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Q. Can I buy Florida Lottery tickets over the Internet?
A. No. Various state and federal laws prohibit the sale of Florida Lottery tickets over the Internet. Florida Lottery tickets must be purchased in Florida, from an authorized Florida Lottery retailer. These laws also prohibit the sale of Florida Lottery tickets by mail, phone or fax.
Q. How can I claim my Lottery prize from out of state?
A. To claim Florida Lottery prizes from out of state, you must fill out the back of your ticket and mail it to the following address:
Winner Validation
Florida Lottery
250 Marriott Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32399-9939
Winner Validation will process your ticket and mail you a check for any applicable prize. Federal law prohibits the mailing of Lottery tickets across state line. Winners redeeming free Scratch-Off tickets, free FANTASY 5 tickets or free MEGA MONEY tickets will receive a check for the retail value of their free-ticket prize. Please note: The risk of mailing tickets remains with the player and will not be assumed by the Florida Lottery.
Q. What percentage in taxes will the Lottery withhold from my prize?
A. The Internal Revenue Service requires the Florida Lottery to withhold 25 percent federal withholding tax from prizes greater than $5,000 if the winner is a citizen or resident alien of the U.S. with a Social Security card. The Florida Lottery is not required to withhold federal withholding taxes from prizes for $5000 or less. If the prizewinner is a U.S. citizen or resident alien who does not have a Social Security number, the Florida Lottery is required to withhold 28 percent backup federal withholding tax from any prize more than $600. For nonresident aliens, the Florida Lottery is required to withhold 30 percent federal withholding tax from all prize amounts. The Internal Revenue Service requires the Florida Lottery to report all winnings for $600 and above for U.S. citizens and resident aliens.
Q. What times are the drawings held for CASH 3, PLAY 4, FANTASY 5, MEGA MONEY and LOTTO?
A: The Florida Lottery drawings are held according to the following schedule: ·
CASH 3 and PLAY 4 drawings are held nightly at approximately 7:57 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
FANTASY 5 drawings are held nightly at approximately 11:15 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
MEGA MONEY drawings are held Tuesdays and Fridays at approximately 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
FLORIDA LOTTO drawings are held Wednesdays and Saturdays at approximately 11 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
*Viewing times and format may vary by station.
Q. When is the Florida Lottery website updated?
A. The Florida Lottery website is updated continuously throughout the day Monday thru Friday. Winning numbers, jackpot information and prize payouts are updated as soon as they are declared official. News releases regarding the previous night drawing are posted by 9:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time Monday thru Friday. On Saturday and Sunday winning numbers, jackpot information and prize payouts are updated by 10:00 a.m. Eastern Standard Time. In the rare event the Florida Lottery website cannot be updated as scheduled, every effort is made to post information as soon as possible.
Q. Who can play and win Florida Lottery games?
A. Florida Lottery games can be played by adults 18 years of age and older who purchase their tickets in Florida from an authorized Florida Lottery retailer.
Q. Who is prohibited from playing and winning Florida Lottery games?
A. Florida Lottery employees; relatives of Florida Lottery employees living in the same household; and anyone employed by certain vendors who provide goods and services to the Florida Lottery cannot play any Florida Lottery games.
Q. How does the Lottery determine the size of the jackpot in the FLORIDA LOTTO game?
A. The estimated FLORIDA LOTTO jackpot is based on projected sells for that drawing, added to any funds rolled over from previous drawings when there was no jackpot winner and the anticipated interest rate for long-term investments.
Q. How long do I have to claim my Florida Lottery Prize?
A. All Florida Lottery online games (CASH 3, PLAY 4, FANTASY 5, MEGA MONEY and FLORIDA LOTTO) prizes must be claimed within 180 days of the applicable draw date. Florida Lottery Scratch-Off game prizes must be claimed within 60 days of the official end-of-game date. FLORIDA LOTTO and MEGA MONEY jackpot winners who want to receive a one-time lump sum payment must claim their prizes within 60 days after the applicable draw date.
Q. What are the FLORIDA LOTTO and MEGA MONEY Cash Option?
A. The FLORIDA LOTTO and MEGA MONEY Cash Option is a one-time cash payment jackpot winners choose to receive instead of receiving their winnings in 30 annual payments for FLORIDA LOTTO and 20 annual payments for MEGA MONEY. FLORIDA LOTTO and MEGA MONEY jackpot winners who want to receive a single Cash Option payment must claim their prizes within the first 60 days after the draw date.
Q. What if someone wins the FLORIDA LOTTO or MEGA MONEY jackpot and dies before all the installments are paid?
A. If a FLORIDA LOTTO or MEGA MONEY winner dies before receiving all annual installments, the balance of the prize will be paid to the winner's estate. The Florida Lottery guarantees the entire winning jackpot to FLORIDA LOTTO winners.
Q. What does the Florida Lottery do with the money from ticket sales?
A. Proceeds from every dollar Florida Lottery players spend help provide educational funding for Florida.s school children. Whether it.s Bright Futures Scholarships; better books; technology for schools, or bonds for school construction, the proceeds from Florida Lottery ticket sales are transferred to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund (EETF) and appropriated by the Florida Legislature.
Q. How can I find more information about the Bright Futures Scholarships?
A. For more information on Bright Futures Scholarships, please visit the Department of Education's website at www.firn.edu/doe/brfuture/, or call the Florida Department of Education.s Office of Student Financial Assistance toll-free at (888)-827-2004.
Q. What happens to prizes that are not claimed?
A. Florida law requires that 80 percent of unclaimed prize funds from expired tickets be transferred directly to the Educational Enhancement Trust Fund. The remaining 20 percent is returned to the prize pool from which future prizes are awarded or used for special prize promotions.
Q. Can Lottery winners remain anonymous?
A. No. Florida Lottery winners cannot remain anonymous. Florida law mandates that the Florida Lottery provide a winner.s name, city of residence, game won, date won and amount won to any third party who requests the information. However Florida Lottery winners home addresses and telephone numbers are confidential.
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