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Frequently Asked Questions
Prize/Winner
Where The Money Goes
General Lottery Info
Security
Q. How do I witness a Hoosier Lottery drawing? A. All Hoosier Lottery drawings are open to the public. Drawing witnesses are invited to actually perform the drawing. Drawings are conducted at Hoosier Lottery Headquarters and Scientific Games in Indianapolis. Please call Hoosier Lottery Customer Service at 1-800-955-6886 to arrange to view a drawing.
Q. When and why did the Hoosier Lottery stop using balls to conduct drawings? A. The Hoosier Lottery has been conducting drawings using a computerized Random Number Generating (RNG) machine since December 5, 2001. The RNG is a stand-alone computerized machine that offers greater security and reduced potential for human error than the mechanical ball draw method. Since the Hoosier Lottery switched to the RNG drawing method, the Hoosier Lotto jackpot has been won 36 times. Twenty-nine of the North American lotteries now conduct drawings using Random Number Generators.
Q. How does the computerized Random Number Generator work? A.The Random Number Generator (RNG) is a computer program in a stand alone machine used to draw winning Hoosier Lottery draw game numbers. The RNG spins numbers at high speeds, stopping on each individual digit with the push of a button, similar to slot machine technology. The RNG is not connected in any way to any other computer system. The RNG’s statistical randomness is certified by Gaming Laboratories International (GLI) which is a well respected and internationally known company. As part of the certification, codes are embedded in the RNG that will recognize and alert the Hoosier Lottery and its auditors of any attempted alteration of the software. For additional security, all drawing procedures are overseen by Hoosier Lottery security and witnessed by the independent audit firm, Deloitte & Touche.
Q. How many times has the Hoosier Lotto jackpot been won? A. As of January 8, 2008, Hoosier Lotto has been won 91 times.
Q. What is the largest Hoosier Lotto jackpot ever won? A. The largest Hoosier Lotto jackpot ever claimed was $54.5 million. It was won on November 7, 2007 by Peter Gilbert of East Chicago, IN. Previous record-setting jackpots of $42 million and $32 million were won in June 1999 and January 1998.
Q. Can I claim winning tickets by mail? A.
Winning tickets, except for draw game jackpot prizes or the top prize of a Scratch-off game, can be claimed through the mail.
A Hoosier Lottery Winner Claim Form must accompany all
winning tickets. Request claim
forms by calling 1-800-955-6886 (1-800-95-LOTTO), or download
a claim form. Complete the form, sign the back of the ticket,
and send them to:
Hoosier Lottery
P.O. Box 6126
Indianapolis, IN 46206-6126
Upon receipt of your ticket, the Hoosier Lottery will process your Winner Claim Form and run a debt set-off. If there are no outstanding debts owed to the state or back child support, your payment will be forwarded to you. If there are outstanding debts, you will receive the amount of the payment after those debts are paid. We suggest that you make a photocopy of your winning ticket for your records before mailing your ticket.
Q. What do I do if I disagree with a decision made by the Lottery regarding my claim? A. If you have contacted Customer Service (800-955-6886 or playersupport@hoosierlottery.com) and are unsatisfied with the explanation or resolution, you can request further action be taken by completing the Issues Resolution Form. The form must be filled out completely and mailed to the following address: Hoosier Lottery, attn: Internal Auditor, 201 S. Capitol Ave., Indianapolis, IN 46225. Please ensure that you attach the original ticket in question. We recommend that you maintain a copy of the Issues Resolution Form and all tickets and attachments, for your records. Once we receive the Issues Resolution Form, it will be reviewed by relevant parties, and you will be informed of a decision, in writing, in no less than 30 days. We recommend that you maintain a copy of the Issues Resolution Form and all tickets and attachments for your records. Once we receive the Issues Resolution Form it will be reviewed by relevant parties, and you will be informed of a decision, in writing, in no less than 30 days.
Q. What is the difference between the cash option and the annuity option in the Hoosier Lotto game? A. The Hoosier Lottery advertises the estimated annuity jackpot. If you win, this jackpot amount is paid in annual payments over 30 years. However, within sixty (60) days of the drawing, the winner may elect to receive a cash option prize paid in one lump sum. The cash option is often approximately 40%-50% of the total annuity jackpot.
Q. If a winner dies before the prize is completely paid on an annuity, does the remaining prize money go back to the state? A. No. If a winner dies before the prize is completely paid, the remaining money is paid to the winner's estate.
Q. Since several states sell
Powerball, how are profits from tickets sold in Indiana distributed?
A. The profits from Powerball tickets sold in Indiana stay in Indiana.
Q. How many states sell Powerball
tickets? A. Powerball tickets are sold in the U.S. Virgin Islands,
the District of Columbia and the following 29 states: Arizona, Colorado,
Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine,
Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico,
North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina,
South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Q. If I live in another state,
can I purchase Powerball or other Hoosier Lottery tickets over the
Internet or by mail? A. No. Federal law prohibits the sale or transfer of lottery tickets across state lines by the Internet, U.S. Mail or otherwise.
Q. If I buy a Powerball ticket
in another Powerball state, can I cash my ticket in Indiana? A.
No. Powerball tickets must be redeemed in the state in which they
were purchased.
