmarks shall not constitute satisfaction of date requirement.

Still have questions? Call Customer Service at (877) 962-7529.

Online Play Winners

So you won with Online Play, and now you want to get paid. Well, you’re in luck, because it has never been easier to claim your Online Play win.

Your claim options will vary based on the size of your prize.

Prizes of less than $600 are automatically deposited into your NC Education Lottery account.
Prizes of $600 up to and including $99,999 must be claimed online.
Prizes of $100,000 or more must be claimed in person at NCEL Headquarters in Raleigh. You will be directed to start your claim online and must wait to receive a follow-up notification with instructions. You will not be able to claim your prize until notification is received, normally within 2-5 business days.

As part of the claim process, we may require you to provide additional information, provide copies of documents, or appear in person at a designated claim center.

Don’t wait to start your claim... Draw games must be claimed within 180 calendar days of the drawing.

Still have questions? Call our Customer Support Center at 1-866-934-0289.

Claim Forms

NCEL claim forms available below or at any regional office.

NCEL Prize Claim Privacy Notice
NCEL Prize Claim Form - $599.00 or less
NCEL Prize Claim Form - $600.00 or more
Player Change of Address Affidavit
Used for players to change address AFTER a prize claim has occurred.
Affidavit of Multiple Ownership
For use with tickets shared/purchased in common with others.
Player Authorization to Mail Prize Payment Checks
For group winners only.
EFT Form for prizes of $100,000 or more

*Claim By Mail

If claiming by mail, send required documentation to:

NCEL
PO Box 41606
Raleigh, NC 27629-1606

The NCEL is not responsible for lost or misdirected mail. The risk of mailing tickets remains with the player.

2021 Holiday Schedule

New Year’s Day: Friday, January 1
Martin Luther King Jr.’s Birthday: Monday, Jan. 18
Good Friday: Friday, April 2
Memorial Day: Monday, May 31
Independence Day: Monday, July 5
Labor Day: Monday, September 6
Veteran’s Day: Thursday, November 11
Thanksgiving: Thursday-Friday, November 25 & 26
Christmas: Thursday, Friday, Monday, Dec. 23, 24, & 27

Where to Claim

Regional Offices and Claim Centers

Claim Center Hours: 9:00AM to 5:00PM, Monday thru Friday

Asheville Regional Office & Claim Center

828-251-6223
16-G Regent Park Blvd.
Asheville, NC 28806
View Map

Greensboro Regional Office & Claim Center

336-218-5724
20A Oak Branch Drive
Greensboro, NC 27407
View Map

Charlotte Regional Office & Claim Center

704-523-4898
5029-A West W. T. Harris Blvd.
Charlotte, NC 28269-1861
View Map

NC Education Lottery Headquarters
Raleigh Claim Center & Regional Office

919-301-3637
2728 Capital Blvd.
Suite144
Raleigh, NC 27604
View Map

Greenville Regional Office & Claim Center

252-756-7992
2790 Dickinson Avenue, Suite A
Greenville, NC 27834
View Map

Wilmington Regional Office & Claim Center

Please note: Our Wilmington Regional Office location has moved, effective December 11, 2017.

910-350-2000
123 North Cardinal Extension Drive, Suite 140
Wilmington, NC 28405
View Map

Additional Options

EFT Payment Options

For winners of prizes of $100,000 or more and those who win their prize as an annuity, you can choose a payment option called Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT), which allows prizes to be automatically deposited into your banking account. Some players may find this option a safer and more convenient way to receive their prize money. If a prize is shared, each winner can choose the payment option they prefer.

What’s required to set up an EFT for prize money?

For an established checking account, bring a voided check.
For an established savings account, bring a letter from your financial institution on letterhead providing the name of the person who owns the account, the routing number and the account number.
For a new checking account, bring a starter check and a letter from the financial institution on letterhead providing the name of the person who owns the account, the routing number and the banking account number.
For a new savings account, bring a letter from the financial institution on letterhead providing the name of the person who owns the account, the routing number and the banking account number.

For winners receiving a lump sum payment, the NCEL will make the electronic payment the same day that winners claim their prize. Generally, the deposit should arrive in the account within 2-3 business days.

For winners receiving an annuity, the first payment of the annuity will be made electronically the day the prize is claimed. The additional annuity payments will be made annually based on a schedule determined by when the prize is claimed.

It is the winner’s responsibility to notify the N.C. Education Lottery if a checking or savings account is changed. A new EFT form directing where the winner would like their payments to be deposited must be submitted to the NCEL. For annuity recipients, notification of changes should be made at least 10 business days before a payment is scheduled to be processed.

Group Claims

If you are claiming as a group of winners on the same winning ticket and all members of the group are not claiming their portion of the prize in person at Lottery headquarters, an Affidavit of Multiple Ownership must be completed in advance and photocopies of required identifications for the members that will not be present at the claim. If all members of the group will be present for the claim, the group will be requested to complete the Affidavit of Multiple Ownership at the time of claim.

Some legal stuff

MUST BE 18 TO PLAY. Problem Gambling Helpline: 877-718-5543. All Lottery tickets, winners and transactions are subject to, and players agree to be bound by, North Carolina state law and to the rules, policies and procedures of the NCEL. Liability for void, altered or misprinted tickets, if any, is limited to refund of retail sales price. The NCEL is not responsible for lost, stolen or misdirected tickets or tickets not produced due to a telecommunications and/or power interruption. Prize winnings are subject to state and federal taxes and any other mandatory state withholdings.