When You Win
If you won, Congratulations! But now what? Where do you claim your prize? Do you owe taxes? What are your payment options? Read below for all the answers. But before you do, sign the back of your winning ticket and take a deep breath. It feels good to win. In most cases, you have up to a year to claim your prize—plenty of time to get all the answers you need. So celebrate!
Notice: Salem and Wilsonville Lottery offices are currently closed.
How can you claim a prize? Most prizes can be claimed by mail. Smaller prizes can still be claimed where you purchased or played your game. See below for more information.
For prizes of $50,000 or more, please call 503-540-1000 to schedule an appointment at the Oregon Lottery office in Salem.
Claiming Prizes by Mail
While Salem and Wilsonville offices remain closed, you can continue to mail any winning Oregon Lottery ticket. Please note that with limited staffing in offices during this time, it may take up to two weeks to process your claim.
Mail to:
Oregon Lottery
PO Box 14515
Salem, OR 97309
Be sure to sign the back of your ticket. Then, complete the Winner Claim Form and send it in with your signed, original winning ticket to the Salem office as no mail-in claims are processed at the Wilsonville payment center. Be sure to keep a copy for your own records, and we recommend sending your ticket by registered mail. Winner Claim Forms may not be faxed or emailed to the Lottery.
Did you win more than $50,000? Congratulations! Please call 503-540-1000 to make an appointment at our Salem office to claim your prize.
If you’ve won playing Oregon Lottery Scoreboard, all prize claims and tax management occur through the Scoreboard app.
How to Claim Your Prize
Jackpot Prizes
Prize
Up to $600
Prizes up to $600 may be claimed at any Lottery retailer. Staying home? Prizes up to $50,000 should be claimed by mail. See details in “Claiming prizes by mail” to get more info and download the Winner Claim Form.
Prize
$601-$49,999
For now, prizes up to $50,000 should be claimed by mail. See details in “Claiming prizes by mail” to get more info and download the Winner Claim
Form.
Prize
$50,000+
If you’re lucky enough to have a big win over $50,000, you’ll need to make an appointment to come to the Oregon Lottery office in Salem. Call 503-540-1000 for assistance.
Most prizes can be claimed by mail
Scratch It Prizes
Prize
Up to $600
Prizes up to $600 may be claimed at any Lottery retailer. Staying home? Prizes up to $50,000 should be claimed by mail. See details in “Claiming prizes by mail” to get more info and download the Winner Claim Form.
Prize
$601-$49,999
For now, prizes up to $50,000 should be claimed by mail. See details in “Claiming prizes by mail” to get more info and download the Winner Claim Form.
Prize
$50,000+
If you’re lucky enough to have a big win over $50,000, you’ll need to make an appointment to come to the Oregon Lottery office in Salem. Call 503-540-1000 for assistance.
Most prizes can be claimed by mail
Video Lottery Prizes
Prize
Up to $1,250
Video Lottery prizes of up to $1,250 may be claimed at the retailer where the prize was won (within 28 days of the date the ticket was issued).
Video Lottery prizes of any amount can also be claimed by mail at any time (you have one year to claim by mail). See details in “Claiming prizes by mail” to get more info and download the Winner Claim Form.
Prize
$1,250+
Prizes over $1,250 may be claimed by mail up to a year after winning. See details in “Claiming prizes by mail” to get more info and download the Winner Claim Form.
Most prizes can be claimed by mail
Prize Payments by Oregon Lottery Elan Prepaid Card
Beginning Summer 2019, players who win prizes up to $20,000 will be issued an easy to use Oregon Lottery Elan Prepaid Card.
- You will have instant access to your winnings. Use them anywhere Visa® debit and credit cards are accepted.
- Want cash? Oregon Lottery Elan Prepaid Cards may be used at almost any ATM across the state. To avoid transaction fees, visit your nearest MoneyPass ATM.
- Video Lottery prizes up to $1,250 can still be claimed at the Lottery retail location where the prize was won. All other Oregon Lottery prizes up to $600 can be claimed at any Oregon Lottery retailer. Most prizes may also be claimed by mail.
Tax and Payout Information
State Tax
The Oregon Lottery automatically withholds an 8% state tax on all prizes of $1,500 or more. This follows state law effective January 1, 2018.
Federal Tax
Non-Video Lottery prizes over $5,000 will have both the 8% state and 24% federal taxes withheld.
For Video Lottery prizes, only the 8% state tax withheld.
W2G
At the time you get your prize, the Lottery will provide you with your W2G.
Residency
If a winner is a non-resident alien, the Lottery is required to withhold 30% federal withholding tax from all prize payments. For prizes of $1,500 and more, Oregon state tax withholding is 8%.
Jackpot Games Payout Options
Cash or Annuity?
You’ve won an Oregon Lottery jackpot! Yay!!! Did you know you have a couple of options on how to take your prize winnings?
If you win a jackpot playing Powerball, Mega Millions or Oregon’s Game Megabucks, you have two options – choose between a one-time cash payment or you can receive 30 annual installments. You’ll need to choose one when you come to the Lottery office to claim your prize.
Not sure what to do?! You have the option of validating your winning ticket at the Lottery office and then take some time – not too much time – to consider how to take your prize. You’ll need to make your choice within 60 days of the date you brought your winning ticket to the Lottery to be validated.
I’ll Take the Lump Sum, Please!
If you choose the one-time cash payment, you will receive one-half of the advertised prize in one lump sum.
I’d Like 30 Years of Prize Payments!
You second option is to choose the 30-year annuity. Winners of a Powerball, Mega Millions or Oregon’s Game Megabucks jackpot prize who choose the 30-year annuity, fill out a beneficiary designation form when you claim your prize. This form designates who will receive the remaining annuity payments if the winner passes away before the 30-year annuity payments have ended.