Q. If there are multiple
winners of a jackpot or a large prize and not all the winners claim
their prize, do the unclaimed amounts get divided between the winners
that do claim? A. No. The prizes are divided equally among the winning tickets. If there are tickets that remain unclaimed after the time period to claim them has expired, those prize amounts go into the unclaimed prize fund. The unclaimed prize fund is used for future promotions and prizes.
Q. Are lottery winnings subject
to state and federal taxes? A. Yes, as of July 1, 2002, the Hoosier
Lottery is required by law to withhold 3.4% for Indiana state income
taxes on prizes over $1200 and to withhold 25% for federal income
taxes on all prizes over $5,000. Additional income taxes may be owed
depending on the individual winner's tax bracket. If a player wins
a Hoosier Lottery prize but resides in another state, taxes for player's
state of residence also may apply. However, the winner may be eligible
for a refund of the Indiana taxes paid.
Q. Does the Hoosier Lottery
provide financial counseling for winners of more than $1 million? A.
Although the Hoosier Lottery does not provide winners with the name of a specific
person or institution for financial assistance, all major winners are encouraged to seek professional advice.
Q. Which lottery product
accounts for the highest percentage of total lottery sales? A. In fiscal year 2007, instant tickets accounted for 66.59% of sales (this includes 64.66% from Scratch-off tickets and 1.93% from Pull- Tabs). Powerball accounted for 15.06%, Hoosier Lotto accounted for 8.76%, daily draw games accounted for 7.32%, Mix & Match accounted for 1.45% and other games accounted for .81%.
Q. When did the Hoosier Lottery
start? A. On November 8, 1988, Indiana voters overwhelmingly
approved a referendum amending the state constitution to permit the
establishment of a state lottery. The Lottery Act was signed into
law in 1989 and the first Hoosier Lottery ticket was sold on October
13, 1989.
Q. How is the money from Hoosier Lottery
ticket sales used? A. The approximate breakdown for each $1 of sales is as follows: 61% for prizes, 10% to retailers and suppliers, 2% for salaries, general and administrative expense, and 1% for advertising and promotions. The remaining 26% is returned to the state for the benefit of the citizens of Indiana.
Q. Who decides how the money
the Hoosier Lottery turns over to the state is distributed? A. The Indiana General Assembly determines how lottery profits are spent. Hoosier Lottery profits have been used to help finance the State Teachers Retirement Fund, the Police and Firefighters Retirement Fund, to reduce automobile excise taxes and to fund capital building projects throughout the state. (click here for Hoosier Lottery profit
distribution details)
Q. How can I contact the
Hoosier Lottery? A. You may call our Customer Service Department
at 1-800-955-6886 (1-800-95-LOTTO), e-mail us at playersupport@hoosierlottery.com,
or write to the Hoosier Lottery Customer Service Department at P.O.
Box 6126, Indianapolis, IN 46206-6126.
Q. What should I do if I think I've been a victim of a Lottery scam? A. You may call our Security Department at 1-800-955-6886 (1-800-95-LOTTO) or contact your state's Office of Consumer Protection or Attorney General. You can also report it to Fraud Watch International at www.fraudwatchinternational.com.
Q. Do I have to report what I won to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS)? A. YES. All Lottery prizes should be reported to the IRS as income regardless of whether a W-2G is received. A W-2G tax form will be provided to players for each prize that was won during the previous calendar year and that meets the following two criteria:
- Prize is valued at $600.00 or more; and
- Prize equals at least 300 times the wager
The $600.00 limit test is applied to individual prizes. Therefore, even though prizes won by a player during a year add up to more than $600.00, they will only receive a W-2G if any one of the prizes is $600.00 or more. For example, if a player wins prizes of $500.00, $500.00 and $2,000.00 in one year, the total prizes won for that year equals $3,000.00. However, the player will only receive a W-2G showing winnings of $2,000.00 since it is the only individual prize that is $600.00 or more.
For W-2G reporting purposes, the definition of a “prize” for players includes cash, trips or merchandise awarded to those holding winning lottery tickets. For prizes exceeding $5,000.00, IRS regulations require that the Lottery withhold federal taxes equal to 25% of the prize value before the prize is awarded. The Lottery forwards this money to the IRS on behalf of the winner. This tax withholding will appear on the W-2G. However the winner may still owe more or less, because the ultimate tax amount the player has to pay on prizes received will depend on the player’s personal tax situation
Q. What can I do if I know of or have a concern about suspicious activity involving Hoosier Lottery products? A. You can report any suspicious activity for investigation to the Hoosier Lottery Security Department at: security@hoosierlottery.com or contact our Customer Service Hotline at 1(800) 955-6886.
Q. What times are Lottery tickets/games available for sale at Lottery retailers? A. Hoosier Lottery Draw games (Powerball, Hoosier Lotto, Mix & Match, Lucky 5, Daily 3 and Daily 4) are made available for sale and can be redeemed from 4:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. (EST) every day. Instant games (Scratch-off and Pull-Tabs) are made available for sale at any time at the discretion of the retailer. Instant games can only be redeemed 4:30 a.m. to 11:45 p.m. (EST), Monday through Saturday and 4:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. (EST) on Sunday. While Hoosier Lottery products are available for sale during the times listed above, individual Lottery retailers determine their own hours of operation and policy regarding the sale and redemption of Hoosier Lottery products. Not all Instant games are available at all retailers. Click here to see redemption limits and hours.
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