Yes, the Florida Lottery does have a Raffle game. The Florida Lottery currently offers a twice-yearly $3 Million Raffle game, as well as various other special Raffle games throughout the year. The $3 Million Raffle game is held every October and April, with 250,000 tickets available each time.
Tickets cost $20 each and offer players the chance to win top prizes of $1 million each, as well as a variety of other lower-tier prize amounts. As of July 2019, the Florida Lottery has paid out more than $142 million in Raffle prize money.
Players can purchase Raffle tickets from select Florida Lottery retailers or online.
How does the Florida Lottery notify winners?
The Florida Lottery notifies winners by mail. When a ticket is purchased, the customer’s contact information (address and phone number) is associated with that ticket, so if the ticket is a winner, the Florida Lottery will have the contact information needed to reach the winner.
The Florida Lottery also conducts promotional drawings that are conducted at the Headquarters and the six District Offices throughout the state. In those cases, winners are contacted by telephone and certified mail.
The first step in the prize notification process is verification. All winners of prizes $600 or more must present valid identification, which includes a Social Security Number, and a Florida residency, at the Prize Payment office in order to claim their prizes.
After the winner is successfully identified and the contact information verified, the Florida Lottery will send the winner a Prize Claim Form, which must be returned to the Florida Lottery in order to claim the prize.
The Prize Claim Form includes instructions on how to collect the prize. The instructions include where, when and how to collect the prize and provides details on required documentation that must be provided in order to claim the prize.
Winning tickets must also be mailed, via certified mail, to the Florida Lottery in order to complete the prizing process.
Can you keep your identity secret if you win the lottery in Florida?
Yes, it is possible to keep your identity secret when playing the Florida Lottery. The state of Florida allows lottery winners to remain anonymous, enabling you to keep your name and other personal information private upon claiming your prize.
However, you must take certain steps to be eligible for anonymity. Generally, winners must establish a trust or a limited liability company (LLC) before claiming the prize, and have the trustee of the trust or LLC collect the prize money on their behalf.
It’s also important to note that although it is possible to remain anonymous when claiming lottery winnings in Florida, the IRS still requires the winner’s name, address and social security number to report any winnings above a certain amount.
What is the first thing you should do if you win the lottery?
If you win the lottery, the first thing you should do is remain calm and take a deep breath! Once you have done that, get legal and financial advice to ensure you are making the right decisions going forward.
Having an accountant and lawyer to help you when integrating your winnings into your personal financial plan and helping you set up a structure to enjoy and preserve your winnings is essential. It is also important to not take a lump sum payout.
This option is taxed at a higher rate than annuity payments and could leave you with less in the long run. Additionally, you should consider setting up trusts, wills and other legal documents to ensure your money is secure and passed on to the right people if you are no longer around.
Finally, you should always keep your winnings a secret and not reveal to others, as you don’t want to be taken advantage of, so keep it to yourself!.
When you win the lottery do they call you?
Yes, typically when you win the lottery you will be contacted in one way or another. Depending on the lottery, you may receive an email, phone call, or letter. It is important to note that some lotteries may require you to make yourself known and claim your winnings while other lotteries may contact the winner directly.
Some lottery winners prefer to wait until the official announcement to make their winning public, while others may want to immediately share their good news. Regardless, the lottery organization will contact the winner one way or another to inform them of the news.