If You Win a Jackpot

Do all of your numbers match those drawn? Sit down and take a few deep breaths — your life may never be the same again. However, before you shout your good news from the rooftop or quit your job, do some serious thinking and go through the following steps:

  1. Take Your Time on Important Decisions.

    This is the most important thing to remember. During a huge life change, it is crucial that you remain calm, take your time and don't make rash decisions like quitting your job or moving to another state. You will have a lot of decisions to make, and you want to be sure they are the best decisions.

    • For more information about claiming your prize or the process, call the Missouri Lottery headquarters at (573) 751-4050 and ask to speak to the Game Accounting Manager.

  2. Sign Your Ticket and Keep it Secure.

    Before you do anything else, sign the back of your ticket and put it in a safe place. Your ticket is your only claim for the prize. We recommend a locked box or a safe deposit box.

  3. Get Sound Advice.

    Get professional tax and/or legal advice to help you decide the best way for you to claim your prize. When you Contact Us to claim your prize, you will have to do two things:

    Decide how you will claim your prize.

    • No matter which payment plan you choose, the Lottery will withhold federal and state taxes at current withholding levels from your prize payment. You may owe additional taxes depending upon your other income, etc.
    • You have 180 days from the draw date of the last winning play on your ticket to claim your prize.

    Decide how you will receive your jackpot prize.

    • If you win a Lotto jackpot, you can choose to receive the full amount in 25 payments throughout 24 years, minus taxes, or you can receive approximately one-half the advertised prize amount in one lump payment, minus taxes. The lump-sum cash payment is about half of the advertised prize amount since you immediately get the money the Lottery would have invested during the next 24 years.
    • If you win a Powerball jackpot, you can choose to receive the full amount in 30 graduated annuity payments throughout 29 years, minus taxes, or you can receive approximately one-half the advertised prize amount in one lump payment, minus taxes. Again, the lump-sum cash payment is about half of the advertised prize amount since you immediately get the money the Lottery would have invested during the next 29 years.
    • If you win a Mega Millions jackpot, you can choose to receive the full amount in 30 graduated annuity payments throughout 29 years, minus taxes, or you can receive approximately one-half the advertised prize amount in one lump payment, minus taxes. Again, the lump-sum cash payment is about half of the advertised prize amount since you immediately get the money the Lottery would have invested during the next 29 years.
    • If you win a Cash4Life top prize, you can choose to receive the annuitized prize value annually for a minimum of 20 payments, minus taxes, or you can receive approximately one-half of the advertised prize amount in one lump payment minus taxes. Again, the lump-sum cash payment is about half of the advertised prize amount since you immediately get the money the Lottery would have invested during your lifetime.

    Note: You have exactly 60 days from the claiming date to choose the cash option. If you haven't made a decision by that time, the prize will automatically be paid out in 25 annual payments (Lotto), 30 annual payments (Powerball and Mega Millions) or annually for life (Cash4Life).

  4. Schedule an Appointment at a Missouri Lottery Office

    You will be greeted at a Lottery office by one of our customer service representatives and given instructions. If you haven't done so already, you will fill out a Missouri Lottery claim form and IRS Form W-9 — Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification since your prize is over $600. You will also receive additional paperwork from Game Accounting to complete. If you have any questions about your claim or your prize, this is the time to ask Missouri Lottery Game Accounting personnel.

    Note: Only Powerball, Mega Millions and Cash4Life top prize wins are required to be claimed at Lottery Headquarters; other wins may be claimed at any Missouri Lottery office.

  5. What Information Will be Released About My Win?

    The Missouri Lottery loves to celebrate winners. However, effective Aug. 28, 2021, that celebration will only include your name if you have provided written consent, in accordance with the newly passed HB 402. If you have any questions, please ask a lottery employee for additional information.

    After your claim, a member of the Lottery's communications staff will ask you questions about your win, such as how many tickets you bought, when you found out that you won and what you plan to do with your prize money. This information will be used for a news release.

  6. Relax.

    Once your ticket is in safe hands you can relax for a while. The Lotto prize process takes approximately 10-14 business days to complete. The Powerball, Mega Millions and Cash4Life process, since other state lotteries are involved, takes approximately 14-21 working days to complete. Within the next few weeks, you will be adding thousands or maybe millions of dollars to your bank or investment account. At this point, it's okay to do some serious dreaming. A new house? A special car? College for the kids or grandkids? A trip to Tahiti?

  7. Some Other Things to Consider.

    Before you start to invest or spend your money, you should stop and think about what matters most to you. The Secretary of State's Office offers helpful information for protecting your new wealth and ensuring that your windfall helps you secure a more comfortable life, as well as goal setting, selecting an investment advisor and investment options.