Winning the lottery can be an exciting experience. But before you can enjoy your prize money, you need to cash in your winning ticket. Here are the top options for cashing in Virginia lottery tickets.
Virginia Lottery Customer Service Centers
The easiest place to cash Virginia lottery tickets is at one of the five Virginia Lottery Customer Service Centers located around the state. These centers can validate your ticket and provide your winnings in cash or check on the spot for prizes up to $600. Anything over $600 will be issued as a check from lottery headquarters. The Virginia Lottery Customer Service Centers are located in:
- Henrico – 600 East Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222
- Roanoke – 5206 Airport Road NW, Roanoke, VA 24012
- Hampton – 1353 Thomas Street, Hampton, VA 23669
- Harrisonburg – 1790-26 East Market Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
- Norfolk – Janaf Office Building, 5900 East Virginia Beach Boulevard, Suite 220, Norfolk, VA 23502
The centers are open Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Some locations may have extended hours until 6:00pm on certain days. It’s best to call ahead to confirm the hours of your nearest location.
Authorized Virginia Lottery Retailers
You can also cash Virginia lottery tickets under $600 at any authorized Virginia Lottery retailer across the state. Just like the customer service centers, retailers can validate your ticket and pay out prizes up to $600 right away in cash. Prizes over $600 will be issued as a check from lottery headquarters after the retailer validates the ticket.
There are over 5,300 authorized Virginia Lottery retailers located throughout the state. These include convenience stores, supermarkets, gas stations, and other businesses that sell lottery tickets. Just look for the Virginia Lottery signage in the store window or near the checkout.
Virginia Lottery Prize Zone
For convenience, you can cash your Virginia Lottery tickets online through the Lottery’s Prize Zone. This allows you to securely submit your claim online and receive your winnings via check in the mail. Here is how it works:
- Create an account at https://www.valottery.com/prizezone
- Enter your ticket information and upload images of both sides of the signed ticket
- Validate your ticket by answering security questions
- Provide your mailing address for your prize check
The Prize Zone can cash winning tickets up to $600. Your check will be mailed within 4-6 weeks from validating your ticket. This is a convenient option but does require some wait time for your winnings.
By Mail
You can mail your winning Virginia Lottery ticket to lottery headquarters to claim your prize. This method can be used for wins of any amount. Simply sign the back of your ticket and fill out a claim form from https://www.valottery.com/winners/howtoprizeclaim. Then mail your signed ticket and claim form to:
Virginia LotteryP. O. Box 1254
Richmond, VA 23218-1254
Your prize will be issued as a check in the mail within 4-6 weeks. This method requires some patience but allows you to cash tickets from anywhere without having to visit a retailer or customer service center.
Large Jackpot Wins
For very large jackpot wins of over $100,000, it is recommended to contact the Virginia Lottery Claims Center at 804-692-7000 to make an appointment to claim your prize. Large jackpots often require additional validation, tax forms, and sometimes even a press conference.
Tips for Cashing Virginia Lottery Tickets
Here are some useful tips for successfully cashing your winning Virginia Lottery tickets:
- Sign the back of your ticket – This is required for processing any claims.
- Keep your ticket safe – Treat it like cash. Lost or damaged tickets cannot be processed.
- Confirm your win – Double check your numbers against the lottery website or winning numbers hotline.
- Act quickly – Virginia Lottery tickets expire 180 days after the draw date.
- Bring ID – You’ll need valid photo ID to verify your identity and age.
- Know the rules – Understand claim requirements and lottery payout policies.
- Get a claim form – Fill one out if mailing your ticket to headquarters.
Virginia Lottery Ticket Cashing FAQs
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about cashing winning lottery tickets in Virginia:
How long do I have to claim my prize?
You have 180 days from the draw date to claim your winning Virginia Lottery ticket. Tickets expire after this period.
What identification do I need?
You must show valid photo ID with your name, photo, and date of birth to claim any lottery prize. Acceptable IDs include a driver’s license, passport, military ID, or voter registration card.
Can someone else claim my prize?
Yes, you can send an authorized representative to claim your lottery winnings with proper documentation. They will need a winner’s claim form, your valid photo ID, and the original winning ticket signed by you.
Are lottery wins taxed in Virginia?
Yes, lottery prizes over $600 are subject to both federal and Virginia state tax withholding. Taxes up to 24% may be withheld from the payout.
What happens if my ticket is lost or damaged?
Lost or damaged lottery tickets cannot be processed or replaced. Keep your ticket in a safe place until you are ready to claim your prize.
Can I cash my lottery ticket from another state?
Unfortunately no, Virginia retailers and lottery officials can only cash and process Virginia Lottery tickets. Tickets from other states must be claimed in their state of origin.
