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Who can play the D.C. Lottery?
Players must be 18 years of age or older, but a person under 18 may receive a lottery ticket as a gift and be paid a lottery prize pursuant to guidelines found at D.C. Official Code § 3-1335 (2001).
Can I purchase tickets in advance?
YES. DC Lucky Numbers, DC- 4 and DC-5 tickets may be purchased up to seven consecutive days in advance for mid-day and evening drawings. DC Daily 6 tickets may be purchased up to 42 consecutive draws in advance. POWERBALL® and HOT LOTTO® tickets may be purchased in advance for 1,2,4,6,8,10,12,14,16,18, and 20 consecutive draws.
Which Radio/TV Stations broadcast the lottery drawings?
Please review D.C. Lottery's Draw Broadcast Schedule.
Where does the money generated by the Lottery go?
Money generated by the D.C. Lottery is used for the operation, administration, and capital expenses of the games operated and licensed by the Lottery. The majority of the money is transferred to the . General Fund for the District of Columbia. More information.
How do I claim a prize? And, can winners remain anonymous?
Please visit our claim prize area for instructions on claiming your D.C. Lottery prize.
In the District of Columbia, specific lottery winner information is public record.
What happens if I should die prior to receiving all my lottery winnings?
Lottery winnings are payable to the winner's designated beneficiary or estate. In some cases, for the POWERBALL® game, the estate may petition the D.C. Lottery's Executive Director for the acceleration and lump sum payment of the remaining prize amount at current market value.
What happens to unclaimed prizes?
All prizes must be claimed within one year from the date of the drawing, one year from the official close of an instant "scratch" ticket game or a lesser period authorized by the Executive Director for bonus games or drawings. Unclaimed prizes are transferred to the to the General Fund of the District of Columbia.
Are lottery prizes taxable?
Federal Taxes
D.C. Lottery prizes paid to residents of other jurisdictions may be subject to Federal income taxes and to state and local taxes, depending on the requirements of that jurisdiction. Lottery winnings of $600 or more are reported to the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with Federal regulations.
For winnings of more than $5,000, the D.C. Lottery withholds 25 percent of lottery winnings for Federal income taxes. A deduction of 28 percent is withheld for Lottery winnings of $600 or more if you are unable to provide a valid Social Security number or taxpayer identification number. Federal tax withholding rates are subject to change in accordance with Internal Revenue Service regulations.
District Taxes
D.C. Lottery prizes paid to D.C. residents may be subject to District taxes, depending on the amount won. Lottery winnings of $600.00 or more are reported to the D.C. Office of Tax and Revenue in accordance with District regulations. For winnings of more than $5,000.00, the D.C. Lottery withholds 8 percent of lottery winnings for District income taxes. District tax withholding rates are subject to change in accordance with D.C. Tax and Revenue regulations.
How much tax will I have to pay on my winnings?
All Lottery winnings are considered income and as such are taxed according to the applicable federal, District of Columbia, and state law. The Lottery cannot estimate your tax responsibility or answer questions about federal, state, or local exemptions or tax calculations. You may want to consult a tax professional, government tax office, financial advisor or other appropriate professional for answers to your tax questions.
Are there any other deductions withheld?
Possibly. If you owe delinquent child support payments, the D.C. Lottery may be required to withhold the amount owed. The D.C. Lottery provides a direct linkage to the District of Columbia Child Support Enforcement Division. Child Support taken from your lottery winnings is for monies owed pursuant to a court order and is not refundable.
If you feel deductions from your winnings were erroneously taken, please contact the D.C. Child Support Enforcement Division at (202) 442-9900.
How can I get another copy of my IRS Form W-2G?
The D.C. Lottery issues a W-2G at the same time it issues a check for a lottery winning of $600.00 or more. To obtain an additional copy of your form, please contact us and specify that you would like to request a copy of IRS Form W-2G and the D.C. Lottery's Office of Financial Services will process your request.
Can more than one person share a prize?
Prizes won on a single D.C. Lottery ticket are paid to a single legal entity. That entity may be one individual or one organization.
However, there may be more than one jackpot ticket. In those cases, winners share prizes equally.
What happens if I lose a winning ticket?
The D. C. Lottery is not responsible for lost or stolen tickets. You should sign the back of your ticket in ink and take appropriate measures to safeguard it. Unless signed, anyone in possession of the ticket may file a claim.
Can lottery tickets be purchased by mail or through the Internet?
Tickets are ONLY available for purchase at authorized D.C. Lottery Agent Locations.