Official State of Iowa Website Here is how you know

Games

Claiming Prizes

The Iowa Lottery offers a variety of prize-claim options to its players.

Where to Claim a Prize

Iowa Lottery prizes up to $600 in lotto, InstaPlay and instant-scratch games can be redeemed at any lottery retail location in the state if sufficient funds are available. However, pull-tab prizes of up to $600, must be redeemed at the same location where the ticket was purchased.

Prizes up to and including $250,000 can be claimed at any of the lottery's offices in Clive (Des Moines area), Storm Lake, Mason City or Cedar Rapids.

Prizes of more than $250,000 as well as some special merchandise prizes must be claimed in person at the Iowa Lottery headquarters office in Clive. Appointments are strongly encouraged for these prizes to ensure that necessary lottery staff is available to assist with the claims process. For information about how to redeem these prizes, please contact us via email or telephone.

Prize-Claim Documents

For prizes of $100 or more claimed at an Iowa Lottery office, a completed copy of our Winner Claim Form and Federal Form W-9 (for U.S. citizens) or Federal Form W-8BEN (for non-U.S. citizens) are required.

For prizes of more than $600, those two documents are required along with a legible, valid copy of the winner's government-issued photo identification. (Acceptable examples include: driver's license, state I.D. card, military I.D. card, passport, or permanent resident card.) If you are NOT a U.S. citizen, but are a Permanent Resident, you must provide us with your current Permanent Resident card and/or Social Security card or additional taxes may be withheld.

Winners who are not U.S. citizens must provide a legible, valid copy of their government-issued photo identification from their country of citizenship.

How to Claim a Prize by Mail

Iowa Lottery prizes (except those noted above, which must be claimed in person) may be claimed by mail. On the back of your ticket, complete the name and address information and sign the signature line. A parent or guardian must also sign the ticket for any claimant who is a minor.

Mail the ticket with your completed Winner Claim Form, Form W-9 and copy of photo I.D. to the lottery's official mailing address at:

Iowa Lottery
13001 University Ave
Clive IA 50325-8225

Group Play

Prizes (including winnings in Iowa Lottery VIP Club drawings) can be claimed by players who play as a group. A check can be written to an entity such as a trust or to a single individual. If an individual claims the prize on behalf of a group, they must indicate this on the Winner Claim Form. In addition, they must submit a Federal Form 5754, listing all the winners of the prize with their address and tax identification information, when claiming the prize. This ensures that the prize and tax withheld is correctly allocated to each group member. The lottery suggests that the back of the ticket should not be signed until the group has determined how the ticket will be submitted on the winner claim form.

Check out these reminders to keep your group play fun and hassle free.

Deadlines To Claim Prizes

Scratch and Pull-tab prizes must be claimed within 90 days of the official game end date of the specific game. See our Scratch Games Ending and Pull-tab Games Ending pages for more information.

InstaPlay prizes must be claimed within 90 days of the date of purchase.

Iowa's Pick 3 and Pick 4 prizes must be claimed within 90 days of the drawing for which they were eligible.

Powerball and Lotto America: Prizes won before or on April 22, 2023, must be claimed within 365 days of the drawing for which they were eligible; prizes for the April 24, 2023, drawing or later must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing for which they were eligible.

Mega Millions: Prizes won before or on April 21, 2023, must be claimed within 365 days of the drawing for which they were eligible; prizes for the April 25, 2023, drawing or later must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing for which they were eligible.

Lucky for Life: Prizes won before or on April 22, 2023, must be claimed within 365 days of the drawing for which they were eligible; prizes for the April 23, 2023, drawing or later must be claimed within 180 days of the drawing for which they were eligible.

See our Unclaimed Prizes page for lotto and InstaPlay game prizes of $600 and greater that are currently unclaimed.

Ticket Accuracy

Players are responsible for checking the accuracy of their ticket before leaving the store and for determining if the ticket is a winner. If you believe you have won and the terminal rejects or the retailer disputes the validity of your prize claim, you may submit your claim directly to the Iowa Lottery for review. All risks of redeeming the ticket remain with the player.



Return to top↑