Locating Authorized Retailers to Cash Tickets
With over 5,300 authorized lottery retailers across Virginia, you are never far from being able to cash a winning ticket. The Virginia Lottery website has a retailer locator tool to find your nearest locations. You can search by city, zip code, or address. Just go to:
https://www.valottery.com/aboutus/retailers
This locator provides names, addresses, and maps to guide you to authorized Virginia Lottery retailers in your area. Key information like store hours, phone numbers, and amenities are also provided.
Major Retailers that Cash Virginia Lottery Tickets
While there are thousands of authorized Virginia Lottery retailers, some of the most common and convenient locations include:
- 7-Eleven – Over 190 locations statewide
- Safeway – 112 supermarket locations
- Food Lion – 330 grocery store and supermarket locations
- Martins – 34 grocery store locations, primarily in Central Virginia
- Walmart – 123 Walmart and Sam’s Club stores statewide with some 24/7 availability
- Sheetz – Over 190 convenience store locations across Virginia
- Wawa – 121 convenience store locations in Central and Eastern Virginia
- RaceTrac – 51 gas station convenience store locations in Virginia
- Speedway – Over 170 gas and convenience locations
- Exxon and Sunoco gas stations – Hundreds of locations across the state
This provides a sampling of the major retailers that can be found through the Virginia Lottery website locator. There are also many independent pharmacies, liquor stores, tobacco shops, gas stations, and convenience stores authorized to cash lottery tickets.
Finding Authorized Retailers by Area of Virginia
The number and density of authorized lottery retailers varies in different parts of the state. Here is an overview of cashing lottery tickets in key regions:
Northern Virginia
As a populous suburban region, Northern Virginia has a high concentration of retailers able to cash lottery tickets. Fairfax County alone has over 370 authorized lottery retailers. 7-Eleven, Safeway, Harris Teeter, Walmart, and independent gas stations provide ample cashing locations.
Central Virginia
Richmond and surrounding counties have over 430 lottery retailers including Kroger, Martins, Walmart, Circle K, minimarts, and gas stations. Availability is high in urban and suburban areas.
Hampton Roads
The Hampton Roads region also has abundant options with 490+ retailers in cities like Norfolk, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, and Newport News. Major chains like Food Lion, Farm Fresh, 7-Eleven, and CVS provide lottery cashing services across the area.
Western Virginia
While overall density decreases, cities like Roanoke, Lynchburg, and Danville still have plenty of lottery retailers. Counties with smaller populations have more limited but still available options in local convenience stores, markets, and gas stations.
Southwest Virginia
Rural and mountainous Southwest Virginia has the fewest options for cashing lottery tickets. However, even small towns have at least one or two authorized retailers. Look for gas stations, pharmacies, groceries, and dollar stores that participate.
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley provides reasonable access to lottery retailers in cities like Harrisonburg, Staunton, and Winchester. Grocery stores, convenience stores, and pharmacies dotted along major highways offer cashing locations.
Accessibility of Lottery Ticket Cashing Locations
When finding a retailer to cash your winning ticket, consider the following factors for an optimal experience:
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Hours | Look for retailers with extended hours or 24/7 availability if cashing late at night. |
| Wait times | Opt for retailers that are less busy to reduce wait times for ticket validation. |
| Amount | Smaller retailers may have limits on the prize amounts they can payout in cash. |
| Safety | Choose well-lit locations in safe areas, especially when traveling with your winning ticket. |
| Parking | Retailers with convenient, free parking make the cashing process easier. |
| Services | Look for locations with helpful customer service and a lottery terminal for quick validation. |
The Virginia Lottery website provides details on each retailer’s hours, location, parking, services, and amenities to find options matching your needs.
Out-of-State Visitors Cashing Virginia Tickets
Tourists and out-of-state visitors who purchase Virginia Lottery tickets can cash their winnings before leaving the state. Any authorized Virginia Lottery retailer or customer service center will pay out prizes to out-of-state players following the standard procedures.
If you cannot cash your winning Virginia Lottery ticket before departing, you can still claim your prize by mail. Fill out a Virginia Lottery claim form and mail your signed ticket to lottery headquarters in Richmond, along with copies of your photo ID and proof of Social Security number. Your prize money will be mailed back via check within 4-6 weeks.
Conclusion
Cashing in winning Virginia Lottery tickets is convenient with thousands of authorized retailers located statewide, as well as customer service centers in five regions. Smaller prizes under $600 can be paid out right away in cash by retailers and customer service centers. Larger prizes over $600 are issued as checks from lottery headquarters. Be sure to sign your ticket, keep it secure, and cash within 180 days. Out-of-state players can also cash in before leaving Virginia. With plenty of options across the state, you can quickly collect your Virginia Lottery winnings.
