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Frequently Asked Questions
Choose a category below for immediate online lottery help! If our FAQ section has not answered your inquiry, please contact us at any time. Our Customer Service team will be happy to assist you further!
How to Order Lottery Tickets
Winning
How do I receive my winnings?
Secondary winnings up to $600 will be transferred to your account shortly after receipt of the prize from the Colorado Lottery and are always paid out in a lump sum cash payment after relevant taxes have been deducted. You will need to collect prizes over that amount, including jackpot prizes, in person at the offices of the Colorado Lottery. In that case, our Customer Service Team will coordinate with you on how you will receive your winning tickets.
How can I be sure I'll receive my winnings?
Our payout system is fully automated and regularly audited. Winnings up to $600 are transferred to players' accounts shortly after they have been received from the official lottery operator. Winners of prizes of $600 and up will need to collect their prizes personally. In this case, we will coordinate with the player how they will receive their winning ticket(s).
As specified in our Terms of Service, lottery tickets are owned by the player, not by theLotter Colorado. theLotter Colorado provides a lottery ticket courier service fulfilling official lottery tickets orders on our customers’ behalf, but has no legal claim to their tickets. In the unlikely event of a dispute, aside from the Terms of Service (which are a legal and binding document), we will also provide our customers with ample proof of ownership.
First, when you order a lottery ticket on our site, you will immediately receive a confirmation email. Second, each transaction is permanently stored in your account, where it can be viewed and printed at any time. And finally, a scanned copy of your ticket is available in the My Account section, proving that the actual ticket was indeed purchased on your behalf. The scan displays the number selection and relevant draw information, as well as a serial code unique to each ticket. These items (legal agreement, order confirmation, and the scan of the actual ticket) firmly establish that the ticket legally belongs to you.
Our entire operation is geared to ensure that we maintain our reputation as the industry-leading online lottery ticket purchasing service. Our track record shows that winning players get their money.
What is the difference between annuity and lump sum payments?
Certain lotteries offer jackpot winners a choice between receiving their prize as an annuity or as a cash lump sum payment. If you choose the annuity option, your prize will be paid out in installments over a fixed number of years. If you request the cash lump sum option, you will receive the entire prize up front. Lump sum payments are less than the total amount given to a winner in annuity payments, with the amount varying according to the lottery policy. In addition, some lottery prizes are taxed at source, so the take-home prize will actually be much less than the advertised jackpot.
Is there a tax requirement on my lottery winnings?
Yes. The Colorado Lottery withholds taxes before prize money is paid out. Federal and state withholding taxes are deducted for every lottery prize over $5,000.
The Lottery is required by law to withhold 24 percent in federal income taxes and current Colorado state law requires the Lottery to withhold 4 percent in Colorado state income taxes. In total, 28 percent in taxes is deducted for every lottery prize over $5,000.
For non-resident aliens, current tax laws require that the Colorado Lottery withhold 30 percent in federal income taxes on all Lottery prizes and 4 percent in Coloradostate income taxes on Lottery prizes over $5,000.
Depending on other income and deductions, amounts withheld by the Lottery on your winnings may or may not be sufficient to meet one’s total tax obligation.
According to the Internal Revenue Service, winnings from lotteries and raffles are considered gambling winnings. After the end of the year, the Colorado Lottery will send each winner a Form W2-G report showing the amount of lottery prize payments to be reported as income and the amounts of federal and state taxes withheld to be reported as credits on the winner’s federal and state tax returns.
Is there any commission on my winnings?
All winnings on lottery tickets ordered on theLotter Colorado are paid out commission-free, regardless of the amount. If you choose to withdraw your lottery wins via a bank transfer, a bank transfer fee from your bank may apply.
What happens when I win the jackpot?
When you win the jackpot, we will immediately notify you and a member of our Customer Service team will contact you directly to coordinate how you will get your winning ticket so that you can collect your prize in person. We will advise you, where possible, in the win collection process.
We highly recommend that you consult with financial and legal experts to discuss ways of collecting your jackpot prize money while continuing to maintain your privacy.
The numbers on my ticket match the numbers drawn. Why didn’t I get a prize?
To win a lottery jackpot, all of the numbers on your lottery ticket must match those selected in the draw. If your numbers constitute a partial match with those drawn, you could be entitled to a secondary prize, but this is dependent on the specific lottery’s rules and prize divisions.
If you think that your ticket entitles you to a prize, check to make sure that your matching numbers are all in the same line. Please keep in mind that each line you select is actually an independent unit. Also, make sure that you are comparing your ticket with the results of the correct lottery draw and date you played.
If you are still unsure whether your ticket is eligible for a lottery prize, please contact us.
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