General Coronavirus Update from DC Lottery
The safety and the well-being of our players, retailers and employees is a top priority at the Office of Lottery and Gaming (DC Lottery). While we are currently supporting our core business operations and the needs of our small business partners, we are doing so cautiously to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).
Effective July, 31, 2020, the DC Office of Lottery and Gaming’s (DC Lottery) Prize Center (2235 Shannon Place, SE, Washington, DC) will be open to the public.
On March 11, 2020 a Public Health Emergency was declared by the Mayor of the District of Columbia due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of the Public Health Emergency, the ability of lottery prize winners to claim their prizes has been severely limited. Accordingly, the Executive Director of the Office of Lottery and Gaming (OLG) has authorized payment of prizes for lottery tickets that expired for a period of time beginning on the date the OLG’s Prize Center closed to the public (March 30, 2020) through July 31, 2020.
Players can redeem winning tickets up to $600 at any DC Lottery retailer and prizes up to $5,000 at the DC Lottery’s Retailer Plus locations throughout the city. Please note that lottery retailers are private businesses and may decide to alter their hours and schedules or may be closed.
To avoid any nonessential trips away from home, prize claims of any amount can be mailed to the DC Lottery’s Prize Center. Players seeking to claim prizes over $5,000 should contact the Prize Center at 202-645-8000 for additional guidance.
To claim a ticket by mail, players should sign and fill out the information on the back of the ticket, complete a winner claim form, include a copy of your driver’s license, state-issued ID or passport and Social Security card and send it in with the original winning ticket to:
DC Lottery Prize Center
2235 Shannon Place, SE
Washington, DC 20020
The DC Lottery is not responsible for tickets lost in the mail and recommends players use trackable mail services when sending in their winning ticket(s).
All mail-in claims for draw DC2, DC3, DC4, DC5, Powerball, Mega Millions, Keno, Race2Riches, and The Lucky One -style games () must be postmarked within 180 days of the official winning draw date for that ticket. Mail-in claims for instant tickets must be postmarked within 180 days of the announced instant ticket end date.
All game drawings will continue to take place as scheduled.
Any updates and announcements will be shared on the DC Lottery website and social media accounts.
For more information about COVID-19 in Washington, DC and regular updates from the District of Columbia Government, Click Here.
Ways to Reduce The Risk of COVID-19
Practice everyday preventive actions to help reduce your risk of getting sick and remind everyone in your home to do the same. These actions are especially important for older adults and people who have severe chronic medical conditions:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick, except to get medical care.
- Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue and throw the tissue in the trash.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing; going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food.
- If soap and water are not readily available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Always wash hands with soap and water if hands are visibly dirty.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces and objects (e.g., tables, countertops, light switches, doorknobs, and cabinet handles).
For Our Retailers
In an effort to reduce the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) the DC Lottery’s office will be closed and staff will be working remotely until Monday, April 27, 2020. Instant Ticket distribution is suspended during this time and will be holding ticket orders until our offices reopen.
Tel-Sel phone lines will remain open daily 8:30 am-4 pm. Call 202-645-9236 to place an order. If the line is busy, please leave a message and we will return your call. You can also email your order to your Sales Representative. Please remember that Instant Tickets are distributed via UPS on Mondays and Thursdays. You will receive your orders on Tuesdays and Fridays.
All DC Lottery’s game drawings are taking place as regularly scheduled. Any updates and announcements will be shared on DC Lottery website and our social media accounts. You can stay informed about DC Lottery’s response to COVID-19 at www.dclottery.com/covid19.
Claiming Prizes
As of Monday, March 23, the DC Lottery’s Prize Center is closed to walk-in claims. Players seeking to claim prizes over $5,000, second chance prizes or obtain copies of W-2Gs for tax filing purposes can schedule an appointment with our Prize Center by calling 202-645-8000.
Players can redeem winning tickets up to $600 at any DC Lottery retailer and prizes up to $5,000 at our Retailer Plus locations throughout the city.
Operating During COVID-19
If you are planning to change your hours of operations or considering a temporary closure, please contact your sales representative as soon as possible to share your plans. Your lottery equipment will stay in place and you should secure all current lottery inventory, including Instant Tickets, against theft. Your Instant Ticket allocation will be halted during this time.
Please be aware that pack settlements and weekly sweeps will continue as occur. Please contact your sales representative when you are ready to resume business. If you think that you will have an issue covering a weekly sweep, please contact our Finance department by calling 202-645-8006.
If your business is remaining open and actively selling lottery tickets, we are here to support you.
Effective April 3, 2020, instant tickets will be distributed via UPS on Mondays and Thursdays of each week. Tel-Sel phone lines will be open daily 8:30 am-4:00 pm. Call 202-645-9236 to ensure you have enough instant ticket inventory on hand. If the line is busy, please leave a message and we will return your call. You can also email your order to your Sales Representative. Please ensure that you have sufficient ticket stock, play slips and that all equipment is operating properly. Contact your Sales Rep or our Customer Call Center at 877-896-9030 to discuss your needs.
Note for Retailers Open for Business: Please be sure to wipe down your equipment. Use alcohol-based wipes or sprays containing at least 70% alcohol and dry the machine. For more information please review the guidelines from the CDC at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/organizations/businesses-employers.html
Important DC Lottery Numbers
| Finance | 202-645-8006 |
| Licensing | 202-645-8041 |
| Security | 202-645-8080 |
| Sales | 202-645-8090 |
| Customer Service | 202-645-8000 |
| Tel-Sel | 202-645-9236 |
Resources
The Coronavirus (COVID 19) pandemic is ever evolving. Keep up to date by visiting the District’s COVID 19 website at www.coronavirus.dc.gov/
DC Small Business Recovery Microgrants https://coronavirus.dc.gov/dc-small-business-recovery-grants US Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loans https://coronavirus.dc.gov/SBAdisasterloans
Related Press Releases
- DC Lottery Temporarily Closes Prize Center to Public (March 31, 2020)
- DC Lottery Temporarily Closes Flagship Store in Union Station in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19 (March 24, 2020)
- DC Lottery Adjust Prize Center Operations: Claims and Other Business to be Conducted by Appointment Only ( March 20, 2020)
- DC Lottery Prize Center Remains Open for Claims With Adjusted Hours (March 13, 2020)
- DC Lottery is suspending all promotional activities and its participation in community events until further notice. (March 12, 2020)
CONTACT:
Nicole Jordan
202-645-8968
Nicole.jordan@dc.gov
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